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Category: Short Stories | Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 9:34 am

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Preston Walters rolled his eyes and sighed heavily as warm air started coming from the air conditioning vents. This always happened when he was in the car line and it was one of the reasons that he hated picking Misty up from school. He shut the air off and pushed down on the electric window buttons. The front, passenger window glided down with ease, but the other three stayed put. He slammed down on the buttons with his fingertips repeatedly, hoping to get some kind of reaction, but the windows didn't budge. By the time he got to the pick-up point he was soaked with sweat and totally frustrated.

Misty saw his car and started jumping up and down, waving excitedly. When the all clear signal was given she ran to the window and shrieked, "Hi Daddy!"

In a sour voice he uttered, "I'm hot. Just get in the car so we can get out of here."

She opened the door and jumped in, throwing a pink book bag in the floorboard. Totally oblivious of his bad mood she said, "I like it when you pick me up Daddy."

Preston looked her way, forced a smile and lied. "So do I Honey. So do I."

Misty talked non-stop all the way home, going into great detail about every minute of her day. Preston simply drove and half listened, offering an obligatory, "Really?" or, "You don't say?" during the rare quiet moments. When they reached the house Misty jumped out as soon as the car stopped. Before he could even get out of the car she was bursting through the front door. As he watched her run inside he could hear her small, excited voice, "Mommy, Mommy! Guess what I did today?"

Preston sighed and leaned over to pick up the book bag.

Later on that day, while walking to the garden, he relived his drive home with Misty. He didn't like the way he felt toward his six year old daughter, but he just couldn't seem to get over it. Misty was their third child and the only one that wasn't planned. In fact, she was a total surprise, coming nine years after Tiffany and eleven years after Jack, now a senior in high school. He thought about having one child ready to graduate while another was just starting school. He suddenly felt tired… and very old.

He stopped at the gate and looked out onto the garden. This was his favorite place to be, his silent escape from life. He spent at least thirty minutes a day here pulling weeds, picking off bugs, looking for new growth and just enjoying the time outside. It always helped him get his mind straight. His eyes moved to the end of the garden. There, completely covering the fence was the plant that had become the central point of his backyard getaway.



Last edited: Sun Apr 17, 2016 1:25 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 483 times

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Donna S wrote on Thu May 08, 2014 9:54 am:

You have me hooked. When does part 2 get here?

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eclecticgarden wrote on Thu May 08, 2014 10:46 am:

Thanks for reading Donna. Part 2 will be posted tomorrow. ~Tom

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eileen wrote on Thu May 08, 2014 11:06 am:

Aww I wanted to keep reading!! Now I have t wait until tomorrow. Actually I now have something extra to look forward to when I come in here. Thanks for part 1 and I'm waiting in anticipation now for part 2.

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Green Fingers wrote on Thu May 08, 2014 1:39 pm:

Oh, sometimes I do the same to my 7yrs old daughter when she goes on and on about her school activities and I just listen halfheartedly! Feeling guilty now :( . Looking forward to the next part Tom!

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