THE YEARLY 365 CHALLENGE

Challenge #7

Prompt Chosen: #313

Prompt Description: (Quote) 'When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

Youthful hazel eyes look up into the eyes of his father. "Daddy?" A curious small voice spoke.

Chic looked down into his son's eyes. "Yes my son?" He asked as he leaned back against the tree where they resting. His right arm wrapped around his four year old boy's shoulder and pulled him against him.

"Why are you upset?" His son asked in a quiet voice.

"I'm not upset." Chic denied. His son's gaze holding steady with his own. "Okay so I'm a little upset." He sighed as he gently ruffed his son's hair.

"But you are still upset. You don't sleep much anymore." His son replied.

"How would you …." Chic broke off. He sighed deeply. "Phillip; sometimes in life the pressure sometimes gets too much. Pressure that other people put on you; pressure that you put on yourself."

"Then don't allow it too." Phillip spoke in a childish firm voice.

A small smile played on Chic's lips. "It doesn't work that way son." He cupped his son's chin in his hand. "But no matter how much pressure is against you … pressing you down. There is this quote that I love remembering in this time ..." His son's wide eyes look into his; "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

"I don't see any rope daddy." Phillip looked around looking for the rope that his father was talking about.

"You don't need an actual rope son." Chic laughed gently. When his son's hazel eyes looked at him once more; "It just means hang in there … the pressure will ease up. Just simply hang on and it will get better." He bent and kissed his son's forehead. "You understand?"

"I guess so." Phillip spoke with slight confusion.

"What are you trying to teach our young son Mr. Chic Cooper?" Kevin spoke as he knelt down in front of his husband and son. He looked quizzing into Chic's tired eyes.

"Daddy told me that he's at the end of his rope and he's just hanging on." Phillip spoke up.

Kevin looked concerned into his husband's eyes. "Did daddy tell you that you can lean on someone else also to help with the strength?"

"So daddy leans on you Papa?" Phillip sighed in relief.

"Yeah I do." Chic softly replied as he reached out for Kevin to take his hand. He gently squeezed his soul's hand. "Papa is a very strong man." He looked down into his son's eyes. He smiled.

Phillip nodded.