With Love, Father

With Love, Father

Remember the times when you rode around on your Father’s back? Bliss!!!.... And the times when you cried in a shopping market just to get that toy car? .... The times when he took you on those short rides… or pulled a prank with you? …  Unforgettable!! …. I know. Fathers are really something aren't they? Thanks Dad, for giving me such awesome memories.

But our Susie has a different father-daughter memory.

Susie was brought up in a boarding school. Her father had left when she was 3 years old and few months later her mother had died. Therefore, Susie never got a chance to learn who her father was or what he did. But now, after 20 years, a man, claiming to be her father was coming to see her. Susie didn't know how to react to this. Was she supposed to be happy? If so why?

But as days passed, Susie was excited about seeing her Father, rather than angry. So she was seen tailoring a coat for her father, in her bedroom.

“Miss, I have brought you some coffee”, called her house keeper, Martha.
Martha entered the room but immediately turned her back on Susie.

“Miss, what are you doing!!?”

“I’m making a coat for my father”.

“That is not what I’m asking? I’m asking about…. You…”

Susie looked down at herself. Smilingly she said, “Martha, There’s no need to feel embarrassed. It’s nothing. Remember when I had accidentally stitched my own dress with another dress material? I just don’t want to do the same with my Father’s coat. Besides, it’s just you. You don’t have to be surprised”
Fuming, Martha placed the coffee on the teapoy and started to leave.

“Martha. Do you think any of them resemble my father?”  Susie set aside the tailoring materials and looked at the row of faces that were placed on the table platform which matched the mannequin standing beside.

“Oh Martha, I’m finally meeting my father, after so many years. Do you think he would be a gentleman?

“He would definitely be Miss. A daughter like you surely would have a gentleman as her father”. Susie smiled.

A bell was heard. Susie jumped to open the door, but Martha stopped her. She asked her to dress and make herself presentable. Susie laughed. She dressed and ran downstairs. A man, in army uniform was standing. Susie forgot to breathe. This was her Father!!

“Hello Miss Sparks. I’m Colonel Philip Burns. I….. used to work with your father”.

“Used to? What do you mean Sir?” confused, Susie asked.

The Colonel’s eyes saddened. He stared down defeated. Two army officers carrying a huge wooden box entered the house. The officers placed the box in front of Susie. Martha gasped.

“A crew member suffered a plane crash last night. Your father jumped in to save him. The officer was rescued, but your father… he wasn't able to rescue himself….. I’m sorry.”

The colonel handed Susie a burnt picture. It was a picture of a man holding a baby in his arms. It was a picture of a proud father.

Susie’s knees gave up.

Her father… how could he leave her? Even before seeing her? Even before talking to her? Even before…. Tears ran down Susie’s face.

Susie looked down at the photo, the one lasting memory of her Father. All this time, he had treasured her photo, while she had believed him to be dead. And now the treasure became hers.

P.S. Out of all those faces in my room, none of them were my father’s.