Disclaimer: I own nothing! Not Sarah, Plain and Tall, not the characters therein, not the movie Courageous which so influenced this piece, and not the Phillips, Craig, and Dean song "I Want to be Just Like You" which was brought to mind when I saw this scene. Okay? Okay.
Jacob tested his leg. He was used to the crutches by now, but oh, how he longed to be rid of them so he could get out and work his farm and care for his family! He huffed a little at the discomfort, but he smiled a little inwardly. He looked up as Caleb approached the bedroom doorway.
"My leg's coming around," Jacob informed him, looking down at his splinted leg again. "It shouldn't be long now."
"Do you want to know what I want for my birthday?"
Jacob looked up. The kid hadn't skipped a beat. Bold, as his name implied. On a mission. "That's weeks away," he answered, easing himself toward the bed. "What brought this on?"
"Do you want to know?" Caleb pressed.
Jacob sat on the bed. Might as well patronize him. There was no stopping him from speaking his mind anyway. Nothing ever had in the boy's fifteen years. "Yes, Caleb," he said with a smile, "What do you want?"
"I don't want tools or books," Caleb said solemnly, "or even a horse of my own."
Jacob felt his brow furrow in confusion. "You've always wanted your own horse." What was up with the kid? He'd practically begged for a horse for the past few years.
"All I want," Caleb continued, unwavering, unshaken, "is for you to forgive grandfather…"
Jacob groaned inwardly. "Grandfather". The stranger. The old man in his house. The man who had shoved him over in anger and caused the broken leg. No, it wasn't that that was hard to forgive. Especially not when the same man had set his leg so it could heal properly. Not when the same man took on some of the work around the farm to help out. No, "Grandfather" was the man who had disappeared without a trace. Deserted the farm he loved. Abandoned him and his mother. Forgive? How could he forgive a thing like that? Why should he?
"… so I can grow up to be like you."
Jacob studied his son's face. So serious. So straightforward. Caleb returned the gaze for a moment before leaving Jacob with his thoughts.
Forgive? As if it wasn't hard enough to show the man some common courtesy! Caleb had no right to tell him to forgive the man who'd caused him so much pain. He had no right to make it sound as though such an act would benefit himself!
"… so I can grow up to be like you."
Jacob sighed. Oh, yes, Caleb had every right. Jacob may not have had a role model to look up to, a father to show him the way. But Caleb did. Jacob would have to let the bitterness out and with it, forgiveness for his father. He didn't want to. He wouldn't like it. But there are times in which a man needs to man up.
And if for no other reason, he certainly owed Caleb that.
Author's note: No, not one of my greatest pieces, but I needed it out of my system. Please review.