Dad's Attic

I still don't see why Dad liked this little house. It's just a shack. He could have afforded so much more. Where is that ladder? Is it in the garage? Yeah, there it is.

Tony carries the old, three foot, wooden ladder into his father's house and down the hall.

If I remember correctly, the access to the attic is in his bedroom, strange place for it. Climbing up there will be fun.

Tony enters his father's bedroom and sets up the ladder under the three foot square opening in the ceiling. He climbs the ladder and stands on the top step, it creeks and sways under his weight.

"Oh, man this is going to be more fun than I thought."

Tony struggles to keep his balance as he pushes the cover into the attic and over to one side. Insulation falls into his face. Tony looks away and grunts as he pulls himself into the attic.

Uhh! Mmmph! Shew! glad that's over with. "Great!"

Looking down through the opening, Tony sees that the old ladder had swayed so hard that it fell over.

Man! At least, it is not very hot. Where is that light switch? There it is.

With a click, the dim forty watt bulb casts an almost yellow light. It seems to produce more shadows than light in the small attic.

"Hmmph, why couldn't Dad buy a house with an attic you can stand up in."

Tony felt a short pang of regret for sounding so negative about his father so soon after his death.

Now, where is that trunk? There it is.

Tony spotted the old trunk about five feet away. It was set right in the middle of the crawl-way. Everything was covered with dust and bits of blown insulation; everything, except the trunk. The lock also looked like it was given some attention recently.

"Wow, it sure does turn easy for such an old lock."

Setting the lock aside, Tony lifted the lid. It raised smoothly without even creaking.

This is strange. The last time I saw this trunk, I thought the hinges were about to rust off. So Dad, what did you hide in here? These are some kind of robes. What are these scarves? Did my father keep his ex-wife's scarves? A Bible?! I didn't know my father owned a Bible! What are these certificates? "Anthony Michael Jones, Elder, United Methodist Church." Methodist? What is an Elder? What is this one? "PhD, Theology, Southern Theological Seminary."

Seminary? This doesn't make any sense. Dad hated church and Christians. Oh my God, could he have been a pastor? What in the world happened? Why didn't he talk about this stuff? So much of his life, I know nothing about!

Hmm, stuff from his first marriage indeed, mom and I need to have a talk!

Tony makes his way out of the attic. He forgot about the fallen ladder.

Dog-gone it! OK, I can do this.

He lowers himself as far as he can and lets go. His right foot catches on the ladder causing Tony to fall. He lands with a crash and swears as the old ladder gives way under his weight.

"Ow, that'll leave a mark!" Dad, if you were alive, I'd tell you what I think of your ladder.

Tony leaves his father's house with an aching back and a bit of a limp.