My father came home sour from work this morning. Six squares of glass rattled in their panes as the backdoor shut a little harder than normal.
He’d been this way ever since they put him on the night beat.
He grabbed a bottle of beer from the icebox, letting itsdoor close on its own. Normally Ma would throw a fit for drinking in the morning, but since it was the end of his day she let him go without saying a word.
He pulled out a chair and sat down at the kitchen table where I was eating breakfast.
“Ya tired Da?”
“Guess so Paddy. Guess so.” Then he reached across and scratched the top of my head with a smile. We sat quietly for a long time. Then he stood up ready for bed and began to leave but not before stopping in the hall and looking back at us.
“I love you both.” He said.
Ma looked proud and I felt safe as he turned and walked up the stairs.
He’d been this way ever since they put him on the night beat.
He grabbed a bottle of beer from the icebox, letting itsdoor close on its own. Normally Ma would throw a fit for drinking in the morning, but since it was the end of his day she let him go without saying a word.
He pulled out a chair and sat down at the kitchen table where I was eating breakfast.
“Ya tired Da?”
“Guess so Paddy. Guess so.” Then he reached across and scratched the top of my head with a smile. We sat quietly for a long time. Then he stood up ready for bed and began to leave but not before stopping in the hall and looking back at us.
“I love you both.” He said.
Ma looked proud and I felt safe as he turned and walked up the stairs.