Short Stories

Knowing.

       He was always good at knowing. He always knew when the paper boy would violently toss our paper for the day over the picket fence. He was always good at knowing what time his favorite news segment would be on, or what time dinner was served. Nothing was set at an exact time, but he always seemed to know.
      He knew a lot about me too. We could never play games like battleship or connect four because he always knew where I'd put my ship or coin. He knew simple things about me, like my favorite color or why I laughed at the television when the weatherman was on. He knew a lot.
      He never could stand not knowing. The countertops were always piled with books upon books upon books. He would always tell me "There's always something new left for you to discover." After dinner we would discuss the new things he learned. I always loved when he would learn about a character in a fictional story. They way he would picture someone would put a smile on my face.
      In my years of knowing him I grew to learn the joy of learning. It was never so I could brag about all the things I knew, it was so I could sit in silence and always have something to think upon, an idea that keeps me thriving.
        My love, he knew the things in the world you wouldn't ever bother to learn, nothing important enough to teach you in school. One of the things I loved about him was he always kept you entertained. Aside from his perky smile and joyous laugh, I loved how he knew.
          What I didn't know was one day I'd have to tell you these things without him here. I'd have to describe his knowing without him here. I never knew the pain of not knowing until I knew the joy of knowing. Where did he go? Is he okay? Is he still smiling, is he still knowing? My friend I do not know. I wish that before he perished he knew and he taught me too.
       Take the time to know, know things about yourself, about the people you love and about the world you walk on. Fill your thoughts of knowledge and inspiration. Knowing is the best thing I can ever be able to offer you. He always knew. He always knew that one day he'd never know enough and he couldn't know anymore. Don't leave a faint footprint in this place, a footprint that will fade. Know the things you never tried to learn. Always be good at knowing.