eat.
I made myself a smaller portioned plate and sat down at the small table to his left.
“So, uh,” Hank began awkwardly. “You got a big birthday today, don’t ya, boy?”
“Yes, Sir,” I replied slightly taken aback by his starting a conversation at breakfast.
Hank had never been much of a morning person and sometimes we would eat completely in silence. If there ever were conversation at breakfast, it had always been initiated by him and not me.
“It is a big one. And me graduating in a couple of weeks makes it all the better.”
My stepdad gave me a nod.
“I’m proud of ya, Austin,” he said uncomfortably. “I never made it past 10th grade down in Arkansas, and here you are going all the way through.”
“Thank you,” I replied deeply moved by his words. “Did you get a chance to look at the community college brochure that I gave you?” I asked. “Summer will come and go before we know it, and I was wondering if you had made a decision on whether or not I could go.”
“You’re 18 now. Why are ya askin’ my permission to get some more schoolin’?” He asked in between bites.
“Well, Sir, I hadn’t forgot the promise that I made ya when Momma took off and left us,” I began sheepishly. “I agreed to take care of the house and do your cooking and cleaning for you. You have given me the only real home that I ever had, so I wanted to ask your permission and get your blessing before I make a big decision like that. Besides, the school’s in town. I could still take care of things around here and go to community college too.”
His intense blue eyes looked me up and down, and he smiled. “Thank ya, Austin. It means a lot to hear you say that to me. I suppose you could do both, but I figure on studyin’ on it a little more.” Hank paused. “I’ll let ya know tonight when I give you your birthday present.”
Birthday present?
Since I had been 13, my step dad had never given me any birthday or Christmas gifts. I wondered why he had chosen this occasion to give me my first real gift. I was speechless for a moment.
“Uh, sure, Sir, that sounds real good,” I replied utterly shocked by the fact that he had actually gotten me a present.
“To get your present, there is something ya gotta do before hand,” Hank said, looking up from his plate.
“Sir, I hope ya know that I would do anything that you asked me to do.”
Hank smiled. “That’s what I’m counting on, boy.”
“What is it?”
“After ya get home from school, I want you to shave off every strand of hair growing on ya from the neck down,” Hank stated. “And make sure you are wearing them tight white briefs of yours.”
My mouth dropped open. I was not sure what to say. All I could manage was.... “Why?”
“It ain’t your place to be askin’ why, boy,” Hank said with his deep voice rising a little. “If you want your present, you will do as I say! If ya don’t shave it all off, I’ll know that you don’t want what I am plannin’ to give you.”
What the hell was he talking about? What was this...some sort of riddle?
I managed to nod compliantly. “Yes, Sir....”
“Good boy,” Hank replied with an ever-so-slight sideways grin. “Oh, and I’ll be home a little early from work tonight at 5:00, so make sure it’s all gone by the time I get home. I took tomorrow off too, so I can celebrate your birthday with ya, so we got all weekend...just you and me.”
I gave him a bright smile. “That sounds great, Sir.” I hesitated still trying to wrap my head around the shaving thing. “But what....”
“No buts!” My step dad said authoritatively. “You do as your told and don’t ask no more questions about it! You will find out everything tonight, Austin....”
***
Hank’s strict words and instructions stayed in my thoughts all day long. And what a long-ass day it was. I sat through class after class...hopelessly preoccupied.
My contemplation continuously led back to several key
I made myself a smaller portioned plate and sat down at the small table to his left.
“So, uh,” Hank began awkwardly. “You got a big birthday today, don’t ya, boy?”
“Yes, Sir,” I replied slightly taken aback by his starting a conversation at breakfast.
Hank had never been much of a morning person and sometimes we would eat completely in silence. If there ever were conversation at breakfast, it had always been initiated by him and not me.
“It is a big one. And me graduating in a couple of weeks makes it all the better.”
My stepdad gave me a nod.
“I’m proud of ya, Austin,” he said uncomfortably. “I never made it past 10th grade down in Arkansas, and here you are going all the way through.”
“Thank you,” I replied deeply moved by his words. “Did you get a chance to look at the community college brochure that I gave you?” I asked. “Summer will come and go before we know it, and I was wondering if you had made a decision on whether or not I could go.”
“You’re 18 now. Why are ya askin’ my permission to get some more schoolin’?” He asked in between bites.
“Well, Sir, I hadn’t forgot the promise that I made ya when Momma took off and left us,” I began sheepishly. “I agreed to take care of the house and do your cooking and cleaning for you. You have given me the only real home that I ever had, so I wanted to ask your permission and get your blessing before I make a big decision like that. Besides, the school’s in town. I could still take care of things around here and go to community college too.”
His intense blue eyes looked me up and down, and he smiled. “Thank ya, Austin. It means a lot to hear you say that to me. I suppose you could do both, but I figure on studyin’ on it a little more.” Hank paused. “I’ll let ya know tonight when I give you your birthday present.”
Birthday present?
Since I had been 13, my step dad had never given me any birthday or Christmas gifts. I wondered why he had chosen this occasion to give me my first real gift. I was speechless for a moment.
“Uh, sure, Sir, that sounds real good,” I replied utterly shocked by the fact that he had actually gotten me a present.
“To get your present, there is something ya gotta do before hand,” Hank said, looking up from his plate.
“Sir, I hope ya know that I would do anything that you asked me to do.”
Hank smiled. “That’s what I’m counting on, boy.”
“What is it?”
“After ya get home from school, I want you to shave off every strand of hair growing on ya from the neck down,” Hank stated. “And make sure you are wearing them tight white briefs of yours.”
My mouth dropped open. I was not sure what to say. All I could manage was.... “Why?”
“It ain’t your place to be askin’ why, boy,” Hank said with his deep voice rising a little. “If you want your present, you will do as I say! If ya don’t shave it all off, I’ll know that you don’t want what I am plannin’ to give you.”
What the hell was he talking about? What was this...some sort of riddle?
I managed to nod compliantly. “Yes, Sir....”
“Good boy,” Hank replied with an ever-so-slight sideways grin. “Oh, and I’ll be home a little early from work tonight at 5:00, so make sure it’s all gone by the time I get home. I took tomorrow off too, so I can celebrate your birthday with ya, so we got all weekend...just you and me.”
I gave him a bright smile. “That sounds great, Sir.” I hesitated still trying to wrap my head around the shaving thing. “But what....”
“No buts!” My step dad said authoritatively. “You do as your told and don’t ask no more questions about it! You will find out everything tonight, Austin....”
***
Hank’s strict words and instructions stayed in my thoughts all day long. And what a long-ass day it was. I sat through class after class...hopelessly preoccupied.
My contemplation continuously led back to several key
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