Act 1 Scene 4:Â at the wood pile, Junior has been working at it since lunch, he has made a good dent in it, he is running out of steam and is regretting his little joy ride he had earlier, he is on his knees loading the trailer with some wet wood from the bottom of the pile when his grandfather comes around the barn
Grandfather: “How ya doin’?”
Son: “I’m ok… now.”
Grandfather: “Still angry?”
Son: “Hard to be with such a big pile.”
Grandfather: non-nonchalantly walks up and picks up a piece of fire wood and places it in the wagon to complete the load and when they get to the new stack says,
Grandfather: “Why are you so angry with your dad? You know he loves you and he doesn’t like it when you two fight.”
Son: “I just can’t talk to him. I have thoughts and ideas and I’m not a little kid anymore… [he pauses here, he is thinking if he should tell grandfather what is really bothering him]… Grandfather, I have something hurting in the pit of my stomach and I just don’t know if I can forgive him. I just want to be treated like an adult.”
Grandfather: “Then start acting like one. You know he still see’s you as that little kid pulling fish up through the ice fishing hole. He can’t help it, he’s a dad. And forgiveness. Do you know what the definition for forgiveness is?”
Son: “We say we’re sorry and the other person can do whatever. And I’m not that little kid anymore.”
Grandfather: “Not quite, on both counts. The definition is, “giving up your right to be angry, willingly and out of love for the other person”, and never bringing the subject up again. That is, after you have a mature grown up talk about what it is that you are angry about.”
Son: “I don’t know if I can.”
Grandfather: “Somebody has to. ‘Deus Audaces’.”
Son: “Gramps, English please.”
Grandfather: “God commands the bold.”
Grandfather: “Don’t tell your mom I helped you stack, she won’t let me have dessert… right along with you.”
Son: “Thanks Gramps, I hear ya.”
grandfather exits the scene, the son has had time to think about what he has said, one or two more loads and he will be done moving the wood pile, as he is lost in thought he does not hear his dad as he walks up behind him, startled when he feels a hand on him he jumps.
Son: “You scared the crap out of me.”
Dad: “Penny for your thoughts?”
Son: “What?” with a tired, puzzled look on his face.
Dad: “Never mind, before your time.” he then, without saying anything also starts to load the wagon.
The second to last load is moved in silence, loaded slowly, no words spoken, no direct eye contact, they move in unison, the dad gives an approving look when they both stand to stretch and he see’s, for the first time it seems, how tall his son has become, not quite a man yet but certainly not the little boy he keeps in his minds eye either.
They walked back to the lonely, last, little pile of fire wood, loaded it in silence, on the way to the new stack you hear leaves crunching and a slow squeek in one of the wheels. Both have their heads down.
When they get to the pile, the son looks his dad square in the face and says,
Son: “Dad do you remember when I was eleven and you promised to take me fishing?”
To be continued…Â
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