| |
Greetings, Ripplemakers
If you have a story or two lurking around in the hidden recesses of your
mind, stories that are desperately trying to get out, set them free and send
them to me. I have room in my story inventory for your creations.
Don't be shy - and remember - you don't have to be a professional writer.
Just put your thoughts on paper and "send 'em in". We'll take it from
there. As you know, I prefer a Microsoft Word document attached to an
email, but it isn't an absolute requirement. Send them to
Starfish@Ripplemaker.com, with
"Submission" in the subject line.
Bob
|
|
|
We had a big-leafed,
hearty green vine growing up around our front porch in my childhood home.
It grew out from multiple base branches, somewhat like a bush, and covered
the bare lower portion of our old-fashioned porch. I thought our two-story
brick house looked so special because of that vine, and the day Dad decided
to cut it out was a memorable one for me. I came running out the front door
shouting, "Dad, you can't be chopping out our vine!"
To mom and dad, it was
a bothersome hunk of vegetation, always there, never disturbed until this
fateful day. Dad frowned and then laughed. "I've got to get it out of the
way so I can paint the criss-cross covering over the bottom of the porch,"
he explained.
Protest as I might, the
vine disappeared. While Dad removed the criss-cross panels, I climbed under
the porch to see what was there. In my overly imaginative mind, I pictured
critters and creatures crouching there, hiding from unbelieving adults. I
was sure that there were trolls, goblins, and gremlins, maybe a toad or
snake or two. When I crawled under, there was only dusty dirt, a few
straggly weeds, and (oh joy!) a new start of the old vine. Smiling like a
cherub, I crawled out and helped Dad industriously for at least ten minutes
or so. I was sure of future victory.
After the shiny gray
criss-crosses went back in place, I would soothe my rebellious soul at the
thought of our plain looking house front by gently tapping the covering and
talking to the troll I just knew had crawled under the porch before the
covering was replaced. "You got to eat, I know, but keep it to worms,
insects, and other small critters. Don't you dare touch that new vine!"
Mom would yell out the kitchen window and want to know who I was talking to,
but I'd just smile my secret vine smile and run around to the backyard to
play in the sand box.
When the vine start
never made it through the criss-cross covering, I began to have my doubts
about eventual triumph. A year or so later, I confessed my hopes to
Mom--only to find out that Dad had been suspicious of my suddenly
cooperative behavior. Before replacing the covering, while I was indoors,
Dad had crawled under and removed the new vine start. I guess he ran the
troll away too.
(c)2006 Mary-Ellen
Grisham
meginrose@charter.net
Author's note: I hope
you enjoy this episode with Dad as much as I do. The story may not be the
stuff of usual Father's Day lore, but I hope it gives you a chuckle. It's
really hard to fool a smart Pop! |
