The Father

“Son, come over here a minute. I want to talk to you.”

“Uh, I’m kinda in a hurry. What’s up?”

“Sit down. I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”

“uh-oh.”

“Yeah, uh-oh. Get your feet off the table. A girl came by the house earlier today looking for you.”

“Who was it? Debbie?”

“No, I know Debbie. I didn’t know this one. She seemed upset and I –“

“Wh-what did she look like? Was she, um – did she have red hair?”

“Yes, and yes, she was. Son, I think we need to talk.”

“Dad, I know what you’re thinking, and we don’t need to talk. It wasn’t me. She’s just a good friend, and she didn’t know where to turn. She didn’t think she could talk to her mom. Not about this. She wants to go somewhere and get it taken care of, but she needs money.”

“So she came to you? Dan, what are you thinking? You’re gonna give ‘just a friend’ the money to buy her way out of her problems?”

“Dad, I know what I’m –“

“No, Dan, you do not. Do you really think she will get something like that by her parents? And what about her parents? If she’s afraid they’ll try to talk her out of it, well, she’s probably right. But don’t you think they have a right to know that their daughter wants to have her insides scooped out? Oh, yeah, Dan, that’s what it is. It’s not like going to the school first aid office for some aspirin and a band-aid. It’s serious. What if something goes wrong? Suppose she went under and didn’t come back up? Do you want to go back and tell them? Tell them you funded the death of their daughter and grandchild?”

“Nothing like that is going to happen. They do these things every day. Thousands of them. And I hear there’s even a pill…”

“Dan, you have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m not gonna get into the question of morals on this, but I do want you to think deeply on the ramifications of that kind of decision. Fine, this isn’t your baby, and I realize you think you’re being a good friend by helping her out this way. I admire your commitment to your friends. But Dan this is her life and her baby, and her parents child and grandchild. I don’t think you want to get in the middle of this. Do you know who the father is?”

“Dad, I can’t tell you anything else. Just I have to do this and I know it’s right. I’ve got enough to help her from the money I got mowing lawns this summer, and I’m gonna use it.”

“Dan, you do know the father, don’t you? If you want to help her, then do what you can to get him to take responsibility.”

“Dad, just trust me. I’m doing the right thing. Leave it alone!”

“Dan, I can’t just turn away, because your actions could implicate you and –“

“If that’s what you’re worried about, forget it.”

“It’s just that if her parents found out you financed her abortion they’d accuse you of fathering the child and –“

“And what? Force me to pay for the abortion? I’m already doing that!”

“They could bring charges. Dan, you’re under my roof and you’re still my responsibility.”

“So you’re afraid they’ll come after you?”

“No, Dan, I –“

“Dad, for the last time, I’m doing the best thing. Please trust me, and LET IT BE.”

“Dan, are you sure this isn’t you’re child?”

“Yes.”

“She has to go to her parents eventually.”

“She can’t.”

“I know it’s hard to do, to face them, but she has to.”

“She can’t!”

“Look you and I are talking about it. I don’t think –“

“She CAN’T!”

“Why?”

“HER DAD’S THE REASON! OKAY? Now, please let it go…”

“Of course, it’ll be tough to talk to him. All kids are afraid of their father’s anger, but…”

“The father, dad.”

“Her…father?”

“The father.”

“Dear God.”

“The father.”

Light King Ranch Chicken Casserole Makes 8 servings Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 5 minutes Bake: 35 minutes 1 large onion, chopped 1 large green bell pepper vegetable cooking spray 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast 1 (10 ounce) can fat-free cream of chicken soup, undiluted 1 (10 ounce) can fat-free cream of mushroom soup, undiluted 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes (with green chiles, if desired) 1 tsp chili powder ½ tsp pepper ¼ tsp garlic powder 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas 1 (8 ounce) block of reduced fat Cheddar cheese, shredded SAUTE onion and bell pepper in a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. STIR in chicken and next 6 ingredients; remove from heat. TEAR tortillas into 1” pieces; layer one-third tortilla pieces in bottom of a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with one-third chicken mixture and one-third cheese. Repeat layers twice. BAKE at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly. NOTE: Freeze casserole up to 1 month, if desired. Thaw in refrigerator overnight, and bake as directed. *Have had but not “light” version and using regular diced tomatoes (no green chiles). Very good, even as a leftover.

Long Time Coming...

So I've been away. Tax time, start of soccer season, spring time chores starting up. But I don't want April to get away without posting something. And so, that's to the reader's benefit because it'll be briefer than normal.

Let's see...on the iPod recently, Iz "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World". You might remember the haunting version by the very large late Hawaiian singer/guitarist used in a toy commercial a few years back. Jason Castro did a pretty good version recently on American Idol (and now you know something else about me...I watch American Idol...and The Apprentice...and Survivor...and Hell's Kitchen).

Recent movie..."Sweeney Todd"...Depp does great musical. Lot's of blood, though. Put the kiddies to bed.

Cooking...gonna try giving you a recipe through Google docs. Let's see if it works. Light King Chicken Ranch Casserole

Also going to try to get to one of the other reasons for the blog...to post up some writing and get some feedback from any and all. So here goes. First a short that was really an exercise in a writing class to tell a story through only dialogue. The Father.

Something I learned -- Wilbur McLean has the dubious honor of being the only man who can say that the Civil War began in his back yard and ended on his front porch. He and his family decided to move from their homestead in the Bull Run area of Manassas, Virginia when the first major battle took place behind his home. He moved to a building in Appomattox that had been the courthouse. Robert E. Lee eventually surrendeded, you guessed it, at the Courthouse at Appomattox.

Something I'm proud of...being pressed into service as head coach of my son's soccer team and by gosh we won the first game and my son did real well at forward despite his tendency to hide back in defense. I'm proud of his stepping out of the comfort zone, even as I was.

And a happy moment...finishing an article that just would not get finished at work.

And something on communications...well, I keep seeing references to the "value of podcasts" or the "value of blogs" or the "value of social media" in business. But those topics are too broad to give any one answer on value. It all depends (there you go, Shel, one for you) on how the podcast, blog, or other social media is being used. In fact, I dare say that the most value in the business environment might come from these technologies or platforms when they're used behind the scenes and the user isn't even aware they're using a blog platform or participating in a traditional podcast. The idea here is the importance and value don't come from the technology but the fact that the communications effort reaches its audience effectively, engages them in an appropriate way and elicits the desired response or action. That could be said of press releases, brochures, ads, or any other communication medium.

Thoughts?