The Decision

by: Daryl Crass Water

Driving was his release. The most peaceful times he found were in the car, alone, driving with the top down. There was a lot on his mind today, and he needed to make a decision.

It had been 7 years since the beginning. An amazing, deep, heartfelt, troubled, hated, tear-filled, laughter-filled 7 years. This drive was his salute. It was to be his farewell to old things gone, and new things yet to come. He often used his car as a buffer, and his drives were the transitions of his life.

He drove past his elementary school, his little-league baseball field, and the park near his house. He drove past the zoo, so full of worldly animals and life, yet always so quiet. As if the mysteries of the world weren’t really that mysterious. He drove past Mickey’s Ice Cream shop, and Old Lady Hendersons house. She used to tend her garden every day, but now only tended to her chair and her memories (Old Age is Mean).

He bought a dozen purple tulips from Jimmy’s Dad. Purple Tulips were always her favorite flower. He was visiting the special places of their lives and leaving tulips to celebrate their moments. Flower #4: Downtown Movie Theatre. Flower #7: The River.

Flower #10: The Park near his house. This was a special one…. He sat on one of the many benches in the park and lost himself in the past. He must have sat there for over an hour. Rolling the pros and cons over in his head. It was one of those silent moments in a persons’ life. The type of moment that sparkles with clarity and content. It was beautiful…

The moment ended with a canary-like bird chirping. He raised his head and saw this singular bird looking down at him and he smiled. He had made his decision. He got back in his car as the sun began it’s descent from the sky. Looking over at the passenger seat he saw the remaining two purple tulips and smiled again. He knew where the last two were going, and he couldn’t wait to take them there.