"Hey, I know it doesn't often seem like it, but I am proud
of you. You're a good person, a good man." He uncrossed his legs and
leaned forward to be closer.
"Thanks." The boy stood awkwardly awaiting the rest of the speech.
"Your mother and I only want the best for you. You're closing in on the time when we won't always be around for suggestions or to bail you out." He rubbed his chin as the emotions swelled inside. He took a long deep breath and stood up.
"I know and I will do better, I'm not going to be doing stupid stuff no more."
"Here let me show you." He resisted the urge to point out how often such promises had been made. Instead, he grabbed the boy's shoulders and turned him toward the mirror while positioning himself at his side. He quickly undid his own tie. "Here, now follow along as I do it - it isn't that hard." The rustling of fabric filled the room as they stood silently side by side as the younger mimiced the older's movements.
"No, you have to wrap it twice and then come under." He checked his voice to avoid sending the wrong message as he reached over and slowly undid the boy's work and placed the two ends in the anxious hands to restart the process. He watched as he methodically retraced his own movements and a smile stretched across his face as the end result met expectations.
"There you go, it looks great." He slid behind the narrow shoulders and reached around to straighten the knot. A little collar adjustment and the jacket followed. Their eyes met as they both looked into the mirror and their was more thoughts passed in the brief moment than could have been exchanged with any words. He wrapped an arm around him and gave him one squeeze - not knowing when another chance would arise.
"Okay, you ready?" All heads nodded agreement as they stepped into the bright afternoon sunlight. He grunted towards the boy and tossed the keys in his direction as he found the back seat and let the younger boy take the driver's seat. A sudden sadness filled him as they rolled down the highway - it was both a day of celebration and an ending. He would miss that smiling face and the daily regiment of youth, but he felt sure that he had done everything possible to prepare him for the the road ahead.
"Thanks." The boy stood awkwardly awaiting the rest of the speech.
"Your mother and I only want the best for you. You're closing in on the time when we won't always be around for suggestions or to bail you out." He rubbed his chin as the emotions swelled inside. He took a long deep breath and stood up.
"I know and I will do better, I'm not going to be doing stupid stuff no more."
"Here let me show you." He resisted the urge to point out how often such promises had been made. Instead, he grabbed the boy's shoulders and turned him toward the mirror while positioning himself at his side. He quickly undid his own tie. "Here, now follow along as I do it - it isn't that hard." The rustling of fabric filled the room as they stood silently side by side as the younger mimiced the older's movements.
"No, you have to wrap it twice and then come under." He checked his voice to avoid sending the wrong message as he reached over and slowly undid the boy's work and placed the two ends in the anxious hands to restart the process. He watched as he methodically retraced his own movements and a smile stretched across his face as the end result met expectations.
"There you go, it looks great." He slid behind the narrow shoulders and reached around to straighten the knot. A little collar adjustment and the jacket followed. Their eyes met as they both looked into the mirror and their was more thoughts passed in the brief moment than could have been exchanged with any words. He wrapped an arm around him and gave him one squeeze - not knowing when another chance would arise.
"Okay, you ready?" All heads nodded agreement as they stepped into the bright afternoon sunlight. He grunted towards the boy and tossed the keys in his direction as he found the back seat and let the younger boy take the driver's seat. A sudden sadness filled him as they rolled down the highway - it was both a day of celebration and an ending. He would miss that smiling face and the daily regiment of youth, but he felt sure that he had done everything possible to prepare him for the the road ahead.
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