writing from
Scars Publications

Audio/Video chapbooks cc&d magazine Down in the Dirt magazine books

 

This writing was accepted for publication
in the 84 page perfect-bound issue of
cc&d (v231) (the April 2012 Issue



You can also order this 5.5" x 8.5"
issue as an ISSN# paperback book:
order issue


cc&d magazine cover

Order this writing
in the book
Cultural
Touchstone

(a cc&d 2012
collection book)
Cultural Touchstone (cc&d collection book) issuecollection book get the 336 page
January-April 2012
cc&d magazine
issue collection
6" x 9" ISBN#
paperback book:

order ISBN# book

Order this writing in the book
After the Apocalypse
(prose edition)

(the 2012 prose
collection book)
After the Apocalypse (prose edition) (2012 prose collection book) issue collection book get this poem
collection
6" x 9" ISBN#
paperback book:

order ISBN# book

Dad

Arthur Levine

    He called his wife from work to tell her he was cutting out early so he could be there for the boy’s party and he put his coat on, started the truck and came home.
    But when he got there they had already sung “Happy Birthday,” opened the presents and were up in the boy’s room playing a war game on the boy’s new PlayStation.
    “They were getting restless, I just thought the best thing to do would be to go ahead and start,” his wife said, “I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Of course not.”
    He poured a scotch and sat at the table. He stared at the one piece of cake left, an end piece. He wasn’t much for birthday cake.
    “I made them save you a piece,” she said.
    “That was thoughtful.”
    She looked at him. Then she said, “Well, you seem kind of down in the dumps.”
    He thought to say something but didn’t.
    “Can I get you some ice cream to go with your drink?”
    He poured another and took the bottle and his drink into the living room.
    “I’ll join you in a minute,” she said, “I just want to straighten up a few things.”
    The boy’s room was directly above and he could hear explosions and shooting noises from the game and the chatter of the boys and finally he went to the stairs and yelled, “Hey! Could you guys hold it down a little please?”
    The talking and shouting stopped. He could live with the explosions and the shooting.
    But soon the chatter started up again.
    “I told you boys to keep it down! If I have to tell you again everybody goes home! Do you hear me?”
    He poured another scotch and sat back down on the couch. He heard the boy come down the stairs and the muffled sound of the boy and his mom in the kitchen. Then he heard her say, “I’ll speak to him.”
    She stood at the entrance to the living room holding the empty cake plate and a dish towel.
    “For goodness sake it’s supposed to be a party! What are you getting so upset about?” she said.
    “You’re right,” he said, “Sorry. Tell him ‘Happy Birthday’ from Dad.”
    And he put his coat on, took his bottle and his drink and left.



Scars Publications


Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.




Problems with this page? Then deal with it...