In search of freedom and mischief, boys pour out the window of Metro Cafe
Friday, July 12, 2013 at 6:39PM 
I pulled up to the drive-through at Metro and boys started pouring through the window. Branson came first, clutching a paper airplane, followed by Carter.
;)
Aiden came next, moving like a spider.
;)
Then Carmen peeked through. She was a little worried the boys might crawl through my window into my car.
;)
Instead, they scooted off to the side, ready to escape to freedom and mischief. Carmen tells them not to do anything naughty, like to walk across the hood of my car.
;)
They run off towards a couple of the old Metro vans Scot had recovered and planned to restore, had cancer not taken him. As regular readers know, Branson loved to hang out with his dad, to follow him about, help him with his work and I have no doubt he would have helped in the restoration.
When it came time for Carmen and Branson to go spend their month in Mexico, Branson wanted them to go the graveyard, get his dad out and bring him with them. Now that they are back home, every day he asks her to take him to visit his dad at the graveyard.
Carmen does make frequent visits, but sometimes she plans to go but does not stop because when she comes driving past, there are people standing around the grave, mostly men who knew Scot but who Carmen never got to know.
When she does visit, she finds cigarette butts lying around the grave. Although he quit at times, Scot liked to smoke. She jokes that it looks like he comes up to indulge his old habit, which did not factor into his death.
;)
For as long as I have known him, Branson has always been an irrepressible dynamo, mischievous and full of energy. That is why when he was six and the smallest guy on his hockey team and they took the ice during a period break in an Anchorage Aces game, he was the first to charge out onto the ice, why he scored three goals in one game, why he was named most valuable player.
At this very moment, Branson and his friends are going where Carmen told them not to go. Carmen smiles.
;)
"Stay out of the van!" she shouts at Branson, Carter and Aiden.
;)
A moment later, Branson, Carter and Aiden are in the van. My coffee is ready. A car has pulled up to the drive through behind me. I take my coffee, drive away and begin to drink it.
Reader Comments (4)
I really like the last picture. I don't know why, but it appeals to me. It almost tells a story by itself.
nice close-ups. i love old wrecks. have no idea why. do you?
Bill,
You MUST watch these two videos. No seriously, you must. It will explain a great deal about Jim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-UMsCX46Ao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKffm2uI4dk
Sending love to Carmen.