爸爸(Dad)

thefirstmemoryihaveofhim-ofanything,reallyishisstrength.itwasinthelateafternooninahouseunderconstructionnearours.theunfinishedwoodfloorhadlarge,terrifyingholeswhosebigandopeningdarknessiknewledtonowheregood.hispowerfulhands,thenage33,wrappedallthewayaroundmytinyarms,thenage4,andeasilyswungmeuptohisshoulderstocommandallisurveyed.

therelationshipbetweenasonandhisfatherchangesovertime.itmaygrowandflourishinmutualmaturity.itmaysourinhateddependenceorindependence.withmanychildrenlivinginsingle-parenthomestoday,itmaynotevenexist.

buttoalittleboyrightafterworldwarii,afatherseemedagodwithstrangestrengthsandstrangepowersenablinghimtodoandknowthingsthatnomortalcoulddoorknow.amazingthings,likeputtingabicyclechainbackon,justlikethat.orbuildingahamstercage.orguidingajigsawsoitformstheletterf:ilearnedthealphabetthatwayinthosepre-televisiondays.

therewere,ofcourse,rulestolearn.firstcamethehandshake.noneofthosecoldlittlefingergrips,butagoodfirmsqueezeaccompaniedbyanequallystronggazeintotheotherseyes."thefirstthinganyoneknowsaboutyouisyourhandshake,hewouldsay.andwedpracticeiteachnightonhisreturnfromwork,theserioustoddlerinthebatteredclevelandindianscaprunninguptothegiantfathertoshakehandsagainandagainuntilitwasfirmenough.