Red Pocket Memories

Red Pocket Memories

My dad had his favorite jacket that he wore
doing work in the yard or tinkering in the garage.
Scarlet and black tartan plaid with dad-sized pockets in front.
Somewhere along the way, he began carrying Hershey’s Kisses
with him and he’d offer one to me at odd moments. Later
on, he added Hershey’s Hugs to the mix. He always seemed to know
the precisely right time to offer me one.

Years would pass, as I grew older, if not up,
between his offerings of special hugs and kisses.
A birth, a graduation, a daddy-daughter moment fishing on the lake,
some trial surpassed. Never any doubt of his love, support,
he always simply was and was always, supposed to be
there.

Midst the chaos after my father passed away,
Mom was going through his clothes,
relegating most to the pile for Goodwill. She kept
his raggedy old favorite wool shirt that, these days, hangs in my closet.
She tried to put his old jacket in the pile,
but I snagged it. Started to put it on, but I just couldn’t.
Yet.

A couple of years went by and one day, feeling blue,
I searched it out and put it on.
Put my hands in the dad-sized pockets,
and my fingers curled around two familiar shapes.
One hug, one kiss left from dad.

I unwrapped the kiss, gently smoothing out the foil.
Wrapped it around the paper kiss. Saved it in my jewelry box,
a precious silver jewel beyond worth. Savored chocolate and memories,
pondering on how or when it had been carefully placed,
on what he may have thought about when he placed them there
knowing at some point: she will find these.

Almost thirty years
have passed; dad’s last hug
still waits in his pocket.
I know it is there
and my knowing is as if
Dad lingers still.






Prompt for: Feb 18 (Ren/Fyn)
Subject or Theme: Red Pockets...who would you give one to OR who would you like to receive one from and why? Red Pockets  
Word(s) to Include: linger, chaos (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): red (except in the title), give, fortune, prosperity, monster (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: Use Red Pocket (or Packet or Envelope) as PART of your title. Do not use just “Red Pocket."
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.