The Creek

Word Count: 467

The Creek

“Are we going to the creek today, Pa?” Excitement shone in young Georgie’s eyes.

Henry leaned over to ruffle his son’s hair. “You bet. Just as soon as we finish this nice breakfast your Ma cooked for us.” Henry winked at his wife as Georgie scrambled into his chair and began shoveling eggs into his mouth.

“I reckon the fish’ll still be there when you finish your breakfast,” Gracie scolded. She settled into the chair across from Henry with a cup of coffee.

Chastised, Georgie slowed his mad pace. When he had finished, he hopped up and dashed to the back door where Henry had set out their fishing gear; two rods and a tackle box.

“Someone sure is excited to be going fishing,” Henry commented.

“I think, more likely, he’s excited about spending time with his Pa,” Gracie replied.

Henry ate the last of his breakfast and kissed Gracie on the cheek. “All right. Let’s go, boy.” He grabbed his lucky fishing hat and let Georgie pick up the tackle box.

Gracie followed them out onto the back porch. “You two boys have fun!” she called.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and there was just a little breeze as they crossed their yard to the dirt road that ran along behind their house. Georgie’s favorite fishing spot was about a mile from their house, marked by the covered, wooden bridge. Henry loved seeing Georgie’s face light up when they came within sight of that wooden bridge.

Henry put his arm around his son as they walked. “Georgie, there’s something I been meaning to tell you.”

Henry and Gracie had argued over what to tell their son. Gracie thought he was too young to understand, but Henry didn’t agree.

“What is it, Pa?” The boy looked up at him solemnly.

Henry’s heart ached with love for him.

“I don’t want this to ruin our special day,” Henry cautioned. “But it’s gotta be said.”

“I’m listenin‘, Pa.”

“I’m real sick, Georgie. You know what it means to be real sick, don’t ya?”

“Like when I got the chicken pox and I couldn’t get out of bed for two weeks?”

Henry laughed. “Well, not quite like that. More serious than chicken pox.”

Georgie’s eyes widened. “You’re gonna get better, though, right?”

Henry sighed. “I don’t really know, son. The doctor’s are gonna try everything they can, but it’s not always up to doctors. Sometimes God decides He wants you and no one can stand in His way.”

Georgie thought about this for a moment, his little teeth worrying his bottom lip.

Maybe Gracie had been right. Perhaps the boy is too young to understand, Henry thought sadly.

Then Georgie looked back up at him, his baseball cap shading his eyes. “I’ll pray for you, Pa.”

This story won 3rd place in:

ID: 1101926   (Rated: ASR) A Picture Is Worth A 1000 Words Contest  Write a story in 1000 words or less to a given picture prompt. [Hiatus!] by iKïyå§ama