“And cut!” he heard
the director yell out and sighed thankfully, to whoever had heard his call.
With another deep sigh he pushed
the car door. Once his head was out, he took a good look around. There was the director talking to his assistant director.
With the two were other top bosses for the film. He was lucky to get this job.
But getting here, he thought,
wasn’t easy either and it came with a price too high. And the price was a father he had lost. He lowered his eyes and
watched the water dance in the cup in his hand.
That same father’s words
had played in his head since his death.
“You are watchful and
intelligent . . .”
He closed his eyes to block
out the pain, the memories. Because it was too hard to remember, yet harder to accept—he didn’t wanted to say
it or think of it—defeat. The rangers he thought of as his friends were defeated. None of them knew about the reality
of the sacrifice their father had made. Even he didn’t. But it was a sacrifice he was forced to accept.
“Damn him,” he whispered,
for leaving the way he did, for not finding another way out. His anger boiled into pure fury and hatred for the destroyer
of his father. He didn’t notice that a single tear had slid down his cheeks.
There had been a time not long
after he joined the rangers. It had been the first time he was almost lost to them. His adventure on Phaedos was the adventure
of a lifetime. He remembered very well the highlight of the trip Billy described. His words,
“I’m a Frog!”
He had been glad to make it
in time. But he had a feeling that wasn’t enough. The pain he could deal with then and even now. But he could not stand
the pain in the eyes of his wife to be. He wished he could wipe it out, but knew it was impossible. Since he was in the same
boat with her.
Her laughter had gone, along
with the sparkle in those chocolate eyes. That always stabbed his heart, giving him another reason to hate Andros. He sighed.
He knew one day he would get over the pain, but for now he had enough to deal with.
Adam Park retired to his trailer
for the reminder of the day, to remember and cherish the joys and sadness of his Ranger days.
--
