Because I Love You Daddy

The boy swung on the gate watching his father in the field. His feet were on the bottom rung of the gate and it would swing all the way to the fence. He would push off from the fence and swing back again, doing this over and over as he watched for a very long time, his father going back and fourth over the field, cutting the hay. Finally his feet were hurting from standing on the rung of the gate and the boy went back to the house. He took out his toys and played in the floor, waiting for his father to come home. After dinner he went out and looked at the field again. His father was almost out of sight now, just a tiny dot on the horizon, far down the sloping pastures of hay.

The young boy didn't ride on the gate this time, darkness would soon come and cover the way home with the nights blanket. Kicking the dirt as he walked back toward home, he turned and looked one more time at the tiny dot that was his father.

A sadness was in his footsteps as again, he went back to the house, alone. The boy went to the door every few minutes and looked out, looking to see if he could see his father coming. The wait was long today.

The boy sat down in the floor again and tried to make himself have a good time with his toys. He was quite the little engineer with Lego's, and enjoyed building with them most of time, keeping himself entertained for hours. Tonight he just couldn't seem to enjoy it as much, finally putting them away.

Long after darkness had fallen and the boy had on his pajamas, ready for bed, his father came into the house. His face was covered with the dust from the hay and his eyes looked old and tired. The boy didn't see this though as he jumped into his fathers arms with the a juge smile for the long awaited joy of seeing him. His father was happy to see him too, for a moment. His tired bones got the best of him though, as he sat down and fell back in the chair, closing his eyes. The boy ran and got the toy he had been making to show his father, so proud of his accomplishment, looking up to him, for his fathers pride in his work. The father barely nodded with a quick look and closed his eyes again. "Just give me a minute." He said to the boy. Understanding that his father just didn't feel like looking right now, the boy went off and played on the floor near him, talking to himself since nobody else would and feeling as though he was unworthy.

Too tired to eat, much less play with his son, the father was soon asleep in the chair. Not for long though, because he still had to take care of the animals in the barn. He managed to get back on his feet and head out the door again. When he returned to the house the boy had gone to bed, he had waited as long as he could. The father didn't noticed that he was gone until he had finished eating something and that is was so late. All he knew and all he could manage, was to go to bed. Sleep took over for a few hours, until it was time for his father to do it all again. Daylight was fast approaching as he shut the door behind him.

The boy awakened to a new day with lots of things on his mind to do that day. He rushed down the stairs to see his father just closing the door behind him. A sadness swept over the boy as once again, his father was gone. Of course, the boy understood how important it was to do the work on the farm while the weather was good. Still...he was missing him more and more as the days turned into weeks. The boy decided that he would just have to go help his father in the fields. That way, maybe his father wouldn't be so tired and they could play together, maybe for a moment. He didn't need a lot of time, but he needed a little. For all of his seven years, the boy was sure that he could be a great help to his father, as a plan began to form in his mind.

He gathered his boots and hat and sat them by the door. As soon as he had eaten breakfast, he took off running to the barn, determined to be the help his dad needed in order to have some energy and time left at the end of the day. He stopped dead in his tracks... as he watched the tractor at the far end of the field. His dad had already left, without him. The silent tears slid down his face as he stood there watching until the tractor was gone from sight. The young boy turned and headed back towards the house, completely desolated. He thought to himself that he hadn't tried hard enough.

The tears were running down his chubby cheeks, making him mad when he reached the house. He didn't want to cry, he wanted to be helpful!

Just as he reached the step to the porch he heard the sound of the tractor! Turning quickly to run back down to the barn, he fell, hard. Bumping his head on the hard ground, leaving him just a little dizzy. Frantic to get to the barn in time before the tractor pulled away again, he ran down the hill, his head bleeding and tears in his eyes. He got to the barn just as his father got off the tractor. When his father saw the condition of the child's face, he was frightened and rushed over to him. The boy couldn't talk yet, he was so out of breath. Finally, after a few minutes, the boy wiped his eyes with his sleeve and said to his father, "You left me."

At first his dad didn't understand, then it dawned on him what had happened. He picked his son up in his arms and held him tight as his heart nearly broke. "Come on, let's go get that cut cleaned up." The boy wasn't worried about his cut, or the dirt that had mixed with the tears on his face. "But Daddy, I want to help you." His father had to turn away for a moment to hide his quivering lip, as the love for his son brimmed up to his eyes. "Son, you can help me today. After we get that head of yours fixed up." He said gently. Taking the boys hand in his, they walked back to the house. The boy was completely happy, holding his dad's hand and feeling as though the fall in the dirt was worth it, he might try that again! He looked up at his dad and smiled with the happiness only a child's eyes can show, as they walked in unison, step for step.

After he had washed his son's face and gotten a smile out of him, he asked the boy, "Why is it so important to help me today?" The boy looked up at his father, "Because I love you Daddy."