Dad's Departure

My dad left my family on a warm summer day, with not a single cloud in the sky. His excuse was that he wanted to do something with his life, apparently having a family was not enough. Wearing that green and yellow Packer hat, I stood on the door frame watching him as he collected his belongings, forming a heap in the back of the Suburban. He stared down at me, and with a quick pat on the shoulder he said, "Take it easy kid." That was the last time I ever spoke to him.

When I walked back into the house, I frantically went searching for mom, to see what she had to say about this. I couldn't find her. Her bedroom door was locked. All I could hear was what sounded like rain, heavily, but gracefully falling down. Now that I look back, I realize that it was her tears.