A Great Day(Darrell Case) Logan clutched the toy truck in his right hand, letting it dangle. Tears moistened his eyes. His daddy had promised he would take him to the park this afternoon. He sniffed, trying unsuccessfully to hold back the tears. The back lawn was soaked, and water dripped from his play set. The rain drops running down the windowpane seemed to race each other. Logan’s daddy had promised they would have time together. Owning a hardware store wasn’t like just working there. Chris had to be there before the rest of his employees and many times stay after closing time.
The rain had started at noon. Logan had played in the backyard all morning. He was a cowboy herding cattle. Actually rocks from a pile in the backyard. Then he was a firefighter fighting flames rescuing children from a daycare center. Then a policeman in a deadly shootout. Logan’s mother, Amelia, called him to lunch. She set a grilled cheese and a big glass of milk at his plate. Logan bowed his head while his mother said grace. He dove into his sandwich, telling his mother all the exciting things he and his daddy would do this afternoon. She smiled at him and helped him wipe his mouth. The thunder scared him. Sometimes at night when the thunder rolled crossed the sky, he would sleep between his mommy and daddy. Mommy on one side, daddy on the other. With them to protect him, he was safe. They would join hands over his back. His daddy would smile and tell him God was watering the world.
“Why doesn’t he do it quieter?” He asked one night when thunder shook the house.
“He wants us to know He’s working.” His daddy said with a smile.
“I wish He would do it quieter.” Logan said sleepily.
“Go to sleep honey, you're safe.” His mommy said. And he was.
The next morning, a shaft of sunlight came through the window. He came downstairs in his pajamas. Daddy had gone to work and mommy had prepared his breakfast. Afterward, he played on the porch until the lawn dried.
Now he heard the kitchen door open. Then murmured voices. He turned from the window; his eyes moist. Tears on his cheeks. His daddy came into his bedroom.
“Ready for some fun, buddy?” His daddy said.
“But…but daddy it’s raining.” Logan said, eyes spilling over. “We…we can’t go to the park in the rain.”
“Then we’ll just have to have fun here.” Chris said, smiling. He picked Logan up and carried him into the living room. “Ok, first game hide and seek. You hide, I’ll seek.”
So, he hid under his mommy and daddy’s bed. Chris looked everywhere. Except under the bed. His wife smiled when she came to the doorway of their bedroom. Her husband held his finger to his lips. He pointed to the bed and mouthed. ‘Under there’. He heard a giggle. Getting down on his knees, he looked under the bed. He smiled. “There you are. Boy, you sure are a good hider. Now you find me. But before we do…tickle time.” Laying his son on the bed, he tickled his ribs. Logan’s mother joined in. Together, they tickled their son. Gales of the little boy’s laughter echoed throughout the house.
Jumping up from the bed, Chris ran out of the room. Amelia set up. “Boy, he’s slippery. Go find him, honey. “She said. Logan found him in the living room with a lampshade on his head. “Found you.” Logan said, smiling he tugged on his daddy’s shirt. The little boy laughed. He didn’t even notice the sun was shining. But his daddy did.
“Ok let’s go to the park,” Chris said. Putting his son on his shoulders, he marched down the sidewalk. At the park, they played ball. Rode on the merry-go-round and swings with daddy pushing. Daddy carried a roll of paper towels. He smiled at his son. “So you won’t get your butt wet.”
At 6PM, they returned home. His mother had pizza ready. Logan ate three whole slices.
After his bath, he came back downstairs and settled in between his daddy and mommy to watch a Disney movie. He fell asleep with his daddy’s arm around him. Carrying him to bed, Logan woke up halfway.
“That was fun.” The little boy said sleepily.
Kneeling by his bed, Chris and Amelia kissed their son. “We love you, buddy,” Chris said. Smiling, Logan drifted off to sleep. It had been a great day.
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