Midnight Bus To Flagstaff

It was a cool October night When I stepped on the bus. As it pulled out of the station, There were just twelve of us. I made my way to the back seat, Put my bags overhead, Because the hour was getting late, I had stretched out for bed. I noticed then this older man Just sitting five rows up. He read a book as he drank from His spill-proof coffee cup. And then I saw the monogram That both his bags had had. It was the letters CAG The same just like my dad. As we rolled down the interstate, All others were asleep. I thought I'd introduce myself And made it to his seat. We talked 'bout politics and sports, Whatever came to mind As that midnight bus to Flagstaff Went humming down the line. We talked about mistakes we made In our lives him and I. And then at once, he got choked up, A tear fell from his eye. I asked him what was wrong, he said "My one regret today Is leaving, yes, my wife and son. Just up and walked away. I couldn't handle fatherhood. It was too much for me. So in the middle of the night, I left my family. " He said he wished he could go back In time and do it right As that midnight bus to Flagstaff Just rolled on through the night. He said he heard his wife had died The year two thousand ten. I thought how strange he would say that 'Cause that is the year when I lost my mom, God rest her soul, When I was just nineteen. I only knew my father from Old pictures I had seen. He wished that he could find his son And look him in the eyes And with the most sincerest heart To him apologize. I asked him what his wife's name was And then I was so glad 'Cause this man I was talking to Turned out to be my dad. Then I hugged him and he hugged me. Our eyes filled up with tears. We had a lot to catch up on What we missed through the years. Now that midnight bus to Flagstaff Has a special meaning, see 'Cause that is where I found my dad And where my dad found me.