Christmas Eve...

My dad bought my mother a really great gift called The Roumba. It's basically a flat circular device that vacuums your floors for you. (Hottest thing I've ever seen) My mom couldn't wait until Christmas so we decided to test out our new gadget. We watch it push its bristles around my parents bedroom and digest dust and debris. One by one we leave and return to where the hens cluck in the kitchen. My dad decided to stay upstairs and watch the Roumba, just to see if it lives up to all the hype. (Basically trying to find any reason he might have to return it)

20 Minutes passed and we are still chatting in our coop, and then all of a sudden my whole world stopped moving for a brief moment. BAH BOOM BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all hear the thud through the ceiling, and without a word uttered we sprint up the stairs to where my father was. Titiah, then mom, myself, and then Toya. Never have I seen my mother move with such agility in my life.

We reach the double doors of the master bedroom and I don't even want to peer in, because I don't know what I'll see. I put molasses in my stride and let the future doctor pass, and enter the room before me. I turn my head into the room and see my father spread out on the floor with his head leaned against the door. My hands turn to fists and I press them so firmly against my cheeks. I furrow my brow as I quickly look over my father's motionless body, with the Roumba laying on his legs.

"Greg? Greg?" my mom calls out as Titiah grabs a pillow from the bed. Toya is on the floor trying to wake my dad, and I have cement in my slippers. Immobilized. He wakes, and then I breathe. First thing he says "Hey, Where's my buddy? Where the Roumba?" They let out a light hearted half of a chuckle, and make him as comfortable as possible on the floor. I, on the other hand let out no sign of emotion at his first words. I'm still in shock, and I can feel the tears welling up from my stomach. It was that deep. I slowly make my way to the very edge of the bed, and can't even look him in the eyes because I know the tears will stream. No one else is crying, so man up Deidre.

I did what I could to keep the tears back, but there was one unruly salt water drop that snuck away from the herd. One lonely tear was all I allowed myself at that moment, and I wiped it swiftly from my cheek with my pointer finger. He was fine a little while later, and everyone relaxed. But I smiled a fake smile and laughed fake laughter, for the rest of the day. I just couldn't stop thinking that this could have been the day I lost my father. He knew I was uneasy, after that incident and he just looked at me, brushed my cheek and said, "I'm okay Bubbie".