Soon after Ray's party has begun, I, along with most of the parents and children, are coaxed from the back yard to the front lawn where excitement is building, because a bright, red train is chugging up to the curb in front of Marie's house. While most everyone gathers around the train, I see David getting out of his car. And as I'm the first familiar person that my youngest son spies, his face breaks into a smile, which normally delights my spirit so much that the sparkle in his eyes ignites my own—however today, while stepping into David's embrace, my heart feels pierced with pain to know that, momentarily, distressing news is sure to turn our youngest son's smile upside down …
Once David steps out of our hug, I watch his sparkle fade as fast as his intuitive mind absorbs the tremulous expression on my face, and as tension arises, vaporizing all sense of delight, David parrots his brother Steven—Mom—what's wrong?
At this, my line of control works overtime to contain waves of raw emotion, which backing up inside my throat, drown my attempt to answer my son, so taking David's hand, I lead him to where Will has been standing, watching us, and in less time than it takes to blink twice, we three have sought refuge from everyone—who's delightly claiming seats on the train—behind the closed door of Marie's bedroom where instinct suggests my deferring the role of leadership to my husband. And by taking a seat in the rocker, I offer Will a chance to impart distressing news to David, who, upon absorbing the fact that his father has cancer finds his shield swept away as raw emotion takes a ride through the rapids, catalyzing father and son to pull each other into a man hug, which lasts until David, regaining his composure, releases his dad.
Then, before either of us can offer David comforting words of support, he switches gears, and swiping away at cheeks wet with tears, our youngest son faces his father as straight and tall as a strong, young oak, which, being deeply rooted in fertile soil, stands its ground after having weathered many a storm (patience my friends, one story at a time), and as Will and I listen to David's heartfelt declaration, emanating from deep within his sense of courage, we can't help but marvel with pride at the three, strong men our trio of rough and tumble, little boys have grown up to be—And once your mind has absorbed the strength inherent in David's heartfelt statement, catalyzed by familial devotion, you'll see why Will and I have sound reason to believe that no matter what lies ahead, we'll always have at least three incredible reasons to feel truly blessed, every day …
Once David steps out of our hug, I watch his sparkle fade as fast as his intuitive mind absorbs the tremulous expression on my face, and as tension arises, vaporizing all sense of delight, David parrots his brother Steven—Mom—what's wrong?
At this, my line of control works overtime to contain waves of raw emotion, which backing up inside my throat, drown my attempt to answer my son, so taking David's hand, I lead him to where Will has been standing, watching us, and in less time than it takes to blink twice, we three have sought refuge from everyone—who's delightly claiming seats on the train—behind the closed door of Marie's bedroom where instinct suggests my deferring the role of leadership to my husband. And by taking a seat in the rocker, I offer Will a chance to impart distressing news to David, who, upon absorbing the fact that his father has cancer finds his shield swept away as raw emotion takes a ride through the rapids, catalyzing father and son to pull each other into a man hug, which lasts until David, regaining his composure, releases his dad.
Then, before either of us can offer David comforting words of support, he switches gears, and swiping away at cheeks wet with tears, our youngest son faces his father as straight and tall as a strong, young oak, which, being deeply rooted in fertile soil, stands its ground after having weathered many a storm (patience my friends, one story at a time), and as Will and I listen to David's heartfelt declaration, emanating from deep within his sense of courage, we can't help but marvel with pride at the three, strong men our trio of rough and tumble, little boys have grown up to be—And once your mind has absorbed the strength inherent in David's heartfelt statement, catalyzed by familial devotion, you'll see why Will and I have sound reason to believe that no matter what lies ahead, we'll always have at least three incredible reasons to feel truly blessed, every day …
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