Grandpa Al radioed coordinates in the Korean War.
He was quiet, loved his Yankees, and sipped O’Doul’s in the summertime.
He had a fake leg and owned a ukulele, too—
a sweet, beautiful instrument boxed up in his basement.
I can see him now.
He’s smiling. Sipping. Strumming and plucking.
Justin Deming lives and teaches in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
well done! so tender and beautifully written.
thanks
Thanks for the kind words, Susan!
You’ve written a beautiful, vivid scene so easily envisioned.
The ‘boxed up in his basement’ was interesting. It lends an element of unease (at least in my reading), as if his memories from the war are being boxed up and hidden in his head.
Nice one Justin. Thanks for sharing.