ski2bfree
11-04-2005, 08:37 PM
I punched my little brother in the arm as he sat on the old bean bag next to me, challenging the next level of Super Mario Brothers. The dingy smell of the basement was adding to my sullen mood and anticipation of him killing Mario one more time. I heard a sharp rap at the front door and couldn't help but giggle at it. The doorbell hadn't worked since our dad attempted some electrical work and accidentally cut the wrong wire.
"Papa's here!" Justin threw his controller down and ran for the stairs. I patiently leaned over and shut off the game console before following.
By the time I got to the top of the stairs, Papa and Grandma were on the back porch with our parents and my brother. He was holding a chainsaw and a lot of rope, neither of which fit him very well. Papa's features were soft and his demeanor cheerful, contrasting the materials he was carrying much as his stark white hair contrasted his dark tan face. I sat on the porch steps and watched as my father and Papa used the rope to tie off the dead maple in the middle of the yard.
"Chucky, you're roping that off the wrong way. Lead it over to the woods. Not that branch, the one under it." Papa instructed Dad. Papa had a knack for instructing Dad in such a way that always made Dad mumble things under his breath that I wasn't allowed to repeat.
"Alright Dad, knock it off. I'm 30 years old. I know how to tie a rope."
"Fine, hot shot. Do it yourself then."
Dad continued roping off the tree for another couple of minutes, working even more efficiently now that he had something to prove. Justin was walking around the yard with his plastic saw making noises like a motor when Dad stomped over to Papa and grabbed the chainsaw. Standing next to the tree, Dad pulled the cord to start the motor.
Phtpthpthhthhhhhhhh... went the chainsaw, sputtering out a few seconds later. Again, Dad pulled the cord.
Phtpththhhpththhtphpthpthpthpt hptphhhhhhh... it lasted a little longer.
"Jesus, Chuck, pull the damned thing!" Papa screamed. Dad pulled the cord one more time.
Snap. Pthpthpthhhhh...
The cord broke in half and the motor again failed to start. I watched Dad's face redden for a few seconds before returning to the basement to avoid the falling tree and the ensuing emotional explosion.
"Papa's here!" Justin threw his controller down and ran for the stairs. I patiently leaned over and shut off the game console before following.
By the time I got to the top of the stairs, Papa and Grandma were on the back porch with our parents and my brother. He was holding a chainsaw and a lot of rope, neither of which fit him very well. Papa's features were soft and his demeanor cheerful, contrasting the materials he was carrying much as his stark white hair contrasted his dark tan face. I sat on the porch steps and watched as my father and Papa used the rope to tie off the dead maple in the middle of the yard.
"Chucky, you're roping that off the wrong way. Lead it over to the woods. Not that branch, the one under it." Papa instructed Dad. Papa had a knack for instructing Dad in such a way that always made Dad mumble things under his breath that I wasn't allowed to repeat.
"Alright Dad, knock it off. I'm 30 years old. I know how to tie a rope."
"Fine, hot shot. Do it yourself then."
Dad continued roping off the tree for another couple of minutes, working even more efficiently now that he had something to prove. Justin was walking around the yard with his plastic saw making noises like a motor when Dad stomped over to Papa and grabbed the chainsaw. Standing next to the tree, Dad pulled the cord to start the motor.
Phtpthpthhthhhhhhhh... went the chainsaw, sputtering out a few seconds later. Again, Dad pulled the cord.
Phtpththhhpththhtphpthpthpthpt hptphhhhhhh... it lasted a little longer.
"Jesus, Chuck, pull the damned thing!" Papa screamed. Dad pulled the cord one more time.
Snap. Pthpthpthhhhh...
The cord broke in half and the motor again failed to start. I watched Dad's face redden for a few seconds before returning to the basement to avoid the falling tree and the ensuing emotional explosion.