As the sun falls beneath the concrete skyline that is Dallas, I find myself alone in my office. Something about the hour before nightfall causes me to think back on days past. Somewhere within the construct of memories, one bubbles to the top. Edge Water Park in Cleveland, Ohio. In front of me is my middle sister leaping from rock to rock. To the side, the littlest one hand clenched with my mom. And behind me is my father. With a booming voice he asks, “Anybody want to put a bet on what time the sun will set tonight?”
“Eight forty-five” came out of my mouth.
“Nine oh-four!” Miss Skippy offered.
Without much noise, a “Nine oh-nine” came from the hand-holder.
A bold and confident “Nine twenty-five” came from my mother.
Looking at his watch, father said, “Okay, let’s see who wins.”
Assuming the role of scout, I walked a little faster to find a suitable area to sit down and observe this contest. A few feet from the water’s edge, and underneath the canopy of a tree, we sat and waited.
“What’s the time?” I excitedly asked.
“Eight thirty.” My father answered back.
“Oh I’m going to win!” Noting that the sun was not remotely close to the horizon, the middle one jeered.
As we continued to pester father for the current time, the sun followed its orbit around the Earth. Eighty-fifty passed. Then came nine-ten. As all the children realized their reality of missing the mark, mom whispered into the little one’s ear.
“Mom switched times with me! I still have a chance!” She couldn’t contain herself.
“That’s not fair! She can’t do that!” Skippy protested.
“Nine twenty-five!” Father proclaimed the winner. With the final trip around the clock face, the orange ball of fire fell quiet among the tidal waves of the lake.
This would be one of the last memories of a connected father to his children. The next time this game was to be played, it would be in Los Angeles, many years later on a visit, by the children, to see their working father. A moment tender. A moment preserved. A moment yearned for, in an empty office as the light of day is being sucked away. Into the night, a moment tender.
