[muse_shuffle] September Disc One
Track 05. You changed your name // Well that's okay, it's necessary // And what you leave behind you don't miss anyway. (U2 - ‘Gone’)
The clocked ticked loudly on the wall as David sat awkwardly in the worn armchair of his childhood home and picked at a loose thread on the arm where there use to be a button holding the upholstery together. There was no button there now because he knew his father had spent many years fiddling with it as he drank himself in oblivion and watched sports night after night, uncaring what was going on beyond his intoxicated bubble. David fought the urge to check his watch again. Each visit, he was trying so hard to make it more like they were father and son and less like they were complete strangers. It wasn’t an easy task. Maybe it was an impossible task?
His father cleared his throat and shifted the half-empty coffee mug in his hands. “So… you’re taking care of yourself?” he asked, watching his son looking like he was about to do the evaporating thing at any moment. He didn’t want David to leave so soon this time. It had been weeks since his son’s last visit and he wanted him to stay longer. Since he was hurt in that attack and David saved his life, he missed him extensively.
David nodded. “Yeah, I always do.”
“And, um… you’re keeping busy doing… what you do?” his father queried.
“Jumping,” David murmured and briefly met his dad’s eyes before looking away again. “Jumping is what I do and it keeps me busy enough. Can’t complain.”
Mr Rice sighed and set the coffee mug down. He’d been trying to give up the alcohol since the whole fiasco with being attack by the crew who wanted to kill David for his abilities. It was a difficult task but he was trying. He had to try, for his son. “You never were the sort to complain, son,” he agreed. “And what about that girl of yours from High School? How are things going with her? I see her mom around town now and again.”
David pursed his lips a little and scratched his arm. “Things aren’t going with her. They never really did. It was a fantasy that lasted for a few days and that’s it. We’re cool. I just don’t see her much anymore,” he explained and thoughts immediately turned to Leah. Truth was, he hadn’t seen Millie since he said goodbye to her shortly after their trip to Rome. He hesitated and cleared his throat much like his father had a few moments ago. “I’m seeing someone else.”
Mr Rice’s eyebrows rose and he smiled faintly. “I’m happy for you, son. I know it’s not been easy for you. Hell knows I did nothing to help you along, either. But I was always proud of you. You know that, don’t you?”
“No,” David said honestly. “I don’t.”
“I’m trying, David. You have to give me a chance,” his dad pleaded.
David gave a slight nod. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Your new lass, what is she like?” Mr Rice asked with a genuine interest.
David’s eyes swept over his father’s face as he analysed the question through the tone of voice. His tongue trailed along his lower lip, almost like he was still tasting Leah there. “She’s perfect,” was all he offered. “She makes me happy.”
Mr Rice smiled, eyes brightening at his son’s declaration. “You’re a good lad, David. I never doubted that. I just lost sight of it…”
“It doesn’t matter,” David returned automatically. He wasn’t exactly holding his breath that his father was going to make a dramatic life change. He knew the drinking had lessened and his father was making a genuine effort, but he didn’t know yet if it was going to be enough to mend the rift between them.
“It matters, son. I want to make up for lost time,” Mr Rice insisted. “I’m trying to change.”
David’s watch beeped to signal it was midnight in Australia. He met his father’s eyes again with his own slight smile. “I know you are, Dad,” was all he said and they fell into yet another silence, but this time, it wasn’t so awkward.
- morethanleah referenced with permission
Words | 686
The clocked ticked loudly on the wall as David sat awkwardly in the worn armchair of his childhood home and picked at a loose thread on the arm where there use to be a button holding the upholstery together. There was no button there now because he knew his father had spent many years fiddling with it as he drank himself in oblivion and watched sports night after night, uncaring what was going on beyond his intoxicated bubble. David fought the urge to check his watch again. Each visit, he was trying so hard to make it more like they were father and son and less like they were complete strangers. It wasn’t an easy task. Maybe it was an impossible task?
His father cleared his throat and shifted the half-empty coffee mug in his hands. “So… you’re taking care of yourself?” he asked, watching his son looking like he was about to do the evaporating thing at any moment. He didn’t want David to leave so soon this time. It had been weeks since his son’s last visit and he wanted him to stay longer. Since he was hurt in that attack and David saved his life, he missed him extensively.
David nodded. “Yeah, I always do.”
“And, um… you’re keeping busy doing… what you do?” his father queried.
“Jumping,” David murmured and briefly met his dad’s eyes before looking away again. “Jumping is what I do and it keeps me busy enough. Can’t complain.”
Mr Rice sighed and set the coffee mug down. He’d been trying to give up the alcohol since the whole fiasco with being attack by the crew who wanted to kill David for his abilities. It was a difficult task but he was trying. He had to try, for his son. “You never were the sort to complain, son,” he agreed. “And what about that girl of yours from High School? How are things going with her? I see her mom around town now and again.”
David pursed his lips a little and scratched his arm. “Things aren’t going with her. They never really did. It was a fantasy that lasted for a few days and that’s it. We’re cool. I just don’t see her much anymore,” he explained and thoughts immediately turned to Leah. Truth was, he hadn’t seen Millie since he said goodbye to her shortly after their trip to Rome. He hesitated and cleared his throat much like his father had a few moments ago. “I’m seeing someone else.”
Mr Rice’s eyebrows rose and he smiled faintly. “I’m happy for you, son. I know it’s not been easy for you. Hell knows I did nothing to help you along, either. But I was always proud of you. You know that, don’t you?”
“No,” David said honestly. “I don’t.”
“I’m trying, David. You have to give me a chance,” his dad pleaded.
David gave a slight nod. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Your new lass, what is she like?” Mr Rice asked with a genuine interest.
David’s eyes swept over his father’s face as he analysed the question through the tone of voice. His tongue trailed along his lower lip, almost like he was still tasting Leah there. “She’s perfect,” was all he offered. “She makes me happy.”
Mr Rice smiled, eyes brightening at his son’s declaration. “You’re a good lad, David. I never doubted that. I just lost sight of it…”
“It doesn’t matter,” David returned automatically. He wasn’t exactly holding his breath that his father was going to make a dramatic life change. He knew the drinking had lessened and his father was making a genuine effort, but he didn’t know yet if it was going to be enough to mend the rift between them.
“It matters, son. I want to make up for lost time,” Mr Rice insisted. “I’m trying to change.”
David’s watch beeped to signal it was midnight in Australia. He met his father’s eyes again with his own slight smile. “I know you are, Dad,” was all he said and they fell into yet another silence, but this time, it wasn’t so awkward.
- morethanleah referenced with permission
Words | 686