Runaway Bay - Chapter 13
Foresong
In 2004, I built a skate ramp for Noah - our oldest. He was really into skateboarding, and we had some extra room in our backyard.
I must have mentioned it to Mike during one of our visits, and he must have taken an interest, because he drove down from Ft. Worth where he and Debbie lived at the time, and worked with me to finish it. I remember going to the store for some supplies, and when we checked out I encouraged him to pay for them - figuring he was pretty far behind in child (and grandchild) support by then. He balked a little, but did it.
When it was finished and Noah tried it out, I could tell he was really proud of that skate ramp. I think you can see it in the picture above.
Of course, then he once again disappeared in our lives for years on end … but like the story told in Chapter 13, this episode was a little glimmer in a mostly dark relationship, that would later grow lighter as truth and reconciliation began to come front and center.
Here’s another picture from the time when Mike was mostly distant from our family, before the events of Chapter 13. We must have gone up to visit him and Debbie in Ft. Worth. Maybe for Christmas? - because it was December 2007.
John Patrick (our 4th child) was four years old at the time. Mike was always really good with kids. And Debbie was a treasure - fun, frank, and full of good sense.
One time Mike called us and asked if he could come down and stay with us in Elgin. He had somehow been connected with a juvenile delinquent in San Marcos, and had to show up in court to advocate for him. So he stayed with us, and made the hour drive to San Marcos each day. When he packed up, I asked to walk with him to his car. On the way, I confronted him: “You’ll come down and stay with us for some kid you don’t know, but you won’t do it for your own daughter and grandchildren.” He left angry, but later told me - “I knew you were right.”
A couple of words about this website of “bonus material” for Runaway Bay:
Amy didn’t create it … Thomas did. You may have already guessed that the “I” in the captions isn’t Amy, but me - her husband.
( She doesn’t really like websites. Or QR codes for that matter. Or bulleted lists like this one - a dead giveaway that she didn’t write this part. )Therefore I don’t mind making the shameless plug - if you are enjoying her phenomenal book, would you be willing to put a review on Amazon? As Amy’s “publishing partner” the one surprising thing I’ve seen is this: people love her writing, and even volunteer their time to email or text her with their responses … but getting them to post a quick review on Amazon is a whole ‘nother level of hard.
( Here’s the link, if you’re so inclined https://a.co/d/9BbaoX2 )
Thank you so much!
Amy and I celebrating our 35th anniversary in Phoenix, Arizona.