Not Now Son

Dad was lounging in his chair, the football game had just begun. Beside him with his baseball, glove and bat, stood his little son. "Daddy, will you come outside and play some catch with me?" "Not now, son, I want to watch the game, please let me be!" "Daddy, will you take me fishing, it's such a pretty day, And maybe we can have a picnic, if that would be okay!" "Not now, son, find some friends and run along and play. I'm scheduled to play a round of golf with my pals today!" 'Neath the tree Santa had left a beautiful, sporty Schwinn. The lad was anxious to show it off and take it for a spin. "Daddy, can you teach me to ride? It won't take you very long." "Not now, son, maybe your Mother can, now please run along!" On a winter's morn the ground sparkled with newly fallen snow. The little fellow's heart beat faster, his face was all aglow. "Daddy! Daddy! Will you take me sledding on my Flexible Flyer?" "Not now, son, I want to read the paper and stay by the fire!" Swiftly passed the years, the boy now had a family of his own. He lived far away - his aged father called him on the phone. "Son, please come to visit me, I'm so lonely and all alone!" "Not now, Dad, I'm enjoying my son - a trip I must postpone!" Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)