Secret Guy Stuff

Perception is like magic

"Grandpa, why is that bird chasing the other bird?"

"Maybe he stole the birds nut? I dunno."

Paul shuffled down the path scattered in early Fall clutter. The sun poked rays through the forest canopy, still strong enough to fight back any  shadow that might be a bother to a five year old holding the hand of his Grandpa.

"Grandpa, why is that tree a different color?"

"Well, what would the world be if all the trees were the same color?"

John frowned and looked down, but quickly looked back up at Paul. "I know! It would be green!" He punctuated it with a smile.

The old man laughed and lifted his fedora to scratch what was once a crown of brown hair. 

"You got me there young man. You know you're pretty smart!"  He stopped and the young boy stopped to look up into his face, squinting at the ray of Sun in front of them.

Grandpa leaned down and put his face even with John's. "You know you have to be careful with knowledge. Did I ever tell you the story of Maury?"

'Who's Maury?"

"Maury was your Grandpa's best friend. Maury never said very much but he was good to have around." Paul glanced to his right. "Here, let's go sit for a bit and I'll tell you Maury's story."

"But I want to go see the ducks Grandpa!"

"The ducks will be there when we get there. That's their job okay? We go see them, they be there when we get there."

The older man led the boy over toward the table. On the way, his small shoelace undone, John tripped over a branch hitting his knees and landing on his arms, elbow to palm. He didn't do anything at first, obvious surprise spread on his small face, then the mouth turned into a circle and the whimpering began.

Paul picked up the young boy, and dusted off the knees of his Oshkosh jeans. "Now, it's not that bad, your Mom is gonna be pissed at me for letting you get your nice outfit all dirty, but hey it's the woods!"  His weak attempt at humor was lost on the little guy.

"My hands hurt Grandpa!" The ends of his yellow, red, and blue pullover were soiled and there were scratches on his palms. 

"Well, I suppose they do. That's what happens when you fall you know? You land on your hands, and your hands hurt for awhile." 

Paul reached the bench and sat down; the boy in his lap. "You know what big boys do when they get hurt?"

John shook his head, holding his hands out in front of him like they were offending robots, his little mouth bravely trying to remain stiff.  

Paul leaned in close and looked both ways, he whispered "They rub dirt on it."

John twisted his head to the side to look at Paul, his face pinched in disbelief "What? Grandpa you making that up?"

"NO! Have I ever lied to you?"

"You told me to pull your finger so you could fart."

"Well, that was in fun, that wasn't a lie it was a funny. This is different." He leaned down,

"But you can't tell any girls, not even your Mom. This is Secret Guy Stuff!"

'Okay." John smiled, feeling better.  He got down and grabbed some dirt, rubbing it in his hands. When he was done, he stood up and squeezed his hands together. Then he pulled them apart and dusted them off. 

"Wow, that works Grandpa!"

"You see? Secret Guy Stuff I'm telling ya. It works!"

"But I can't tell any girls."

"No, no girls. They don't believe in the great power of dirt. At least most of them don't. Some do, but mostly you ... well. You'll figure that stuff out for yourself when you get older."

"Can we go see the ducks now?"

"But I was going to tell you about Maury."

"I want to see the ducks."

Paul looked at his watch, then looked at the Sun.

'Okay, we'll do it your way. I'll tell you about Maury later."  

He got up took the young boy's hand. The two continued their stroll to the duck pond.

"You know any more Secret Guy Stuff Grandpa?"

'Well, yes a lot but most of it I can't tell you until you're older."

"Okay, Grandpa why do squirrels move so jerky?"

'They're nervous on account of they think we might try to chase them and eat them."

'Yuck!"

"I know, huh?" 

They disappeared over a small hill.

Author's Note

Please forgive me for listing this as a poem, but there is no choice for 'Flash'. It's short and I hope you will take time to read! Thank you

Reviews

[Blue Ivory]

This is sooooo cute and sweet! The imagery is perfect! And you got all those little details down that make the story just right. This has been a delight, Mark. I will be adding this to my favorites.

[Mark]

Thank you so much. It's always great to get such high praise. :) :) :)

[Mary]

I love the ending! Your poem captures the special relationship that can only happen between a grandpa and grandson... brings back memories I had with my dad in the vegetable garden. There I understood the value of dirt- I'd pull up a carrot or 2 wipe it on my jeans and chomp away. Thank you for sharing some secret guy stuff."

[Mark]

heehee thanks for reading Mary :)

[Archangel Gabriel]

A lovely whimsical and heart warming story. Flows good with great dialogue and real characterisation. There is one suggestion I would make albeit latterly; I would change the final line or leave it out completely as for me it reads a little out of kilter with the rest of the piece.

[Mark]

Thank you for your comments. The ending was an afterthought but I kinda like it. :)

[dw817]

⊰ℛℛ⊱
I - have never rubbed dirt in my scratches and scrapes nor really knew about secret guy stuff.

I guess I wasn't that tough a guy. Instead I'd get hurt and go hollering to my Mom and she would kiss and kiss it until I finally pulled away embarrassed and told her it doesn't hurt anymores. Of course it still did, then Dad would spray Bactine and put a J&J band-aid on it, a bit better than Mom's solution.

I guess that is a pretty macho thing. To rub dirt into a hurt. Hmm ... And yes, I knew about the great powers of dirt growing up.

Especially when mixed with the magic of water, you had MUD and as a little boy I sure could enjoy splashing in that, much to the dismay of my Mom who would yell at me for getting my clothes and her carpet all muddy when I came running in from outside playing. :)

[Mark]

I'm glad to hear your memories. :)

[dw817]

Well it sounds like you've had some happy times too. The question is, are you the grampa or the son in the story ? Or - have we come full circle in life ? :7

[Mark]

I'm neither. The grandson is loosely based on my grandson... but the grampa is pretty much all Peter Falk from Columbo and "The Princess Bride'

[dw817]

Really ? Peter Falk is one of my favorite actors !

I have a gift Rose gave me recently on her last visit. I have it right here in my hands. I need to hang it on the wall. It reads, "The shambolic Lieutenant Columbo, everybody's folk hero, drove a beaten-up old Peugeot, wore a shabby, rumpled raincoat (he was once told he looked like an unmade bed) and went about his work with an air of naive puzzlement which threw the upper-class killers against whom he pitted his wits off guard.

Columbo (Peter Falk) is my hero cause he is the one person to pass through this world without scandal. I thought he would make a great uncle for me. I also did a picture of him. (click to make it bigger)
http://bit.ly/171Rxx6

I honestly don't know if I'll make it to the age of, "grampa." Too many things pulling me in all directions.

[dw817]

Oh yah, "Princess Bride" is one of Chris's favorite movies. I do some pretty good voice impersonations so whenever we get confounded on the computer I'll say, "Inconceivable !" in Vizzini's baffled voice.
http://bit.ly/171S1U4

[Mark]

hahaha!! (I don't think that word means what you think it means!) LOVE That movie. "Have fun storming the castle!" "AS YOUUUUUU WIIIIIISH" so many great lines in that one. And ya Peter Falk was one of my heroes as well. Loved that guy. :)

[Mark]

Gerat picture btw. :)

[dw817]

Yep falling down the cliff, "As you wish !" Wow - I think Rose has me the hero in her fairytale. Not sure whenever I'll get out of it tho. :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm glad I took the time to read this one! This was really a great story, and it did have poetic elements to it. You captured something quite interesting with the characters and the dialouge, especially, which is probably the most difficult part of writing a piece of flash fiction. Great tone and sophisticated style. Well done!

[SHEEMA HUQ]

You demonstrate how strong your writing skills are in this piece, very well done! I enjoyed.

[TL Boehm]

This is such a great story. Its of the caliber of something I would expect to see published in a magazine or anthology. That little boy....got me. A great write.

[Cody Williams]

I love it! Thanks for sharing it!

-CW

[mandy]

I liked it a lot. and am curious about maury..lol

[Renée]

A joyful glimpse you gave us Mark! Absolutely precious !