SobersRajakumar
01-10-2014, 07:45 PM
In no time Frankie and Ken brought the tables out. Marianne brought the sheets and china out for lunch. She made sure the food was heated and brought them out on thermos pots.
The lunch outdoor looked like a picnic. Dad said a prayer and Ken seemed to drown in surprising moments. Dad had Frankie sit next to him. He kept it no secret that he was fond of Frankie. After lunch Ken helped Marianne cleanup. Marianne went in and brought some deserts with ice cream, fruits and cranberry cocktail to cool off the hot afternoon.
Time was about two o clock in Marianne's wrist watch. The family was enjoying the afternoon breeze in the yard. She was reading the day's newspaper and Ken was doing some small talk to dad. Suddenly dad said
"I almost forgot I got something for Ricky and Frankie. Its in my duffel bag."
"Not to worry dad, I'll go get it" Ken got up and patted dad's shoulders.
"Moments like this I feel my age Marianne. I forget trivial things. But I remember the color of scarf Patricia wore the first time I saw her"
Marianne smiled at his recollection of a tender moment from his memories.
Ken brought the duffel bag. Dad opened and pulled a model warship which was about feet and a half long. Next he pulled open a box and it had a binocular. He called over Ricky and gave the binocular. Ricky thanked grandpa and jumped away with his binoculars. He then proudly gave the ship model to Frankie.
Frankie looked at it with a fascination.
"Thanks grandpa"
"Thats not just a ship model boy. It is of the USS Enterprise CV-6. The most successful warship in the second world war."
"Wow thank you Grandpa"
Ken had a serious look in his face. He still smiled. Marianne was surprised at this but didn't bother. She was happy to see grandpa enjoy the moment. Frankie ran into the house an brought out the portable twenty foot swimming pool and started pumping air into it. Looks like he found a way to put his warship to work. Marianne suddenly remembered the Gila Woodpecker. She want to the back of the house and looked at the tree. The woodpecker was still there. It hadn't moved a step. The water looked undisturbed and so did the bird feed container. She was worried wondering what happened to the female woodpecker which usually flies with the male. She turned back to the front and saw Tootsie looking up the tree. She ignored Tootsie and went to the front.
It looked like Ken and dad were having a small discussion. Marianne sat down.
Ricky was pointing his binoculars up the sky and spotting birds far away. He came to Marianne and wanted to show something.
"Mommy, mommy, look at the big bird. Its big like the buzzard we saw this morning"
"Ok honey. I know, I know its big. You have fun. don't disturb us." Ricky went away.
Ricky and Dad were talking about the boys.
"I brought the warship model for Ricky but I rightfully decided Frankie is the right fit for the boat"
"Why dad?" Ken asked
"He likes the military and he someday will make a fine soldier"
"What if he didn't want to be. like me??
Dad looked stumped. He didn't reply.
"If he doesn't go to the army are you going to love him less" Ken sounded sarcastic.
Marianne knew dad is upset now as his upper lip stiffened.
"Ken" She patted his shoulders
"Go play with Ricky. He needs your help"
Ken got up quickly and didn't hide his anger. He went towards Ricky and glanced a Frankie who was floating his warship on the portable water pool.
"Dad I'm sorry Ken said that"
"I'm sorry too"Dad replied tersely
"Its just that he carries the thought that you loved Steven more"
Dad turned to her a little shocked. His blue eyes seemed dilated. Marianne felt horrible. She didn't mean to hurt him. But she had to defend Ken to his dad.
"I know I was wrong Marianne. I felt lot closer to Steven because I had slowed down from active duty and settled with a desk job when Steven was growing up. But I was away too much when Kenneth was a boy. He used to write letters with crayon drawings when he was a little boy. He loved me. I was suffering terribly with my own self during those times. I ignored Ken, Patricia and my joy was Steven who idolized me. I was ecstatic when Steven enlisted himself to the Marines after high school. All ended in a the hands of an enemy bullet."
Dad was silent for a few seconds
" I was too self-centered to understand my other son who loved me as well. I am sorry I got carried away with Frankie".
"Dad" Marianne calmly called him
"its OK now. I am sure Ken will understand eventually"
"Thank you Marianne" Dad admitted
He then stared at Tootsie who seemed restless running around the yard.
"I used to be part of the K-9 corp in the WWII and Vietnam. Dogs are wonderful creatures"
Marianne suddenly became curious like a child.
"Really dad? Tell me more"
"It wasn't pretty. My first dog was one hell of a soldier. His name was Dick. Dick was a German Shepherd donated by a farmer from Wyoming to the US Army. He was good at scouting and the the unit we assisted during invasion of Okinawa had one of the least casualties because of the precious doggies. The japs were scared to death by these dogs. They couldn't hide in the thickets of the forest. The dogs will sniff them out. It was hard for us in Nam. The rain and artillery were hard for the dogs. I lost a dog called Big Eagle to artillery fire. Later I had Buck a tough Doberman for my last 7 years. I then transferred to an accounting job."
Dad kept looking at Tootsie.
Marianne had a funny thought. If it is not Frankie it can be Tootsie. Dad's favorite company she thought. But Tootsie and him are not friends yet.
"Tootsie, Tootsie" Marianne called
Tootsie tried to hop over the fence looking at the tree beyond, then turned away and came to her. Marianne caught her by the leash and rubbed her forehead. Then she pushed her to dad. Dad slowly rubbed her head. He did it slowly and Tootsie made a grumbling moan. There was a silence when dad rubbed its back. Tootsie suddenly looked up and started running to the backyard.
"She is a good one" dad said.
"Rottweilers are tough and loyal like Dobermans" dad was sharing his knowledge.
Ken stopped playing with Ricky and went into the house. Dad looked at him and turned to Marianne.
"Please let him know that I want to talk to him later before tonight."
"Its OK dad. But I don't think we should impose on the topic of military again." Marianne replied.
"Mom, Mom. Mom!!!!" Shrieked Ricky and came running with his binoculars.
A big hawk, a Harris hawk came down chasing a barking Tootsie and Tootsie followed the Hawk to the backyard. Tootsie jumped so high but missed grabbing the hawk. Marianne called Ken for help. Suddenly there was another Hawk from nowhere which flew down to grab Chewy. Ricky screamed so loud the Hawk flew away.
Ken was looking from the doorway and ran back into the house. Frankie stood there frozen and Ricky ran back into the house.
Dad flipped his cane and pulled his sword out. He came running towards the flying Hawk. He ran pretty fast for a eighty eight year old man.
Tootsie came back again out of nowhere and joined the foray and started barking to the sky.
Ken hurried out his shot gun and took couple of shots at the flying Hawk.
Then came a third Hawk which snatched the shivering Chewy and flew to the backyard. Ken kept running and Marianne, dad and Tootsie followed him. Kens shot went nowhere near the hawk.
Tootsie slammed hard into the iron fence and kept climbing over it and started wailing.
The wails broke Marianne's heart. Dad looked down and slid his sword back into the cane.
"They hunt in packs" Marianne said
"What?" dad asked
"Those Harris Hawks"
"If only you could shoot like Steven" Dad vented his anger.
"Right old man. He shot well and is six feet under" Ken exploded
"Six feet under. YOU don't appreciate the one who lived to care for you" Ken breathed fire on dad and walked away.
"Dad," Marianne looked at Dad who was looking at Tootsie. Tootsie kept running left and right of the fence trying to jump over it. She does not want to believe that Chewy is gone for good.
"Tootsie, Tootsie" Marianne called and her voice started to break.
Dad went to the fence and stood there looking the skyline to which the Hawk flew away. Tootsie wailed for a while. There were tears in the sides of dad's eyes.
Marianne couldn't bear watching dad in tears and Tootsie wailing at the same time.
She ran back into the house and rushed to the bedroom. She jumped into the bed and let the tears wet the pillow.
She fell asleep after a while. She suddenly heard someone in the kitchen.
She could see dad walking down the hallway with a bowl. She got up and followed.
She imagined that the boys are in their room and Ken in his office. Dad walked outside to the front carrying the bowl and went to the doghouse. He knelt down with a struggle and looked down at Tootsie who was sad down and floored due to loss of Chewy. Dad put his palm on its head and poured something like a soup in Tootsie's bowl. Tootsie didn't eat. He kept feeding her with a spoon.
Marianne walked back to the house.
Few months later
Rudy and Mosher were running down the street and Rudy stopped in front of Marianne's house.
"Dude watch out for the dog man."
"No dude its the old man. He does something and the dog comes after us"
Grandpa stood up from his chair in the yard and whistled and tapped his cane twice.
Tootsie ran over the wagon and hopped over the fence growling and chased Rudy and Mosher.
Mosher took off so fast he left Rudy back. Tootsie bit on to Rudy's shorts and dragged him to the gate.
"Aaahh hwwhh noo Mom, Im sorry, Im sorry I wont bother you. I'm sorry. Sir I'm sorry I'm really sorry I wont bother the dog again" He was crying to Grandpa at the gate.
Ricky, Ken and Frankie came out and were laughing so hard. Marianne joined in on the fun.
Mosher was looking from far away and murmured
"Crazy Old man and the Crazy dog"
The lunch outdoor looked like a picnic. Dad said a prayer and Ken seemed to drown in surprising moments. Dad had Frankie sit next to him. He kept it no secret that he was fond of Frankie. After lunch Ken helped Marianne cleanup. Marianne went in and brought some deserts with ice cream, fruits and cranberry cocktail to cool off the hot afternoon.
Time was about two o clock in Marianne's wrist watch. The family was enjoying the afternoon breeze in the yard. She was reading the day's newspaper and Ken was doing some small talk to dad. Suddenly dad said
"I almost forgot I got something for Ricky and Frankie. Its in my duffel bag."
"Not to worry dad, I'll go get it" Ken got up and patted dad's shoulders.
"Moments like this I feel my age Marianne. I forget trivial things. But I remember the color of scarf Patricia wore the first time I saw her"
Marianne smiled at his recollection of a tender moment from his memories.
Ken brought the duffel bag. Dad opened and pulled a model warship which was about feet and a half long. Next he pulled open a box and it had a binocular. He called over Ricky and gave the binocular. Ricky thanked grandpa and jumped away with his binoculars. He then proudly gave the ship model to Frankie.
Frankie looked at it with a fascination.
"Thanks grandpa"
"Thats not just a ship model boy. It is of the USS Enterprise CV-6. The most successful warship in the second world war."
"Wow thank you Grandpa"
Ken had a serious look in his face. He still smiled. Marianne was surprised at this but didn't bother. She was happy to see grandpa enjoy the moment. Frankie ran into the house an brought out the portable twenty foot swimming pool and started pumping air into it. Looks like he found a way to put his warship to work. Marianne suddenly remembered the Gila Woodpecker. She want to the back of the house and looked at the tree. The woodpecker was still there. It hadn't moved a step. The water looked undisturbed and so did the bird feed container. She was worried wondering what happened to the female woodpecker which usually flies with the male. She turned back to the front and saw Tootsie looking up the tree. She ignored Tootsie and went to the front.
It looked like Ken and dad were having a small discussion. Marianne sat down.
Ricky was pointing his binoculars up the sky and spotting birds far away. He came to Marianne and wanted to show something.
"Mommy, mommy, look at the big bird. Its big like the buzzard we saw this morning"
"Ok honey. I know, I know its big. You have fun. don't disturb us." Ricky went away.
Ricky and Dad were talking about the boys.
"I brought the warship model for Ricky but I rightfully decided Frankie is the right fit for the boat"
"Why dad?" Ken asked
"He likes the military and he someday will make a fine soldier"
"What if he didn't want to be. like me??
Dad looked stumped. He didn't reply.
"If he doesn't go to the army are you going to love him less" Ken sounded sarcastic.
Marianne knew dad is upset now as his upper lip stiffened.
"Ken" She patted his shoulders
"Go play with Ricky. He needs your help"
Ken got up quickly and didn't hide his anger. He went towards Ricky and glanced a Frankie who was floating his warship on the portable water pool.
"Dad I'm sorry Ken said that"
"I'm sorry too"Dad replied tersely
"Its just that he carries the thought that you loved Steven more"
Dad turned to her a little shocked. His blue eyes seemed dilated. Marianne felt horrible. She didn't mean to hurt him. But she had to defend Ken to his dad.
"I know I was wrong Marianne. I felt lot closer to Steven because I had slowed down from active duty and settled with a desk job when Steven was growing up. But I was away too much when Kenneth was a boy. He used to write letters with crayon drawings when he was a little boy. He loved me. I was suffering terribly with my own self during those times. I ignored Ken, Patricia and my joy was Steven who idolized me. I was ecstatic when Steven enlisted himself to the Marines after high school. All ended in a the hands of an enemy bullet."
Dad was silent for a few seconds
" I was too self-centered to understand my other son who loved me as well. I am sorry I got carried away with Frankie".
"Dad" Marianne calmly called him
"its OK now. I am sure Ken will understand eventually"
"Thank you Marianne" Dad admitted
He then stared at Tootsie who seemed restless running around the yard.
"I used to be part of the K-9 corp in the WWII and Vietnam. Dogs are wonderful creatures"
Marianne suddenly became curious like a child.
"Really dad? Tell me more"
"It wasn't pretty. My first dog was one hell of a soldier. His name was Dick. Dick was a German Shepherd donated by a farmer from Wyoming to the US Army. He was good at scouting and the the unit we assisted during invasion of Okinawa had one of the least casualties because of the precious doggies. The japs were scared to death by these dogs. They couldn't hide in the thickets of the forest. The dogs will sniff them out. It was hard for us in Nam. The rain and artillery were hard for the dogs. I lost a dog called Big Eagle to artillery fire. Later I had Buck a tough Doberman for my last 7 years. I then transferred to an accounting job."
Dad kept looking at Tootsie.
Marianne had a funny thought. If it is not Frankie it can be Tootsie. Dad's favorite company she thought. But Tootsie and him are not friends yet.
"Tootsie, Tootsie" Marianne called
Tootsie tried to hop over the fence looking at the tree beyond, then turned away and came to her. Marianne caught her by the leash and rubbed her forehead. Then she pushed her to dad. Dad slowly rubbed her head. He did it slowly and Tootsie made a grumbling moan. There was a silence when dad rubbed its back. Tootsie suddenly looked up and started running to the backyard.
"She is a good one" dad said.
"Rottweilers are tough and loyal like Dobermans" dad was sharing his knowledge.
Ken stopped playing with Ricky and went into the house. Dad looked at him and turned to Marianne.
"Please let him know that I want to talk to him later before tonight."
"Its OK dad. But I don't think we should impose on the topic of military again." Marianne replied.
"Mom, Mom. Mom!!!!" Shrieked Ricky and came running with his binoculars.
A big hawk, a Harris hawk came down chasing a barking Tootsie and Tootsie followed the Hawk to the backyard. Tootsie jumped so high but missed grabbing the hawk. Marianne called Ken for help. Suddenly there was another Hawk from nowhere which flew down to grab Chewy. Ricky screamed so loud the Hawk flew away.
Ken was looking from the doorway and ran back into the house. Frankie stood there frozen and Ricky ran back into the house.
Dad flipped his cane and pulled his sword out. He came running towards the flying Hawk. He ran pretty fast for a eighty eight year old man.
Tootsie came back again out of nowhere and joined the foray and started barking to the sky.
Ken hurried out his shot gun and took couple of shots at the flying Hawk.
Then came a third Hawk which snatched the shivering Chewy and flew to the backyard. Ken kept running and Marianne, dad and Tootsie followed him. Kens shot went nowhere near the hawk.
Tootsie slammed hard into the iron fence and kept climbing over it and started wailing.
The wails broke Marianne's heart. Dad looked down and slid his sword back into the cane.
"They hunt in packs" Marianne said
"What?" dad asked
"Those Harris Hawks"
"If only you could shoot like Steven" Dad vented his anger.
"Right old man. He shot well and is six feet under" Ken exploded
"Six feet under. YOU don't appreciate the one who lived to care for you" Ken breathed fire on dad and walked away.
"Dad," Marianne looked at Dad who was looking at Tootsie. Tootsie kept running left and right of the fence trying to jump over it. She does not want to believe that Chewy is gone for good.
"Tootsie, Tootsie" Marianne called and her voice started to break.
Dad went to the fence and stood there looking the skyline to which the Hawk flew away. Tootsie wailed for a while. There were tears in the sides of dad's eyes.
Marianne couldn't bear watching dad in tears and Tootsie wailing at the same time.
She ran back into the house and rushed to the bedroom. She jumped into the bed and let the tears wet the pillow.
She fell asleep after a while. She suddenly heard someone in the kitchen.
She could see dad walking down the hallway with a bowl. She got up and followed.
She imagined that the boys are in their room and Ken in his office. Dad walked outside to the front carrying the bowl and went to the doghouse. He knelt down with a struggle and looked down at Tootsie who was sad down and floored due to loss of Chewy. Dad put his palm on its head and poured something like a soup in Tootsie's bowl. Tootsie didn't eat. He kept feeding her with a spoon.
Marianne walked back to the house.
Few months later
Rudy and Mosher were running down the street and Rudy stopped in front of Marianne's house.
"Dude watch out for the dog man."
"No dude its the old man. He does something and the dog comes after us"
Grandpa stood up from his chair in the yard and whistled and tapped his cane twice.
Tootsie ran over the wagon and hopped over the fence growling and chased Rudy and Mosher.
Mosher took off so fast he left Rudy back. Tootsie bit on to Rudy's shorts and dragged him to the gate.
"Aaahh hwwhh noo Mom, Im sorry, Im sorry I wont bother you. I'm sorry. Sir I'm sorry I'm really sorry I wont bother the dog again" He was crying to Grandpa at the gate.
Ricky, Ken and Frankie came out and were laughing so hard. Marianne joined in on the fun.
Mosher was looking from far away and murmured
"Crazy Old man and the Crazy dog"