after a brief conversation with his brotherhis wife pulled him away for something that couldnt wait

                                                                                                         that would be the extent of them talking

a family gathering

it was huge

the hellosgoodbyes were designated

lotsa luck in-between

too many people

too little time

after their brief conversation  others

after all the goodbyes

after sharing a nightcap with his Dad  always Drambuie

after his Dad went to bed

                            he thoughtspooled out  considered his brother was a cremator not that hed be a death row prisonerbut what if he knew he was to have his last meal

what would it be

he ponderedhad another Drambuie scribbled down some ideassome fantastic most modest   realistic

put his pen down on the paper

went into the livingroom pulled out the sleeper sofa made the bed

did his toiletry

opened the window across the endtable for fresh air and going to sleep mused over the list he made

in the morning he woke stripped the bed folded the bedding closed the sleeper dressed made coffee

he poured himself a cup and sat at the kitchen table  mused over the list  crossedout some ideas

Good morning, son. he was in his robe pajamas slippers

Excellent mornin Dad Im with you he got up from the table crossed the kitchen to hug and kiss him Yasleep well

I did, thank you.  You made coffee.

I did Hope its the way ya like

Smells good, smells the way mine does.

Thas a positive Why don ya sit I brought the paper in have it at your place  Ill bring you a cup

Don’t mind if I do. Any good news?

I didnt get into the paper thought Id leave the honor to you

So I can tell you.

Exactly Why read if youll tell me as you read

                                                 he always stayed with his father when he visited

this like the nightcap was what they didhad done for years

tradition

          yammered across the tablethe same table he sat at as a boy with his father on weekends after finishing his paper route they were the only two up rest of the family still fast asleep

they prattled

 

What time is it? his father asked

No idea but the coffees gone

Time to get dressed. Would you like to go out for breakfast?

Woud think its nearly lunch Dad

Would you like to go out for lunch, my treat.

We can do tha sure he stoodcrossed to his fathers side of the table and helped him up once he was standing he went to hug him  Not too hard son, I don’t want to wet us. they laughed he hugged him gentlykissed him again  I love ya Dad Sure is nice to be with you again

I love you too, son, it is real nice to have you home again.

 

he sat down again after his father left the kitchen  

had halfcup cold coffee

sipped it as he went down the list again

he pickedup his pen emphatically circledcircledcircled the meal chub of Liver sausage carawayseed rye bread onion horseradish almond peanut M & Ms quartcarton whole milk

1054,  Sunday,  17  9. 23

1221,  Reggaefriday,  6  10. 23

Max Richter  Written on the Sky  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VonndzPDoYM