Steve Begins

Steve begins

A father and son sat in their car in an uncomfortable silence in the driveway of their home. The father clenched teeth and with his hands gripped the wheel, breathes in slowly knowing that words needed to be said. And, not being ready with them yet, he spoke, without looking.

"Go inside, and wait for me in your room."

Remorseful the boy resisted saying anything and exited the car obeying, timidly stepping toward the house glancing back as he entered. His father remained in the car readying himself for what he had to do.

The boy’s mother heard him enter. “Steve?... that you?”

Rushing up the stairs, ignoring her was first in his heart, as it skipped a beat. Mom was home, crap, he thought, answering her, knowing no avenues of escape.

"Yeah, Mom... it's me"

"Where's your Dad?" As his mother appeared from the kitchen Steve slumps to sit on the steps and, listen to the wrath of his mother. 
"So you haven't got enough to do, have you? You’re grown now, out stealing cars, are you? What the hell was on your mind? Why did you and, that bum of a friend of yours..."

He couldn't answer.  His thoughts were on how stupid he had been for going along with Billy. They had gotten into trouble before but this was the worst.

"Steve? Steven, are you listening to me?" Snatched from his private lament,

"Yes Mama"

What did your father tell you to do?”

“Go to my room.”

Hands to hips, she stared at him. Steve understanding, bolted up the stairs and into his room. Knowing punishment was only a matter of time, he wanted to know what it would be. Mom and Dad would talk, so he closed his door partly, so the conversation between them could be heard.

The father enters pondering to himself his duties.

"Babe, how are we going to handle this?”, his wife asks.

"Joel--(the police chief and family friend) isn't going to make a big deal out it. It’s his first offence, and all. There was no property damage and the car was un-scratched, Thank God"

"God... what are you going to do?” She asks.

“I'm going to talk with him first.”

Steve sitting by the crack of the door jumped up and away, to his desk, as the steps heralded his father’s arrival. Stepping in he stares at him and sat on the bed.

“Steve I'm going to give you a history lesson and, when I'm done, I’ll need you to answer a question.”

With his back turned, "Do we have to now, I sorry for what I did. I only rode with him, Billy drove not me, I...."

"Stop talking and just listen."

Steve knowing his dad, poked for a soft spot. "Dad I'm not feeling well can we do this later?

Dad smiles, “Sure we can, but, If I do, you can head out to the garage tomorrow. Pull out all the garden tools, because I have a two month job for you".

School was out in two weeks. Steve turns around.

“What!”

Dad smirks back at him. “Willing to listen, now?”

Silenced after his failure to skirt the talk, his Dad began.

"I want to talk to you about some people and what they all have in common. There was a woman, who lived in the 1800's named Molly Pitcher.

"Molly Pitcher?"

“Yes and she fought in the Revolution to free America. She was known for two things; a big pitcher of water, which she brought to the battle fields to serve the men and when her husband fell, she took his place. Then, there was James H Meredith who in 1933 stood up and...."

Steve's father told the tale of at least ten heroic people and he was just finishing his recall of the Apollo 13 mission to the moon, when his mom called up.

"You done up there? Dinners ready."

Answering back, “We'll be down in a minute Hon.” Dad continues,

“You see Steve, Commander Lovell wanted to get back home and with steady nerve and strength of will he brought himself and his crew back to Earth. So son, my first question for you is, What did they all have in common?”

Steve sat mouth opened, a bit stumped. Seeing this, his dad answered, "They each started out no different from you.”

Still a bit perplexed having no response, his Dad continued.

“The next question I can't answer for you." Steve is all ears. "You have one life; it’s a sometimes wild and wonderful life. But son... soon you must decide what you will do with it. You don't have to answer now, but, think about it. You'll have to answer it one day. Then changing the subject, "So, lets go eat. And, by the way, you are... going to have some yard work to do, but it won't take all summer.”

Steve grimaced a bit.

As they descended the stairs he reminded Steve. “You think about what you are going to do. You think hard on it.” His dad smiling added, "You might really amaze yourself."

When they arrived and all were sitting at the table, Steve's Mom asked his Dad, as she did each night,
"Dear, would you grace the Jobs's table with a prayer?"

Original Word count 868
IronWorker156  aka D.S. Ferguson                                   

Originally written for TWC aka The Writers Cramp


Currently undergoing editing 11-05-11