PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Jake wakes up excited about the day. Today is the day him and his dad go

to the park together. His dad’s been putting it off for over a week now and he promised

that he would take him today. Jake runs to the kitchen anticipating his father to tell him to

get dressed so they can leave, but instead he hears, “See you guys later, I’m running late

for a meeting. I’ll be home around seven.” Jake, stunned, stops where he is and his mouth

and head drop. His mom, not knowing the promise her husband had made to their son

asks Jake what was wrong. He responds by looking up, tears rolling down his face, and

walking away. Surprised by her sons tears, Jake’s mom walks after him into his room. She

sits down on the bed and begins asking Jake what is wrong. “What happened sweety?”

Jake’s mom questions. “Why are you crying? What did you dad do, or should I say not

do?”, she asked. “He promised he’d take me to the park. He said he didn’t have to work

today and that he’d take me to the park so we could spend some time together.” Surprised

that her husband would just leave without even telling Jake goodbye or explaining the

situation to him, Jake’s mom asks him if he would like to go to the park with her. Jake,

not in that same excited mood he was in earlier today, says “Sure, why not. Not like I

have anything else to do.” Jake’s mom call’s her work and tells them she can’t make it

today because Jake is sick. She then calls the baby-sitter and tells her that she isn’t needed

today because she is staying home from work. Jake gets dressed and begins to cheer up a

little. “I haven’t really spent time with mom lately either. This won’t be so bad,” he thinks,

“This may be fun.”



“Let’s go Jake. I’ll be in the car,” Jake’s mom yells. Jake runs to the car

half-excitedly and tells his mom, “Let’s go. We’re gonna have fun.” Jake’s mom, happy to

hear that Jake is in a better mood, begin’s to wonder why his dad has been putting off

going to the park, and why he didn’t even explain to Jake why he couldn’t bring him. It all

seemed too weird for her. He had never acted the way he had been acting the past few

weeks. But she decided to not worry about it today because she wanted to have fun with

her son.  They pull up to the park and rush out of the car. Jake rushes over to the play set

and slides down the slide, and swings on the swing, and plays on the monkey bars. All

while his mom just stands there looking at him in amazement. Loving every moment of

him smiling and at the same time seeing the same traits his father possessed. Later that

evening they decide to leave the park and stop and get a pizza. After they get the pizza

they go home for the day and wait for Jake’s father to come home to tell him how much

fun they had. Seven o’clock comes around and Jake’s dad still doesn’t show. Thinking he

got caught up at work they don’t pay it much mind. At about 7:45 the phone rings. The

voice on the phone says, “Yes, I’m looking for a Mrs. Mary Moore.” “This is she,” Jake’s

mom responds. “Hi Mrs. Moore. I’m calling on behalf of the Chicago Hospital to tell you

that your husband has been in an accident.” “Is he hurt? What happened? Where is he?”

She begins asking.









“Why don’t you come down and you can see him,” Says the man on the phone. Jake’s

mom drops the phone and tells Jake that they have to go to the hospital because his father

had been in an accident. Jake, scared and stunned, says OK and runs to the car. About 15

minutes later the pull in the hospital and run inside. Jake’s mom stops at the desk and ask

where can she find Jake Moore, Sr. The lady points down the hall. Jake’s mom runs down

the hall to find her husband. She finds him in the very last room sitting on the bed. “I’m

not hurt. Don’t worry, I’ll be OK,” Says Jake, Sr. “I was so worried about you daddy,”

said Jake. “We both were,” Said Jake’s mom. A doctor walks in with a grim look on his

face. “I’m sorry Mr. Moore, we were unable to save your child’s mother. But your

daughter is fine. We brought her down so you can see her.” Another doctor then walks in

with a baby in his hands and gives the child to Jake, Sr. Jake and his mom stand there

stunned in silence. Jake, Sr. looks at them and says, “I’m sorry. It was this woman at work

and we got drunk and then, well, you know.”  Jake then asks his father, “That’s why you

didn’t take me to the park. And that’s why you are never home. You don’t love us

anymore do you? Well we don’t need you. Me and mommy went to the park together and

had fun without you. And we ate a pizza and watched TV, all without you. You go live

with your other family and take care of your other kid. Because you know what daddy or

should I say Jake Sr. We don’t need you anymore. You are nothing to me. Goodbye,

forever.” And with those last words Jake walked out on his father just as his father had

walked out on him and on his promises. Jake’s chased after her son without even given her

husband a second look. She grabbed his hand and they walked out together. “We’ll be our

own family mommy. We don’t need him. And when I have a kid, I will never be like that

man. I’m gonna be a good daddy just like you’re a good mommy. I love you mommy,”

said Jake to his mom. And with tears rolling down her face she turned to Jake and told

him, “I love you too sweety, I love you too.”









Michael C. Lucas