Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Winter Insulators! Part 4.
Finally he called to me to come over to where he was sitting. By this time I was nearly frozen. Are we leaving? Of course not, said dad. But you can stay here for a while and I will get those crossarms. Let me help you, said I. You can help by staying here, said dad, it will be safer for both of us. Not sure what he meant by that. He seemed to be walking rather slowly. It’s good thick ice, I called out to him. He turned around and shouted, what did you say? The ice is good and thick, I called back. Dad looked around. I don’t see a stick, he said. That’s right, said I, just keep going. Dad looked down at his feet. They’re fine, he called back. I don’t know the time, I didn’t bring my watch, said I. Good, just keep watching from over there, he said.
Off he continued and arrived at the crossarms. Oh, he forgot to take the axe with him, better take it out there, he might need it. Dad was pushing on the crossarms as I arrived with the axe. You forgot the axe, I yelled. AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! said dad and he fell quickly to the ice and there was a very loud CRACK! It broke, I said. Dad got to his feet amazingly fast. Why did you yell?, asked dad. Because you were not able to hear me very well, said I. Bonehead, you are only 6 feet away now, he said. Minor detail, said I. At least the water isn’t coming up this time, said dad.
Toss me the axe, he said. Well, that is what he said, toss. So I did. The look on dad’s face was priceless again. I didn’t throw it high or hard, just tossed it and if dad hadn’t jumped it would have missed him completely. But, he jumped, right into the path of the axe, which then connected with his leg. Just below the knee. Dad started his little pain dance again, groaning rather loudly. At least it was the flat side of the axe head that hit him. Then he leaned on one of the crossarms that was sticking out of the ice. Which then broke free since the ice had cracked substantially when dad fell. Down he went again and hit his head on one of the insulators. That caused him to groan some more while holding his head.
Why did you sit down on the ice?, I asked. That must be cold. Dad just looked, then said, bonehead! Dad enjoys strange things sometimes. I helped dad get up. It’s a good thing I’m around when you hurt yourself, just think what might happen if I wasn’t here, I said. Nothing, said dad. Odd thing to say. And also odd wanting to go look for insulators in the winter. Sigh. And we haven’t even had our coffee yet…dad just mumbled something about wanting to get home while he was still in one piece. So we decided to head back. Didn’t even find anything interesting, I said. Dad didn’t say anything. I think you’re ear is getting bigger, I added. Dad just said “bonehead” and kept walking back to the car. At least he enjoyed himself.
And I hope you have enjoyed this true story with my dad and I. He passed away some years ago but there are a lot of memories of times we had together. I hope you have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
20/20 Investigations, Inc…Chapter 10.
I slowly open my eyes. Muffin is slapping my face once again. Meow, meow! (Wake up, this is no time to sleep!). I’m not sleeping Muffin. Oh, my poor head, what happened? Meow, meow! Right, that truck ran us off the road, now I remember. Hey, where’s Lydia? Is she okay Muffin? Meow! What do you mean she disappeared? Meow, meow! You were thrown out the open window and Lydia came and woke you up. Meow, meow! Then you saw me and came running over here. Meow! You turned to see if Lydia was coming too but she was gone? Meow? No, that doesn’t mean she’s a ghost.
It does mean she ran away though. But why? Meow! What do you mean, that’s a good idea, let’s run away too? I sure would like to know who was driving that truck. Meow! What, it was John? Are you positive? Meow, meow!! (Who can forget that scary man!!). Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Meow? (Like perhaps getting home?). No, we’re close to the house, let’s get over there quickly. And stop sighing like that! Meow? (Is there another way to sigh?). Hey, wait a minute, what’s wrong with your paw? Meow. It was hurt when you were thrown out the window? Let me take a look. Good, it’s not broken at least. Here, you sit on my shoulder.
Off we walked. It took us about 20 minutes to get back to the house. Okay Muffin, when we go inside I want you to hide right away. Meow. (I’m good at hiding.). I whisper some instructions to her. Meow. (Okay.). I figured John would show up soon when he saw we were not killed in the accident. Muffin and I went in the back door and Muffin took off to hide right away. I went to try and find Lydia. Hmm, not downstairs in her kitchen. I went up to the third floor next, but still no sign of her anywhere. Was I wrong? Maybe she didn’t come back here after all.
Hmm, what’s this? Blood, and fresh too. Okay, she has a different spot to hide. I open and close the top dresser drawer. Part of the wall opens and there was Lydia with a terrified look on her face. She was somewhat relieved to see it was me. But how did you find me?, she asks. Your hand is bleeding and you left a bit of blood on the dresser drawer. I figured you would be scared enough to make a mistake. Now, explain. What is there to explain? I saw it was John driving that truck so I ran in case he came back. So you left Muffin and I behind to get killed?
No! I saw you didn’t look badly hurt so I went over and woke up Muffin, I figured she would get you out of there quickly. Thanks so much, you could have done the same thing. But I was just too scared, I wanted to get out of there! Do you have a first aid kit? Yes, in the other room. I took her in there, cleaned and bandaged her hand. That seemed to calm her down. Okay, now we go down to the living room and wait for John to show up. What? I’m not going down there! Oh yes you are and I grabbed her arm quickly as she tried to run. I practically had to drag her down the stairs. Now you sit in that big armchair, I said to Lydia. And?, she asked. And we wait.
To be continued…
Steve and Muffin.
© 2020 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 