a creative moment

Chris woke early that morning, jumped out of bed with a ear to ear grin. He did not sleep much that night. He was far to excited. He dashed down the stairs.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Mom! Wake up. I can’t be late.”
His mother heard his calls from down the hall and slowly rolled out of bed.
“Oh Chris, it’s barely seven. He wont be here til after ten.”

Chris had been waiting for this morning. Two weeks ago, his mother told him he would be spending the summer with his father. “Your dad said he would come for you around ten. Your flight takes off at 1:30, and you should be in Missouri by 9.”

She walked into the kitchen. Her bare feet met the tile and she stopped. She thought to herself, “What if he doesn’t come?” She took another step and opened the fridge. “He will come, he has to. God forbid he spend a summer with his son. He hasn’t seen him in over two month. And every time he says he is going to come something else always comes up. His ass better show up”, she said as she grabbed the orange juice. “I need to stop talking to myself.” She leaned over the counter, “Do you want eggs or pancakes?” Chris responded with, “My boots… did you pack my hunting boots?”

“Yes Chris, it’s all there. Don’t worry it’s all there.”

“Dad’s taking me dove hunting and if I don’t… It’s his favorite thing to do. I have to have my stuff.”

“Chris, it’s all there. Come and eat some breakfast.”

This would be Chris’ first hunting trip with his father. Ryan, Chris’ dad, grew up hunting in Missouri and every chance he got, Ryan would go back home to hunt. Ever since Chris could remember, his dad had been telling him stories of hunting trips form when he was a little boy. Ryan started shooting when he was five, and went of his first hunting trip when he was seven. He had always told Chris that when he turned seven he would take him hunting. Now that Chris was ten, he was finally going on that log awaited hunting trip with his father. He was excited to spend the night under the stars, just him and his dad. He was excited to shoot a gun, scared but excited. He was excited to spend an entire summer with his father. His father loved hunting so he would love hunting too.

“Mom! What time is it?”

“Oh… it’s almost 9.”

Time was passing with no call from Ryan. Chris was getting worried. His mom tried to get him to calm down and just wait, reassuring him that his father would be there soon.

Calling out from upstairs, “What time is it now.”

Walling from the living room, “Well, let’s see. It’s 9:08. Don’t worry, I’m sure he is on is way. Okay son?”

Chris sat, waiting by the door, with the house phone in hand. The phone never rang. There was no knock at the door. Ten o’clock came and passed. Chris left the phone by the door, and walked to his room.

After leaving him to himself for a few minutes, his mom knocked on him bedroom door. “Son, it’s only 10:15. He might just be running late.” As the word came out of her mouth, the phone rang. It was his father.

“What do you mean… What came up?… No it’s not just something… What came up?… Ryan, you can’t do this to him… He was been looking forward to this for weeks… Fine!… Fine!… But I’m not telling him… Come over here and explain to your some why you can’t take him. I’m not telling him Ryan. I’m not.”

She took the phone away from her ear and let out a sigh. “Chris, it’s your dad.”