My Father The Sniper
When I was young I would remember lying awake at night as my dad stumbled down the stairs awake from another one of his nightmarish bouts of his days in the war. Time to time I would get enough courage to tread silently down the stairs and sit next to him as he sat silently in his chair fresh tears running down his cheeks. The TV producing a surreal light on the whole scene before me. Me a six year old boy sat on the couch in my superman pajamas waiting for my father to utter a sound. After what seemed like hours he would look at me and produce a fake smile trying to make me feel better "go to sleep son I'm fine" I would hug him feeling as if I helped his madness and walk back up to my bedroom…but ever so silently I would close my door and sneak back down to the start of the stairs and stare as my father slouched back in his chair and close his eyes. But his nightmare wouldn't end he would mumble in his sleep. Once I did something I would never forget… I walked down to my fathers chair and grabbed his hand he jolted upright his hand around my neck, his eyes never opened. He released his grasp and put his head in his hands. "sorry James, don't now what came over me". This would have been fine but my parents had named me Tom. "James you think this is ever going to end" . I nodded staring at my half asleep father. "You were always the optimist James…but I don't think I can go back to the world I've killed too many" I remember a small voice that belonged to myself "no daddy you'll be okay". My father tipped his head back in his half sleep stupor still thinking I was his buddy from the war and laughed "You been drinking again James…daddy hahaha". He silenced himself and turned to stare at the wall "James…even if I do make it back my life will be hell, all those souls taken by a slight pull of my finger" Scared feeling as If I was going to be caught I ran back upstairs still hearing my father talk to "James". To this day I never told my old man what occurred that night…" That might change".
"A Night Untold"
Day n/a - 08:12:55
Tom Walker JR
Dothan , Alabama
Tom knocked on the door his laptop in hand and a recorder in the other. The door opened to reveal an old man with a flattop and a military like posture. Tom stared at the man for a second then held out his hand. "How you doing old man" The man smiled and hugged him "son its been so long" Tom followed his father inside " Is that Junior honey" A female voice crooned from the kitchen. "Yes Marie he came to visit" He turned to Tom "sit down son lets talk" Tom set down his laptop as him mom came over and kissed him on the cheek laying a biscuit and a cup of coffee at the table for him. "about that dad…I actually came over as a work visit, I have to talk to you dad" His father took a drink from his coffee and unfolded his paper "sure son we will talk of course we will talk" Tom stared at his father "you don't understand Dad I want to talk about the war" Silence emanated from the house His father slowly unfolded the paper and looked straight at him " the war Tommy" He nodded "yeah Dad the war" His father always the perfectionist regained his composure and stood up "very well, we will make our way to my study then" Tom followed his father up the stair still somewhat scared remembering his childhood spankings in the study. "well son sit down and tell me what's on your mind" Tom sat down opposite of his father "I'm writing a book dad…about the war about you" His father chuckled "Jesus Tommy about me I cant even recall talking to you about the war" Tom gulped this was the moment he was dreading "You did dad…when you woke from your nightmares" His father raised an eyebrow "yes Tommy I know about the nightmares I relive them every night it seems". "Well dad one night after you fell asleep in the living room I came down and…and you thought I was James" His father swiveled around in his chair not one for showing weakness even to his own son. "how…how do you know about James". He stared at the back of his fathers chair "you talked in your sleep…said you couldn't come home after all the death you caused" His father swiveled back around "All right Tommy I will tell you and you can write your book… but once this is done you wont ever bother me again". "Sure Dad" His father slammed his fist down on the desk "Dammit I buried these memories for a reason…I'm sorry Tommy were should I start" Tom looked at his father rand turned on the recorder "Its okay Dad just start at basic and don't worry we wont go through this all today I'm in town for a few weeks we can break it down" His father stuffed a wad of tobacco in his pipe and lit it " Okay basic were to start its been so long"
Authors Note - This story is a work of fiction ( IT IS NOT TRUE) if it anyhow encompasses similarities to an individual or a person of history it is a mere coincidence.
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