Charlie & Pegs
He'd made it back after three long years. So much time wasted! His grandson was all grown up, but here he was spending time with him and Pegs ... just as though nothing had changed.
"I've seen sa many differ'nt kinds o' travellin' in my day that I'm ain't sure I cin 'member 'em all. Let's see: car, truck, bus, plane, train, boat, (deep breath) motorcycle, bicycle, unicycle ...eh? Ok, ok, so I'm gittin' carried away with the "cycles." Hmmm, horse and buggy, hel'copter, even a flyin' car now I hear ... Eh? What's that ya say? Spaceship! Now hang on ta real'ty, ok son? Me? I use Pegs ... that's short for Pegasus ya know. What? Never seen one? Well my boy, ya don't know what you're missin'. Come on out back and I'll show ya. She's right out here in the backyard a-grazin'. Don't have to buy petrol that way, teehee, she makes 'er own! Take a look-see ... straight 404 under her hood, travels like an arrow she does. Git 'er up to speed and her rear-end will sway just a tad, but ya just steer her a bit tighter and she grips the winds. Wouldn't travel any other way, no sir-ee! Been travelin' with the winds in my face for nigh onto sixty years! Gotta watch them head-winds though. They're the ones likes ta throw things at ya, ya git ta where you're going pickin' the bugs outta yere teeth! Used to love doing fly-bys, like them milit'ry planes do. Git in close as ya can and swoop in ta surprise some hapless soul. HEHEHE I've seen 'em wet their pants I have! What a rush! Can't do it much anymore, too exhileratin' for an ol' cuss like me, don't ya know? Just look at 'er! Ain't she a beaut? Check out 'er wingspan. Ever seen the like? She can do eighty in two seconds flat. No need for shocks on this baby, she'll soar right over any turbulence. And I git miles and miles outta just one bucket o' water! Can't beat that now can ya? Yeppers, this is the way ta travel son. She'll take ya right up ta touch the stars she will ... and beyond if'n ya wanna go."
The old man didn't realize it but he had sparked something inside of me that had lain dormant since childhood. Hopes, imagination, and dreams colored his aged face and began to blossom inside my heart.
A car pulled into the drive just then and a touch of sadness dulled Charlie's eyes for a moment. He reached around to stroke the sway-backed ol' horse standing at the gate, turning back to me with a tear in his eye.
"All ya gotta do is believe son, just believe." he pleaded.
He patted me on the back affectionately, pulled me into an embrace, then walked towards the waiting car.
"Charlie, we've told you before, you just can't go wandering off from the home like this. I'll have to admit though, you make it easy for us to find you. You always come to the same place."
Charlie smiled! In that moment something inside of me burst free of all restraint.
"Hey Charlie!" I called.
"Yeah son?" he said resignedly.
"Would it be ok if I took care of Pegs 'til I see you again?"
He beamed from ear to ear! "Sure would appreciate that son."
Charlie motioned for me to turn around and when I did I was shocked outta my shoes! The ol' sway-back nag was gone and in her place stood a magnificent white steed, wingspan that must have extended fifteen feet on either side, bobbing his head as though agreeing with ol' Charlie. I looked back to say something to him but the car was gone.
All ya gotta do is believe son, just believe! echoed on the wind.
Cathy Bollhoefer~