Susan

"Pul-eeze ...please dad, I have to have something." I knew to start early and in a week or so we were down in the garage. Every tool possible was precisely arranged on pegboard, his work bench clear and ready for work. The table saw placed just so but it prevented the passenger's door of my mom's car from opening. He was an engineer, efficiency was essential.###

"you're so good at this, dad, I don't care what it is, just something."###

"Dad, we can use that old scrap wood, I can sand it then you can drill the holes. Its really gonna be fun. The others will be so jealous, their dad's barely have tools."###

"Dad, can we work on it tonight? ...or tomorrow after school? Come down & see the screws I found, paint too. It's OK if it isn't perfect." When he lifted it, it seemed much heavier than it really was, I helped decide what to cut next so he didn't go back upstairs.###

"Gosh, dad, this is great." He'd sigh, nod and glance beyond me. I saw the twinkle in his eyes, at least where it used to be. The garage was underground, cool and quiet except for the hum of the shop lights, It was just me & my dad in an illuminated cube. I didn't accept that I was selfish, I thought it would be fun for him too, he used to love puttering away down here.###

"Thanks Dad, it's really great." He told me to make sure they got a lot for it.###
"I will." It was on the workbench, the toy fair was long since over so I screwed the last piece on and hid it away. I know he loved the garage, its where he ended it all. When the loss would overwhelm me, I'd visit it. I did get a lot for it.###