(I read this story a long time ago and though I can’t remember the exact words but the essence of it never left my mind and I wish to retell this story in my own words and share it to all fathers because in it I saw not only the kindness of one father to another but of the sacrifices our fathers go through to give us the best that they could offer. In my own life I have witnessed how my father paved a way for me to be industrious, to be honest and most of all how it is to be human and kind. I dedicate this story to my father and all fathers who fight for everyone’s right to a dignified life.)
The carnival is here! I moved restlessly about the house as we prepared to go to town for the carnival. We have waited months for this wondrous event to pass by our town. My father had to save money every week for 2 months just so we could have enough money for the carnival rides, shows and the food. We got there just in time for the opening and I watched enthralled, captivated by the flashing and glittering lights from the distance.
Along with other families we lined up outside the entrance to buy the tickets to get in. In front of us in the queue was a couple and behind them stood seven happy kids one right after the other, giggling and jumping with excitement. Then I noticed a look of concern on my father’s eyes and I turned to see the worried faces of the couple as the woman behind the cashier booth announced the price for the tickets. I saw the father count his money and then turned around to look at his children who were now shouting and pointing towards the enchanted lights and sounds coming from inside the carnival. I saw the father’s face dropped like a sack of rice, so heavy and so sad.
He turned towards the woman in the booth not wanting to face his children who were now looking intently at him wondering why it was taking him so long to get the tickets. How could he tell them they cannot go in? How could he snatch away the jubilant smiles from their faces? I looked up at my father and our eyes met, I saw the kindness swelling in his eyes begging for my approval and finally I nodded. My father approached the man and took out all the money from his wallet , closed it in his palm and touched the man’s shoulder as he said “ Mister, I think you dropped this.”
The man saw the money inside my father’s hand and looked at him , eyes filled with tears of gratitude. My father held my hand and we left the carnival to go home. That night I wasn’t able to ride the roller coaster, I wasn’t able to eat hot dogs and cotton candies, I wasn’t able to see the amazing shows but I have never felt as happy as I did that night so many years ago. Through the eyes of a child I was able to witness a kindness that has become my father’s legacy to me.
My daddy at age 35 and now at 84...Advance Happy Father's Day Daddy! I love you!
Comments
@Rhaani Yes at the very least our parents deserve our respect for the sacrifices they made. Thanks for passing by and sharing your experience too! :)
@ AReality: Sometimes we forget that we are the stewards of this planet and it takes people with courage, with kindness, and with love to show us our reality. It is the reason why I retold this true story so that we may know this exists. Thanks for appreciating this. :)
@Peppo It is true that our parents do have their shortcomings but they are still deserving of our gratitude for their effort to fill our needs. Thanks for sharing your experience. :)
@Hi Expector Smith so glad you could pass by and drop a comment! Happy Father's day to your dad too! :)
Thanks for sharing this nice story!
Happy Father's Day to all of those who really deserve one.
Hi Elf Noor Indeed we owe a lot of our happy childhood from the sacrifices our parents went through. Glad to have shared this one with you, I hope it gave you recall of your own happy childhood with your father as well. :)
that is really nice, heart touching story.. sacrificing our own happiness is very difficult for other, but there are many of us, kind and humble person who sacrifices her/his own happiness for other. that people have amazing personality like your FaTHER..
relation of father with children is amazing. they do their best for happiness of their children. thanks for sharing..!!
Hi Tara thank you for adding my work to the Father's Day Collection, I had a look at it earlier and I am truly awed by the beautiful experiences all written down for us to see and share. I really think this is the core of EC, the sharing of experiences, which not only helps in the learning of English but in living and connecting with our past,present,future and in each other. Thanks! :)
@Samuel Thank you for your greetings. I am grateful to have been blessed with this kind of love.
@REEY@Z Hi nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts on this story. We see the world through the lens our parents give us and I am thankful that I have seen it through the lens of kindness too like this child here in the story.
@Grace: Yes our fathers are our first heroes and we are the both of us grateful damsels in distress!
@Petrichor Hi! May God bless our fathers. I hope you would consider writing a poem for your father to share here on EC because I believe a beautiful man deserves a beautiful poem and what better way to have it than from such a beautiful poet such as you! :)
This is such a touching Father's Day Story. We can all learn so much from it. Thank you for sharing it in your own words. I've added it to our Father's Day Collection. I hope others will continue to add to last year's Father's Day challenge!
This story actually reminded me of a story my father recently told me about his father. When the carnival came around every year, my dad's father would pay off my dad (give him the money it would cost to take him) so that he didn't have to actually make the effort and go. My dad could spend the money on something else like toy cars or junk food.
I never got to meet my "Papa" and this made me sad when I heard my dad's story. But, when I thought back to my own life, my father rarely took us to these types of local events either. (We did go to Disney World once.) These days, however, my father happily takes his grandkids to these fun fairs and makes memories with them. He doesn't think twice about spending money on rides. Maybe it takes a few generations to get it right.
Father is the first hero in a family. My father is 60 this year. Your story touched my heart.
Wonderful .. heart touching story.. Sometimes.. there is much happiness in sacrifices we make. Wonderful presentation of WORLD through a father eyes.. Loved it... These noble thoughts always make us human..
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