Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Unsung Hero (12/07/06)
-
TITLE: The Garage | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tim Gunderson
12/14/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
This is where he went to get away. The wind howled as he shuffled through the snow, pushing the door shut behind him. This was a world in which he could find order and shape – it made sense. He swept the floor, organized his tools, and warmed his hands by the little woodstove that sat in the corner. Tokens of memory littered the walls and hung from the ceiling. The buzz felt good, numbed his mind as he quaffed another brew. His old friend Bud was there for him. “Billy’s got his beer goggles on” the song blared as he straightened paint cans on the shelf.
He wondered what it would take. It was never enough – dirty hands, a nice house, someone to warm the bed – still didn’t count for squat. The verdict in her eyes said so, and it cut deep. He couldn’t shake their importance to him – those eyes that once made his heart leap; those eyes that had smiled at him so many times, promising so much. But now he just wanted to run. Her kids thought he was a joke, and he felt like one. Were there not dragons to slay, maidens to rescue? Not here. Not today.
His first marriage had ended poorly. Perhaps that was all that kept him from leaving. Sure didn’t want to go through that again. How so much pleasure could bring about so much pain – he just didn’t know. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it and blew smoke into the crisp air.
His thoughts drifted back to when his father had died. A young man at the time, his life had been shredded. No chance to say goodbye – just gone. His father’s voice still echoed in memory, but he craved to hear it again. But that was a long time ago; his life was now. This was it.
He put another log into the stove, huddled close, listened again to the wind outside. He reached for another bottle and wondered – would it ever change?
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
My favorite line: "The verdict in her eyes..." I pictured a pair of eyes from a long ago memory and felt the chill all over again.
A good commentary on the ongoing search for hope.