Summer in February (For a Friend) (1214 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: bestofsteve
Rating: 1.95 on 38 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Steve's IHOP: Now with Crystle's Secret Waffles of Mystery (View user info) at 2006-02-11 17:03:43 EST
"Warm winter this year," he mumbled, shuffling his feet. He looks up at me, trying to meet my eyes through the clouds of age. I pretend nothing's wrong, when I know that this is our last conversation.
I've been pretending for so long that it's hard to remember what he used to be.
I finally nodded, giving him a small smile. "No snow either. It doesn't feel right."
He gave a small grunt of agreement, stretching out his legs. His old knees have been giving him trouble lately. He spends most of his day on his roughed up easy chair, staring out as the world moves in patchy blobs by his front window.
His bright face hides the pain hidden inside. I feel it rippling through the air around him.
He won't see another summer.
The thought turns my stomach and I let out a shaking breath.
His steadying hand clasps my knee and I turn to look at him again.
I see the reflection of past summers shine through the sad brown orbs. A good memory is one you can taste. Raspberries and wild strawberries. Garden carrots with traces of grit. Greasy hotdogs by the fire. The smell of pine trees and early morning jogs. These were our summers. Sure, every other season has its specific recollections but summers were ours and only ours.
But I'm young and he's old. I've got many more summers to come and he's telling me that with his grip on my leg.
"I can't let you go," my voice is a whisper heavy with regret.
"You will," he said with a small nod. He takes his hand away and folds them in his lap. He looks out across the lawn at the wilted and brown grass. Sighing, he closed his eyes and drifted off into a memory.
The sun broke behind a cloud and, for a shining second, it was July instead of February. We'd run to the ends of the world until something else would catch our attention. I've never had a better friend and probably never will. I wanted to apologize for all the scars I've given him. Of everyone I've wronged in this world, I could never find the right words for him. I just expected there would be more time.
No more summers; no more time.
I let out every lost word in a lost sigh. After one last look at his calm form, I stand and pick up the leash.
"Come on boy, time to go for a car ride."
User Reviews
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-06-24 02:52:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Was he tasty?
Submitted by maxmouse (user info) at 2006-03-06 05:47:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
sad.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-03-06 05:37:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The vets masturbate over each one they kill. It's sick.
Submitted by Wazza (user info) at 2006-02-15 06:47:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yep, iv'e had to shoot a few when they get like that,breaks your heart.great story as usual Stevie.love ya mate.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2006-02-13 18:11:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh jeez.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-02-13 01:35:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
...
Submitted by Dreg (user info) at 2006-02-13 00:00:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by BadAssJulie (user info) at 2006-02-12 21:36:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Poor doggie. One of my dogs is getting older and is coming up with all sorts of new little lumps and bumps along with bad hips. It's sad to watch them get closer to to the end huh?
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2006-02-12 21:28:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My sympathies to you.
Submitted by Dreg (user info) at 2006-02-12 15:05:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hmm.
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-02-12 14:52:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
:(
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-02-12 11:26:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hot pot of coffee
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2006-02-12 01:02:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2006-02-11 22:27:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
well damn, at least Im not the only one
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2006-02-11 22:27:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
shit my bad
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2006-02-11 22:27:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
well that choked me up. then i had to revisit my dogdeath post and that got me teary eyed
http://www.ubersite.com/m/66601
^for tone, flow and grammar probably one of the worst things I've written since 6th grade, but damned if it wasn't straight from the heart. I went and slept next to him for a bit after I posted it.
Submitted by MetalMilitiaMan (user info) at 2006-02-11 21:42:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Confuzitron (user info) at 2006-02-11 21:12:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sad story. Well written. Great job as usual.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:52:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I watched the opening ceremonies.
Why did they have Yoko, WHY???
BUt the torch lighting was cool, I'll give it that...
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:42:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
every little one counts
*weeps even more*
Lil' Brudder
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:42:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:42:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck, sorry
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:41:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
*Weeps*
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:38:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We lost ours this summer. I'm so sorry.
Submitted by Malachewaii (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:35:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy shit! Your dog could talk?
Just kidding.. good writing, sad story. Keep truckin'.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:13:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
.....
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:04:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I had a dog once. Cat is better.
Submitted by Dreg (user info) at 2006-02-11 19:03:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I think I'm the only person at my college who cares about the olympics. The cross country skiing of the individual nordic combined was awesome.
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2006-02-11 18:16:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I've been busy with work and I finally got a moment to myself this afternoon. I'll post more when the Olympics are done....maybe.
Submitted by snagglepuss (user info) at 2006-02-11 18:15:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It's been more than a year, and I still cannot bring myself to get another......
http://www.ubersite.com/m/45058
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Submitted by littledan (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:40:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Man, that's sad...
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:33:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I just woke up from a nightmare about this.
The scenes just keep playing over and over in my head and they won't stop
Submitted by Dreg (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:25:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You take a month off and come back with this? Remember first you do the fucking alien cats type post, then you do the sentimental post!
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:18:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"I feel pretty...oh so pretty..."
*WEEPS*
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:17:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sorry mah man.
If it makes you feel any better, you're still cute.
What?
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:10:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well written.
Submitted by PokeyPecker (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:08:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sorry man. Been there done that. Nothing is more heartbreaking than putting down your dog.
Submitted by tammy (user info) at 2006-02-11 17:07:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was there about this time last year, with my cat.