though . Soon enough , I was just standing there deep in thought . “ You pickin ’ everything up now ?”
I jumped , “ WH- Oh , yeah . Um , I am .” I quickly started to pick things up again , it ’ s just Cray- Cray .
“ Y ’ know ,” Crazy Guy continued , “ it ’ s allotta work doing all this .” Tell me about it ...
He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in , “ Thank you , man . For – y ' know – helping him with all this . This means a lot to all of us !”
He grinned like a Chesire cat , waiting for a response . “ Um , thanks ...?” I said . He smiled with all of his brown teeth showing and walked away . I kind of feel bad – about everything !
I sat down on a nearby chair , I ’ m so stupid . I was just so selfish , I didn ’ t know that such small things I could do could make a whole bunch of people happy . My father , my mom , Cray – Cray , Lisa , and the rest of the members here . I kept telling myself that I shouldn ’ t be here or that I shouldn ’ t help people here . When , in reality , doing those things would make me happy , because it would make others happy .
I heard Ma call me to the car for home . I smiled , “ Coming !” I replied .
My dad was outside smoking a cigarette , he always left in his own truck by himself . He looked at me , his rosy cheeks lifting up for a smile .
“ Thank you for helping out around here ,” he said , holding his cigarette in one hand . I smiled , “ You ’ re welcome .” Maybe … I wouldn ’ t mind helping out here . For all of us .
In memory of my father January 1961 - November 2019