Nascar Brought Dad Home
Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010
by Danica Hamlin
Some considered John to be a harsh man. It wasn't that he was harsh, it was that his job often brought him through harsh circumstances and he truly seen a lot of the worst the world had to offer. He worked for the FBI in Virginia and he specialized in crimes against children. Ironic even to him was the fact that he dedicated his life to solving the worst crimes known to man and that very dedication was costing him his own relationship with his only son, his only child from a six year marriage that ended badly, once again, due to the time his job kept him from his family.
Back to the Past
Since John had long since given up hope of connecting with his son truly, he had stopped asking David what he wanted to do while he was visiting and just started planning it. This weekend was the last he would spend with David before he would return to his last year in high school. He had long ago lost touch with the things David may truly enjoy and had planned a visit to the nearby Richmond speedway to take in a race. "What male doesn't like the sound of a couple of dozen racing engines?" he had joked with his co-workers when he purchased the tickets. As he glanced over at David in the passenger seat he didn't feel so convinced now.
As they pulled into the large parking area at the speedway David glanced up and over to his Dad, "A race huh?"
"Yes. My father used to take me to these when I was just a little guy. About the age you were when me and your mom divorced."
"Huh." David replied. John tried to remind himself that life itself wasn't amazing to most teens yet so he shouldn't take it personally. But considering how much time he had spent begging his boss for some time off with his son without being on call to rush to another state, he was kind of annoyed by how lightly David took his effort. Brushing it off he made his way slowly but surely to his seat in the stands.
As the two sat there in their uncomfortable silence John glanced at David from the corner of his eye. He thought of all of the children that had never gotten to grow to Davids age at all. He thought of all of the children whom he himself had helped to rescue from a fate surely worse than even death. And as he thought as hard as he could, he just couldn't regret having done that, even if it had cost him the close bond between him and his son, it had saved hundreds of other such bonds from being severed forever. As he had mentally resigned his fate once and for all he felt a tad better, but a lot more desolate.
"Actually, Dad, this is kind of cool." David said. Johns head flew to David's face with a quick smile.
"Actually, Son, I agree. I was just now remembering how much I used to enjoy doing this with my Dad. When he died when I was so young I remember thinking that I never wanted to see another Nascar race, I thought it would be too painful. But something feels right about this." John was stunned at what he had said. Since David was around ten he hadn't shared anything so close, as he always sensed how very far away David was. As he glanced at his son now, David quickly looked away and down the track to where the cars were sitting before the start of the race.
As the announcements before the start of the race the caller stepped up and said those famous Nascar words. "Gentleman, START YOUR ENGINES!", and the rumble of so many high performance engines raced across the speedway towards him and his son, John thought he could smell the very particular scent of his Dad's old favorite cigar smoke. Just as he shook his head and was inwardly berating himself for being such a reminiscing fool he noticed that David was yelling at him over the sound of the engines. As he leaned towards David, his son exclaimed.
"Dad, this is the best, I'm real glad you brought me! This is so cool, I can't believe we have never done this before!"
As John could feel the racing of the engines and the excitement of the race in his veins he suddenly realized his son did too. David had become animated and like a kid again in just the time it took for those gentlemen to start their engines. His hope returned, his son was like him. They did share common bonds and now he knew one of them that he hoped they could share forever. Just as he turned his head to watch the first cars go by, he heard David speak.
"Yeah, for sure this is cool Dad. I bet I'll even bring my son to the racetrack one day." As John looked up again he thought he smelled that lingering cigar smoke again and finally turning his face up to the sun, he thought to himself, 'Thanks Dad, I got the message.'
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