Pursuit of Honor

chapter 7

WAPELLO, IOWA

TED White slid out of bed and grabbed the pile of clothes sitting on the chair in the corner. Through the gap in the shades he glimpsed the gray predawn morning. He picked up the bundle, looked over his shoulder at his wife, and began to carefully tiptoe out of the room. As he walked past the open door he grabbed the handle and slowly pulled it until the door closed with a soft click. Safely in the hallway, he allowed himself to breathe. He waited for a moment to make sure she didn't stir, and then he took two steps and entered his son Hayden's room.

The seventeen-year-old lay there twisted up in his sheets and blankets, two of his four pillows on the floor, one trapped under his body, and the last one on top of his head. He was due to graduate from high school in one month. White grabbed him by the shoulder and gently shook him. Nothing. He waited five seconds and tried again. This continued for another thirty seconds with increasing force until Hayden's eyes snapped open with a dazed, crazy look.

"What?" he asked, still delirious with sleep. "What's wrong?"

"Shhhh," his dad said. "If you wake your mother up, there's no way she'll let you come with me."

The kid didn't reply, he just looked around the room and tried to figure out what was going on.

"Grab your hunting gear."

"But Mom said I couldn't go. I have an English test third period, and I have a game tonight."

Hayden was headed to the University of Northern Iowa on a baseball scholarship. "You've worked hard enough over the past four years. I think you're entitled to a little turkey shoot with your dad."

"But Mom..."

"I know," his father cautioned, shushing him with his hand. "As long as I have you back in school in time to take that test everything will be fine."

"Coach doesn't like it if..."

"I already talked to your coach. He likes to turkey hunt just like me, and he knows they're randy as hell this week. He said it was fine just so long as I have you back in school in time for the test. We'll head out to my uncle's old place. Fifteen minutes out and fifteen back. If you get your butt in gear we should have no problem getting in a few good hours."

Hayden untwisted himself and put his feet on the floor. He raised both arms above his head and groaned. "Mom's going to be pissed."

In a hushed yet forceful voice, White said, "I'm going to be pissed if you wake her up. Now get moving. I'll make us a couple of fried egg sandwiches. We can eat them in the truck." With that, White left his only child's room and made it down the hallway to the kitchen. He started the coffee and warmed up the frying pan. Next came the hard part. He found a notepad and a pen and leaned over, placing his right elbow on the counter, and wondered how best to admit to the crime. Like most things in life he decided it would be best to be brief and hold his ground.

Honey,

I checked with Coach last night. He says it's fine if I take Hayden hunting. I will make sure I have him back in school for third period. This is probably our last spring shoot. Next year he'll be away at college. Where did all the years go?

Love,

Ted