That's What Happens

That’s What Happens

“Son, I really need to explain this to you. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you can’t believe the joy that fills you. That’s what happens when you follow your heart.”

“Daaaaaaaad!”

“Son, I’m serious.”

One set of sad brown eyes looked up at Sam while the other set of brown eyes glowered.

“Will you just listen for a minute.”

“But, Daaaaaaaaad! I’m not in love! I’m angry!”

“Oh, I bet you are, but you brought a lot of this on yourself. Now, listen, I was about to tell you about the time…”

“Geez, not another story.”

“YES, now hush and listen.”

The sad brown eyes continued to look up at Dad, while the frustrated brown eyes rolled, crossed and finally stared out the window. His arms crossed tightly across his chest, huffing in his state of agitation.

He finally, started his parable for the benefit of his son.

“It was a long time ago; I guess I was about your age. I thought I knew everything about everything. A total jerk, just like you are being right now,” not missing a beat, he continued.

"Anyway, your mom, holy cow, she was a looker! That long blonde hair, those blue eyes, sheeez; she stole my heart. I never regretted it. I love her with all my heart. It took me weeks to get the courage to ask her out.”

"I know, I’ve heard this one before. Blah, blah, blah. Dad, just get to the point.” He continued to stare out the window, semi listening to the drone of the voice across the coffee table.

“Well, I would do anything to impress your mom. If she had said eat poo, I would have. “ Chuckling to himself, “It’s a good thing she didn’t. Anyway, she was a good girl, I was the bad boy, well I followed my heart, and here you are.”

The brown eyes rolled again, he flopped back on the sofa, and a sigh of frustration filled the room, “The point dad, I’m not doing anything like that.”

“Uh , oh… I didn’t mean that. Uh, the point is you have to follow your heart. And you did. So now you have to live with the consequences of your actions; like I have to live with YOU!”

“But Dad…” he sat up; an astonished gasp escaped, and stood to leave, “great, I didn’t come here for this.”

Sam stood up, motioning for his son to sit,

“No, now you know I didn’t mean it that way. Sit back down.
I fell so hard for your mother, we were so in love. I would do anything to make her happy.

I gave up my college scholarship, to be a dad for you. I worked two jobs so she could stay home with you while you were little.

If you wanted anything, I would make sure we had the money to get it. We sacrificed what we wanted to make sure you had everything you needed. I guess we spoiled you.

Now you think everything is supposed to be easy, but son, it wasn’t always easy. Everything, I’ve done over the last, how many years? Anyway, it’s been done to make your mom happy and you happy.”

That’s the point, son. When you follow your heart, you’re willing to over look the little things. You’re willing to give of yourself. Your joy comes from making those you love happy.”

“But Dad….”, he rolled his eyes again. The point of his visit missed the mark. No one would listen to his horrible tale, just another story about his dad’s whole life being to spoil him rotten.

“And honestly son, I wouldn’t change a minute of it. I love you almost as much as I love your mother.”

Silence crept into the room. Neither man knew what to say next.

“Dad, I’m furious. It has nothing to do with following my heart.”

“Oh but it does, son, it does!”

“How?”

“You fell in love with those beautiful brown eyes sitting over there. Look at how she’s looking at you. You’ve made her so sad. What are you going to do about it?”

“What?”

“You fell in love, and had to have her. You saved your money. You bought everything that she’d need. You made sure that she was well taken care of, and did your best to keep her happy, but right now, she’s miserable. What are you going to do about it? You’ve got to make this right.”

“Fell in love? Dad! I am not in love.”

“That’s what you say. But I see the way you look at her. Even when you’re angry, you won’t be angry long. You’ll look into those brown eyes and melt all over again.”

“Dad, you’re nuts!”

“Tell me you won’t forgive her any transgression. How can you look at her and not be willing to forgive her? Tell me how, if your mother looked at me that way, I’d be on my knees begging her to forgive me for being so mean. Yes, I would, you’d better believe it.”

“Dad, it’s a dog.”

“Well, isn’t that what I said. You fell in love with those precious brown eyes, that sweet disposition, that lovable pooch. Your heart melted and you had to have her. You shouldn’t have left your suit where she could get at it. She did what all pups do; she ruined it. Well son, that’s what happens when you follow your heart.”