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Wave Hi To Your Daddy

12/3/2025

Gary stepped into the Grab & Go and pulled his Trooper cap off. A fine crust of ice crystals had already collected on the dark blue faux fur of the brim and ear flaps. He scanned the aisles and the nook with the coffee dispensers. “Hey, I was hoping to catch you.”

Sylvester gave a sideways grin as he popped a lid on his coffee. “I’ll bet you were.”

“I’m sorry about the other day–”

The officer waved it away. “Water under the bridge. Mike told me what that was about. Do-over?”

“I appreciate it.” He extended a hand. “I’m Gary Light.”

“Syl Herzler.” He shook Gary’s hand. “And that’s the look I get from everybody. People expect me to be a Mc or a Mac, but I’m as German as sauerkraut. I heard there’s even a region of Siberia that has more redheads per capita than Scotland.”

“No kidding? You learn something new every day.”

“True story, man. Hey, you keep warm out there today.”

“Sure will.” Gary nodded and headed outside. It wasn’t too cold, but this frozen drizzle was going to make his face numb if he didn’t hike his regulation gaiter up between stops.

He jumped into the Bronco and headed to work.

“Hey, Gary, feeling better?” Liz looked up from the bin she was sorting.

“Yes.” He took his hat off. “No.” He unzipped his coat. “Maybe.”

“Well, that about covers it.” She shook her head and grabbed another handful of envelopes. “There are hot chocolate packets in the break room if that will help.”

“It’s a step in the right direction. Thanks.”

“Seriously, are you alright? If it’s too soon to come back, you’ve got plenty of days banked.”

“No, I need to work. Walking the route helps me clear my head.”

“Hmm, don’t overdo it. If you need anything, call in right away. Okay?”

“Sure will.” He grabbed the key to his truck and headed to the break room. “Hey, Don.”

“Hey, Gary. You good?”

“Sure. Sorry about yesterday.”

“I’m sorry about Monday. Are you back on your feet? Be honest.” Don stirred chocolate powder into his cup of boiling water. The tiny dehydrated marshmallows rose to form a thick froth as he stirred.

“I needed yesterday to try to put things in perspective. That was a wake-up call, but I’m going to lose my mind if I have to stay home ruminating about it. Walking the route will give me a chance to really process what Abby and I talked about yesterday.”

“Early retirement?”

“Wow.” Gary clutched his hat. “That wasn’t on my bingo card. Trying to get rid of me already?”

“No, definitely not. You can stay until after I retire if you want. I just figured it might have come up. Big scare. New perspective on things. That kind of deal.”

“It hadn’t come up, but now that you mention it…”

“You’re going to be grinding about it all day now. Sorry.”

Gary shrugged. “Probably not all day. I should have the pro versus con lists figured out and weighted before lunch.”

“So, if I may ask, what do you figure it was about?”

Gary itched his mustache. “A little bit of everything, I guess. Tina said something that threw me.”

“Tina Gajewski on Hyacinth?”

“Yeah, she said Myron was afraid to ask me if I’d switch places in Communion service. Am I that unapproachable?”

“I wouldn’t say unapproachable. You’re generally pretty easy to talk to. It’s just that you’re tighter than a latch ring.”

“Really?”

“It’s not all bad. Having your routines down and squared away is absolutely an asset on this job. You know what works, and you stick to your process.”

“That’s supposed to be a good thing.”

“On the job, sure. You give the impression that it doesn’t stop with the workday.”

“Set routines aren’t just for work, Don. You don’t go home and do somersaults on the kitchen table, do you?”

“Not usually, but it’s still a possibility. Work is work. Life is life. Work needs procedure and regulation. Life needs room to grow, like Teddy.”

“He could have died.”

“What?”

“Not even a year old, Don. He could have died because of me.”

Don massaged his temples. “Tell me you need another day off without telling me you need another day off.” He exhaled slowly.

“I don’t–”

“Gary, go home. Take some time. You’re not ready for this.”

“Please, I just need to walk my route. It will clear my head, really.”

“We both know that’s not true.” Don looked into Gary’s eyes. “Look, it’s supposed to be nice and sunny tomorrow. Take the day. Play with your grandson. You can walk your loop and clear your head tomorrow without a face full of snow cone. Right?”

Gary winced. He knew Don was right, but he felt like he could power through.

“Don’t fight me on this or I’ll have to make it official. You want to clear your head? Take the day at home. Call the EAP line. Call Father Tom. Call your sister. Just take the day and let me know how things stand for tomorrow. You want some cocoa before you head out?”

“Isidore.”

News radio gave way to Sanctus bells. “Good morning, Gary. How can I help you?”

“I don’t want to wake Abby, but I’m heading home. Can you leave a message so she knows it’s me coming in?”

“Certainly. Are you experiencing symptoms again?”

“Not like Monday, but Don thinks I need another day.”

“Perhaps that is wise. Would you like some soft instrumentals to see you home?”

“Veni, Emmanuel with vocals, please.” He cruised through town as the song played. The lead singer’s basso profundo delivery of the Latin lyrics filled the Bronco with audio incense. It was as deep and dark as the pre-dawn journey home. The song ended before the trip did. He could hear the sleet drumming on his windshield accompanied by a rising gale. ‘Well, you actually listened for once, and you won’t have to be out in this mess all day. Don’s right, this would not have been cathartic.’ The corona of morning escaped the shadow of roofs and fence lines as he turned onto his street. His house was bathed in a halo of golden light as the sky loomed like a roiling gray blanket fortress. “Isidore, transfer audio to my phone. I’d like to hear Creator of the Stars of Night, but I want to go right inside and back to bed.”

Sanctus bells jingled before the radio turned off and the sweet hymn played on his phone. He heard the first verse before parking. Headlights off. Bronco off. Wind whistled between car and home. He stayed for the second verse, but the kitchen windows lit up.

A quick dash through the whipping crystals and rain saw him safely inside. Abby had Teddy in the high chair with a handful of puff treats.

“What’s the matter? Are you okay?” She took his thermos and set it by the sink.

“Yes and no.” He took off his hat. “Don talked some sense into me, and I actually listened.”

She covered a yawn with the back of her hand. “Who says there are no more miracles?”

“Nobody who has ever met Teddy.” He kissed the baby’s head as he unzipped his coat. “I’m not alright, Abby.”

“But you’re alright enough to know you’re not.” She took his coat and hung it on the back of a chair. “Miracles abound.” She squatted beside the highchair to smile at Teddy. “Grandpa’s home! Wave hi, sweetie.”

The baby grinned and waved his little hands overhead.

“There’s my big boy.” He pulled Teddy from the chair and snuggled him close. “Grandpa’s going back to bed.” He kissed the baby’s head.

“Let me feed him, and maybe we can, too.”

“I’ve got an idea.” He handed Teddy to her. “Let me go change and we’ll get set up.”

“Set up?” She smiled wearily. “Uh-oh, what’s your grandpa up to? He’s got ideas.”

Gary headed for his bedroom as Abby sank onto the couch cross-legged. She raised one knee to set Teddy into position for a feeding while she settled into a contemplative reverie.

He returned with an armful of blankets and quilts. Gary spread the bedding on the floor and headed back for pillows.

“Dad,” Abby whispered. “I have to change Teddy. We’ll be right back.”

He rolled over to watch them go. The daylight was muted by the heavy cloud cover as rain swept across the windowpanes. It was brighter than when he’d come home, but not by much. ‘Thank God for Don. I’m going to have to get him something special for Christmas.’

He pulled the quilt up over his shoulder and snuggled into his pillow, but the fluffy nest of pillows and blankets felt empty without them. ‘No getting back to sleep now.’ He sat up and stretched. “Isidore, what time is it?”

Sanctus bells jingled. “The time is 11:33 AM. I hope your sleep was restful.”

‘Wow, I had no idea I was that tired.’ He pushed the blankets aside and trudged out to the kitchen. ‘Hmm, need a glass of OJ.’ His flannel pajamas kept the draft in the kitchen at bay. No matter. Once he started cooking, they’d be snug and comfy.

“Dad?” Abby breezed into the living room to find the blanket nest empty.

“I’m going to start some breakfast. Do you want pancakes or eggs and bacon?”

“Ooh, bacon.” She slid Teddy into his exersaucer and squeaked a toy. “Want some yummy scrambled eggs?” He grinned and whacked at a spinner. “Isidore, TV on.”

Bells jingled, and the screen illuminated.

Gary peeled strips of bacon and placed them in the pan. The sizzling and crackling felt so homey to him. The wind still howled at the windows. “Hmm, time to put the weather stripping on. Good thing I’m home with all afternoon free to take care of that.”

Teddy gawked at the TV screen. Abby was gathering up the blankets when she noticed him. She turned to see what he was looking at when she saw a Marine in his dress blues. The banner at the bottom of the screen read: Cpl. Matthew S. Jozsa, Laurel Ridge, PW.

“It’s Daddy. Wave hi to your daddy.” She knelt beside the bouncing baby.

The video Christmas card activated, and the Marine spoke. “I’m pleased to take this opportunity to wish a Merry Christmas to my family back home in Pennswald from here at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. I’m thinking of you, missing you and I love you. I’m sending my love and, hopefully, you’ll see a surprise under the tree just in time.”

She blushed and swept a tear away. “Isn’t he handsome? Teddy, that’s your daddy.”

The scene changed to show a sailor in a brilliant white uniform greeting his family in Arizona.

“Abby? Are you ready to come out? The eggs are almost done.”

“Be right there.” She pulled Teddy from his bouncy seat and danced around the living room. “That was him! That was him! That was him! Matt from Laurel Ridge is your daddy.” She kissed his little cheek and took him to his highchair.

“Well, somebody’s excited for bacon and eggs. Do you want OJ or apple juice?”

“They were showing video Christmas cards.”

“Servicemen?”

“All around the world.” Her breath caught as she listened to the windows rattle. “Gee, I guess it’s time to put the plastic on the windows.”

Gary brought a plate for her with an extra portion of scrambled eggs to hand to Teddy. “There you go. It’s nice that they do that. Was that on the news?”

“No, EWTN was on.”

He brought his plate to the table. “Let’s bow our heads. Teddy?”

“Gla-ba-ba!”

Abby and Gary said, “Amen.”

Teddy grabbed a handful of eggs and mushed them on his face.

“Oh, I didn’t catch your answer. Apple or orange?”

“OJ’s fine.” She smiled ‘So is Matt from Laurel Ridge.’