My father and Charlie spent many happy hours together on the patio. Daddy would practice his putting, and Charlie would run after the golf balls. I’m not sure how much practice Daddy got with Charlie helping, but neither of them seemed to mind.
Charlie had other interests in the garden, too. There was a pond filled with koi, and he tried his hand at fishing every day. He never caught a fish. That didn’t stop him from coming back to look again.
Then there was the blue jay. Some of the birds left Charlie alone, but this one liked to swoop down on his back. If Daddy saw it happen, he would get up from his chair and grab Charlie to protect him.
When I think of the two of them, I picture those hours outside together: Daddy with his golf balls and Charlie close by, ready to chase one across the patio. Charlie had plenty of neighbors to visit, but he always had a place beside my father.
Leave a comment