Father’s Day
Memories- By AceofSpades773
This is an answer to
Katherine’s June 2003 challenge- “Of the boys, we know about Ezra's mother,
Vin's mother, JD's mother, Buck's mother....Josiah's father, Nathan's mother and
father, and not a thing about Chris' parents. What I want is a story that fills
in some details on the missing parents or even the ones that we do know
something about. Our boys weren't hatched from eggs, and I want to know
something about the people who brought them into this world (Figuratively
speaking) Can be the guys just talking about how they didn't know their fathers,
or reminiscing about some fond memory of their mothers. Or you can take it upon
yourself to create an original character and fill in the details that way. I
don't care which one of the boys you pick, or what AU you choose. Any or all is
acceptable. Have fun.”
This is a LB ATF AU
story, though it is mainly about Ezra. Lil’ Vin only makes a tiny cameo.
The story is rated G, as it is totally devoid of anything
remotely resembling language, violence, or sex.
None of the characters belong to me except
Philip.
This was inspired in
part by Father’s Day, but mostly by a Luther Vandross song entitled “Dance
With my Father.” The lyrics can be found at the end of the story.
Be warned, this is
simply the product of a sleepless night and a little too much Lifetime TV. My
muse wouldn’t leave me alone, and this little tale was born. It was written in
less than two hours, so cut me some slack if it’s a bit sketchy.
That said, enjoy the
fic!
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
“Unca Ezra?”
“Yes, Master
Tanner?”
“D’you think ya
could help me an’ JD pick out presents for Chris an’ Buck?”
“Presents?”
“Yeah, for
Father’s Day. I mean, they ain’t our real fathers, but they’re all we
got.”
“Yes, I think that
can be arranged. What did you have in mind?”
“I dunno. What are
you getting your dad?”
Ezra was stunned, and
his mouth dropped open. That was something he hadn’t thought about in years.
“Well, Vin, my father died many years ago.”
“Oh. I’m
sorry.”
“It’s alright. I
really don’t remember him.”
Vin patted his leg
reassuringly. “I don’t ‘member my real dad either.”
Ezra smiled at him.
“Well, that’s something else we have in common, I suppose.”
Vin beamed, and then
ran off to find JD and play.
Ezra watched him go a
little guiltily. He hadn’t been entirely honest. His memories of his father
were few, and those he did have were hazy, but they were there. Only one stood
out vividly in his mind.
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Back when I was a
child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around 'til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he
would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Ezra’s father,
Philip, had been a police officer in Atlanta, as well as a part-time professor
of Criminal Justice at a local university. His jobs, both of them, had required
a lot of attention and he frequently worked long hours. Often, he would not
return home at night until eight or nine o’clock. Ezra’s most vivid memory
was of his father scooping him up and twirling him around wildly until he was
either too dizzy to stand or so exhausted that sleep claimed him. Maude joined
in sometimes, too, and the three would laugh until they nearly collapsed.
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
When I and my mother
would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Maude had once been a
happy, carefree woman. She had a loving husband and a beautiful little boy. She
was not the cynical, manipulative woman that Team 7 had met. Ezra remembered
that, though there were many conflicts, he’d always known he could turn to his
mother when he had a problem. That had changed one horrible September evening.
Philip had gone to a
convenience store less than a block from their house to pick up some milk and a
box of cigarettes. While he was waiting to check out, a young man in his late
teens came in shouting and waving a handgun. He’d thrust a bag at the cashier,
demanding that the frightened woman fill it with cash. Though Philip had tried
to talk him out of it, the gunman was beyond reason, and the young husband and
father took a bullet to the head.
All six year old Ezra
had known at the time was that Daddy was never going to come home.
And Maude had never
been the same.
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Sometimes I'd listen
outside her door
And I'd hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
I know I'm praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she's dying
To dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Philip was not the
only parent Ezra lost that night.
Ezra was angry with
Maude at first. She simply shut off all her emotions, and she insisted he do the
same. Then she sold the house Ezra had lived in his whole life and the traveling
began. She started to drop him off with relatives and friends, claiming that he
slowed her down and cramped her style.
It wasn’t until he
got older that Ezra realized that his father’s death had hurt her so badly
that she’d fall apart completely if she allowed herself to feel the loss. So,
she did the only thing she knew how: she ran. She pushed Ezra away because she
was so afraid she’d lose him too, and then she buried herself in money and
gambling. She married over and over again, but she ‘d never be able to match
the love and devotion she had with Philip Standish.
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
If I could get
another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
How I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Ezra’s father had
been his hero; a sort of giant sitting on a pedestal that could never be broken.
He had been both a teacher and a protector, both for his small son and for the
citizens and students in Atlanta. Ezra had decided when he was still young that
he would be exactly like the man he remembered. He’d be so smart and so
successful that Maude would have no choice but to love him and want him back.
That particular dream
had never been accomplished, for the woman was too far gone by then. However,
Ezra was certain that he’d done right by his father’s memory just the same.
Though he’d give up
every commendation, every degree, every award if he could just see the man one
more time.
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
If I could steal one
final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
'Cause I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Slowly the undercover
agent shook his head to dispel the painful and ancient memory, and rose to his
feet to join his new family at the grill. Though his father was gone, he now had
four brothers and two nephews. He smiled; somehow Ezra knew that Philip would be
proud.
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
The End
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~7~*~
Dance With my Father
-- Luther Vandross
Back when I was a
child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around 'til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
How I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again
When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
'Cause I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again
Sometimes I'd listen outside her door
And I'd hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
I know I'm praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she's dying
To dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream