Second Chances

Photo taken from google

“With sons and fathers, there’s an inexplicable connection and imprint that your father leaves on you.”…..Brad Pitt

It’s another Saturday early evening and he

Makes his way to the same restaurant and

Takes his customary seat in the corner away

From the ruckus of the “Saturday evening crowd”

Tick tock, tick tock……

They know him there. He’s been coming for

Years, first with his wife and now that she’s

Passed on, by himself.

The waitress sets the table for two even though

They know no one else is coming.

He’s been noticing something curious happening

In the restaurant lately.

He’s not the only one to come every week…..

He looks up to see an older gentleman with a

Young boy sitting at a table by the window not

Too distant from where he’s perched. They

Sit in the same spot every week. It’s been months now

That he’s been seeing them.

Tick tock, tick tock

He studies their mannerisms. At first the young boy

Seems a bit nervous, uncomfortable, a little

Fidgety.

Then As the time passes, he relaxes and seems to

Enjoy this time. Could it be that the young boy

Is his son or grandson?

Is this their weekly meeting time? He wonders….

Tick tock, tick tock

He notices how the young boy has grown over

The course of time they’ve been coming there

The more he studies them, He’s almost sure that it’s a father and son.

It makes him think of his own son. He wonders

Where he is these days. He regrets not fighting

For a better relationship with his boy.

Time dwindling down to a precious few days, months,

years……

Tick tock, tick tock….

He was so busy making a life that he forgot to

Cultivate a relationship that he could surely use now.

He inches closer to the edge of his seat, straining

To hear. Watching the expressions on their faces

Change from serious to jovial, to downright laughter

He could have had that….

He should have had that….

Only now it’s too late

If only he’d had the courage to fight. Complacency

Dominated his youth….and now,

Now fear paralyses him

he can only talk about what

Could have been.

He searches his pockets for money to pay his bill

Sets it on the table and heads off to the bathroom

Before returning to his empty house.

As He starts his shuffle back to his seat he sees that someone

Is sitting at HIS table, there must be some mistake.

Tick tock, tick tock…..

When he reaches the table the stranger locks eyes

With him and in a very quiet voice he utters

“Hi dad, I heard this is your hang out spot. Just

Thought I’d grab a cup of coffee”

Joy fills his heart as his eyes start to tear up. It’s his

Boy!  Time stood still just at that moment. He glanced

Over to see his imaginary friends still laughing and joking.

Perhaps he had indeed cheated time…..

Tick tock, tick tock

Second chances!!!