A Life Without Wings

                        By
                Dean Kane

               Chapter one
            The Awakening

The day had started out like most in 1931 dry, hot, and humid. This was something to be expected in Waldrop, Mississippi for a teenage boy with nothing on his mind,  but a cool drink of water. But mama would never let me go near the well unless someone was with me, and when I say, "someone"I mean my mama. I really don't remember my daddy you see he took his walk to heaven just after I was born that year because he drank some tainted water down at the creek. The way mama told it, and she must have told that story so many times I would hear it in my sleep. He had been plowing the little acre that was given to us as sharecroppers from his paw. She said she reckoned it was about one hundred in the shade on that day, and he started feeling plum wore out. He sat down on the big rock by the willow tree and just died. I was about 9 months old, but remember my mama telling that story over and over until I guess I made her story mine. It didn't matter how it happens all I was told was he died when I was a tadpole. I have always wondered what he was like, but mama said I would find out when I got to heaven. I sure wish mama would get home cause I sure am getting powerful thirsty. I jumped up from the porch of our shack because that trail of dust has to be my mama coming home from Junction Holler. I heard her humming that old spiritual "Amazing Grace" which just happen to be daddy's favorite song of all time. The strange thing happened one day when I was laying in the grass looking at clouds and just happen to fall asleep. Someone tapped me on my shoulder and it was no other than my daddy. The first thought that ran across my brain was that I must have taken my walk to heaven just like my daddy. He looks down at me and says,"Soda Pop, how you been boy? You sure have grown a tad since last seeing you." I can't believe my eyes B, B, B, but  daddy you took your walk to heaven when I was a baby." His father smiles and says, "sometimes we come back." His father picks him up into his arms and says, "Soda Pop, I sure do love you, and no we're not in heaven." He takes him by the hand as they walk toward the old country store for one reason and one reason alone. His daddy says, "Have you ever wondered why your mama called you Soda Pop? Well, when we were young long before you were ever born I jus loved grape soda pop, and after I took my walk to heaven she began to call you Soda Pop I guess as a reminder of me, your daddy. They arrive at the Hoots old country store, walk in and stand in front of the counter. He says, " tell the man what you want." "My daddy says, "I will have a grape soda pop." The man behind the counter looks around and says, "and who might your daddy be?" It took about a minute for him to recognize who Soda Pop's daddy was and he says, Oh' yea I remember old Clifford Green from the old days, "God bless his soul." Soda Pop looks at his daddy and remarks,"Clifford, really?" His father nods his head as they turn and walk out of Hoot's and toward their home. The man in the store removes a red handkerchief from his back pocket, rubs it across his forehead, with a look of amazement and says, "that boy must miss his dad something fierce because he is talking to him like he was standing right beside him." It was just then a nickel appeared on the countertop standing in its edge which covered the cost of his soda pop. The man behind the counter notices the nickel and remembered how Clifford used to stand his nickels on their side when he would pay for his grape soda pop's back in the day. Soda Pop and his daddy follow the dirt road that was more fine than the flour his mama used to fry up Sunday's chicken dinners with the huge rolls that could have never been mistaken for a store-bought biscuit. They arrive at the home that seemed to have lost some of its glitter since the passing of their daddy. His little brother Garland was sleeping on the porch swing as they step upon the porch. Garland raises up his head and says,"hi daddy?" But then falls right back to sleep. Soda Pop runs into the house and grabs his mama by the hand, as he pulls her unto the front porch where his daddy is standing. She stands there with her hands on her hips and says, "well, Soda Pop what is the big surprise?" Clifford stands there looking at his precious soulmate that was as beautiful as he remembered on the day he had taken his walk to heaven. He pulls off his little Irish hat and says, "Abigail you are still as beautiful as ever." A tear rolled down the cheek if his face as he clenched his hat in his hand. She was beautiful to Clifford, but in reality, she had aged twenty years since his departure and the grey in her hair was creeping up like a wandering vine on the side of an old abandoned house. Soda Pop says, "Mama, look who's here? It's daddy in the flesh." She looks at her son then back to the empty space on the porch and says,"well, Mr. Clifford Green you sure are looking as fit as a fiddle since your demise, what's it been ten years now? How about you and Soda Pop play on the front porch while I finish cooking supper, and by the way, it was nice to see you again." She turns, walks back into the house and thinking, "I swear that boy is just like his daddy a creative imagination." Soda Pop looks at his daddy and says, "see she was so glad to see you." Clifford hugs his ten-year-old son and says, "boy your mama didn't see me, but something tells me that is about to change.

    The end of chapter one