“Your Dad is better than my Dad!”

“And this even have realistic engine sound!” Nico bragged, as he showed his new radio controlled car to his classmates in school. Gerry could only watch in envy as Nico’s toy car runs around them.

The school bell suddenly rang, Nico quickly picked up his toy and they all ran to their rooms.

That night at home, while waiting for their dinner to be prepared by his mother, Gerry approached his father, “Dad, Nico has a new toy. He brought it in school today, it’s a radio controlled car. Can I have one too Dad?”

His father puts Gerry on his lap and said, “Son, we both know that Nico can afford to have all those beautiful toys because his father is a seaman. I’m just an office clerk Gerry, my salary is just enough for our daily needs,” he continued, “tell you what, this weekend after we go to the mass, we’ll go to the park and we’ll fly kites together. How does that sound?”

“That would be great Dad!” replied Gerry, who’s always looking forward to a weekend of kite flying with his father.

Meanwhile, Nico was playing in his room. Trying to do some tricks with his new radio controlled car, making quick turns, sudden stops, trying to make the car run fast… everything that he thinks he can do with his toy car. But he is silent while playing alone.

His door suddenly opened and his mother entered his room, “Why are you not yet sleeping? It’s late? You’ll be late for school tomorrow?”

“When is Dad coming home?” Nico asked his mother.

His mother sat beside him in bed, “Nico, you know your father has to be on the ship. That’s his job as a seaman.”

“But I miss him Mom!” Nico exclaimed.

“I miss your Dad too, but we really need to make some sacrifices for us to be able to buy everything we need. You know what? For your birthday next month, Dad said he’s going to buy you that toy robot you always wanted! See, if you’re Dad isn’t on the sea, he might not be able to buy you that.”

Nico didn’t reply and he just looked at his mother, who tucked him in his bed and said, “go to sleep now son, there’s school tomorrow,” as she kissed him goodnight.

Gerry and Nico live in the same subdivision. They are actually the best of friends, they would go to school together and go home from school together. That’s why Gerry knows all of Nico’s new toys, even those he doesn’t bring in school.

Nico, also knows of Gerry and his father’s weekend activities. He always sees them at the park flying kite together every time he rides his bike around the subdivision.

In their young minds, each one wishes they have each other’s father. Nico wants a father whom he can play with especially at weekends, Gerry wish his father is a seaman too so he can have all those great toys.

During one of their breaks in school, while the two boys are having their snack, Nico tells his friend, “You know? I really envy you.”

“Huh?!” Gerry was surprised, “envy me?! It is me who should be envious of you! You have all those great toys! My Dad couldn’t even buy me one of those toys!”

“I may have beautiful toys,” replied Nico, “but my father is not here, I can’t play with him because he is in the sea. I always see you and your father fly kites in the park during weekend, I never experienced that with my Dad. That’s why I envy you.”

Gerry looks at his friend, he can see his sadness in his eyes. His 10-year old mind understands how his friend feels, and he suddenly appreciated his father better.

That night in their house, Gerry approached his father, “Dad…”

“What is it this time?” his father asks.

“Could it be possible…” Gerry hesitated, “What?’ asked his father again.

“Can Nico join us in our kite-flying on Sunday?” he was finally able to ask.

“Sure son, Nico can join us.”

And Gerry hugged his father very tight.

Tags: better Dad, Father, father and son relationship, Fiction, missing Dad, seafarer, seaman, short story