Funny thing is, my daddy was right there with me when I died. He knelt next to the tub, wetting his oilstained overalls at the knees. The overalls had his name stitched in red on a white oval, but the oval itself had a few threads pulled. It hung off the fabric a bit on the left side, sort of wrinkled up from where momma would hang daddy’s overalls on the line to let the sun dry them. The oilstains were old and incorrigible. That’s what momma called ‘em. Incorrigible. Said nothing she ever tried fully got the stains out. They were worked into the fabric itself, got under and into the denim. She would tell me this idly in that way most adults talk to babies. She would tell me lots of things in the lonely morning hours after daddy’d gone to the shop to work and she’d hung the laundry out to dry. Usually she talked about her schedule, or daddy’s boss who always chewed on a nasty-smelling cigar, or what she planned on cooking for supper. More just her talking to herself while she spooned me some oatmeal. She always looked at me, though. Not like daddy, who only glanced. That was the difference. Daddy never really looked at me ‘til after I’d died. I think if it’d been her that was with me when I died I wouldn’t have died. I’m not blaming, though. It wasn’t daddy’s fault.
Another funny thing is that daddy cried. The last image I saw with my own two corporeal eyes was of daddy’s wet face, his arms extended down to try to pick me up, I think, and all of this ripply from where his tears hit the water above me. He loved me, daddy did. I know he was sad to see me go. I knew it then and I know it now. There’s lots of things that get clearer when you die. Lots of things you know. I know daddy loved me. Still does. Momma too.
And I know that it was a funny death—not in the way I used to think it funny when momma would make that silly face at me with her cheeks puffed up, but rather in the way that momma used to say there was something funny with daddy’s boss. Something off, she meant. I don’t have to survey the others here to know that having your daddy there with you when you die isn’t common. I just know it.
I didn’t splash much. That I remember from back then when I was alive. The image of daddy crying—my last image—doesn’t have any splashing water in it. I didn’t strain against his arms. I just drifted off peacefully. Maybe that was God that did that. Momma used to tell me, spoon to my mouth, that I had the colic and kept her and daddy up at night something awful. And not just so’s she could breastfeed me, but because my body wouldn’t let me sleep. So it might have been God what made me so peaceful when I drifted off in the tub.
Daddy rubbed soap on me all over. Under the arms, behind the ears. All over. He rubbed some on my head to make sure I didn’t get the cradle cap, even though I didn’t have much hair at all to clean. Ain’t that funny? I cried a bit then, like I usually did. I never liked it when the soap on my head got washed off. The water in my eyes scared me a little, though it didn’t ever hurt. But daddy shushed me and leaned in over the tubwater and kissed me on the head. He was smiling and his cologne was strong against the oil-smell of old rusty cars. He told me everything was okay, that he was there with me. His breath smelled like whiskey. I didn’t know it was called whiskey then. I just knew it as the drink that daddy would sometimes get into and cause momma to tut at him like a bird. But like I said, there are lots of things that you know once you’re here on the other side.
I’ll list some more things I know now. I know that daddy didn’t really want to be there when I died. He didn’t want that. I know that he’d been fired by his boss at the auto shop—the boss with the really bad smelling cigar that he always chewed the end of. And I know that dreckly after that daddy went and took his final paycheck to the bar and got drunk on five glasses of whiskey until he couldn’t see straight. And then he’d come home and, putting together some clues that had been simmering in the back of his mind for a long time, he’d rummaged through the trash momma had set outside. And I know that when he’d found it momma happened to come outside to see what all the commotion was about—thinking it was a ‘coon got into our trash again—and he’d showed it to her without saying anything, just the fumes of whiskey coming out his mouth. I know she’d scolded daddy a bit for making so much noise when she’d just got me down for a nap, and then she’d looked at the cigar end daddy had taken out the trash and she’d started crying, saying that she’d had to or else his boss said he would fire daddy and they couldn’t afford for daddy not to have a job with the baby being a part of their lives now and there wasn’t another auto shop in the town—leastwise not one that would take daddy in with his record and his alcoholism—and so what was she supposed to do. I know daddy was there with her when she died too, out in the backyard next to where we put the trash.
Another funny thing about it all is that daddy let me finish my nap. I think it was nice of him to do it. Thoughtful. I didn’t get much sleep at night, like I told you, and so he let me nap in peace and quiet. He sat on the couch looking at a newspaper without really reading it until he heard me stir in my crib. The crib was walled with white—white sheets and white bumpers to keep me from knocking my head on the thick wood out of which daddy himself had carved and bolted the crib together. I know this because I saw it later, here on the other side, in my memories. Daddy reached in and picked me up and smeared a little streak of oil on one of the bumpers. He looked at it for a moment, averting his eyes from me like he sometimes did. But then his eyes turned to mine and he smiled and carried me to the bathroom, where he took off my diaper and onesie. The water was lukewarm. Room temperature. Just the way I used to like it. This was another thoughtful thing daddy did for me when I died. I died in perfect water having slept away all my exhaustion, content to the point of not struggling. It was the best way I could have died, I know. That’s one of the things I know now.
Some of the kids over here died in car crashes, or from any of a number of diseases and infections. I met a boy a while ago who died from something called SIDS where he just didn’t wake up one day. I thought that awful strange and sad, to just die with no warning for his momma and daddy. I got lucky. My daddy was right there with me when I died, smiling and crying through ripply water. Not many over here can say that.
I guess that’s the last of the funny things I’ve learned over here on this side of the curtain. (That’s a phrase I learned back when I was alive, from momma. ‘This side of the curtain.’ She used it when she talked about my papa who’d died before I was born.) But anyway that’s the last of the things I’ve learned so far: we don’t have any control at all, really, over how we come over here to the other side. Not one bit, mister. And there’s two sides to every story. It’s all in how we take it in. I know what it means to have daddy there when I died. I’m not stupid, mister. Not by a long shot. I’ve learned these things. Some would tell me it was bad—that it should have scarred my spirit beyond reckoning. Or his. But it’s not, really. I didn’t even cry. It was peaceful when I went. And daddy was there. How many of you can say your last image is of your daddy being there smiling at you and crying over your death? Not many, that’s how many. I was lucky.
That’s a strange way of looking at it, ain’t it?
Ain’t that funny?
\\\
This is a short story for the series “Small Sample Size.” If you have a short story to share, contact us!
lookout
I really enjoyed the way you stitched the story together continually dropping clues. Since my daughter had colic I can relate to the undertone.
If you’re interested, I just published the short story collection that contains this story. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
‘And there’s two sides to every story.’ Such tragic innocence. A powerful recital. Its going to haunt me for long.
Thank you!
crazy
This was amazing, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading!
If you’re interested, I just published the short story collection that contains this story. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
This really made me think and wonder. Your writing just fascinates me so much and if you were to write a book I don’t think I would ever put it down until the end. I love this. Good Job!
Thanks! The responses to this story have been overwhelming and positive, and I appreciate the feedback greatly. Also, if you are interested, I’ve actually written and self-published a science-fiction novel called The Puppet Record. You can find the link to buy it on my website: mlcandelario.com. Check it out if you want, and if you like it please tell your friends and family. 🙂
If you’re interested, I just published the short story collection that contains this story. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
This is weird. Is this a series of a blog? I don’t get it by itself. Almost a waste of my time. And I am a bit fascinated by death and the other side.
It’s a short story in a loosely collected series of short stories featured here on The Worship Collective by various authors. This one is mine, and I have another coming out later in the series. Sorry if you feel like your time was wasted.
I apologize, a waste of time wasn’t the correct wording. I was disappointed when I came to the end because I wanted there to be more. But now that I see that there is a series I am very curious and intrigued. Perhaps you could guide me to the beginning links where I can begin the series. It sounds like many stories and multiple authors. I loved the fact that it was written from the perspective of the person who died. Very clever examples of the experiences in each paragraph and indeed an intelligent assignment. I was very intrigued knowing this was being written by the person who passed away, but I did not know where it was going or understood the thought process behind the reason. I was disappointed because this fascinating idea didn’t give me completion, but now it makes sense because there are others. I’m sorry for the wrong choice of words. It came across harsher than it was meant. I would like to follow the subject and read from the beginning. Hang in there with me I am new to word press working on my own blogs as well so there’s much I need to learn. Meantime, Thank you for your kind response.
No worries. This is the first in the series. Each one will be tagged “Small Sample Size,” followed by the title of the short story. They’re not super related to each other, but the stories are all based on the same very loose kernel (basically just this: it had to be short and have at least 2 characters). The second one has already been published here on The Worship Collective, and you can find it here: https://aworshipcollective.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/small-sample-size-transmutation-by-lakin-easterling/
Seriously, though. I welcome all opinions. Every opinion–even if it isn’t glowing praise–helps me become a better writer. You don’t have anything to worry about. 🙂
I agree. I welcome all kinds of criticism, it not only helps me grow as a writer but as a person as well. I figure anyone here writing the stories and essays hopefully feels the same way. I can’t wait to get started on my own work and coming across challenges such as this excites me all the more. Thank you for the link.
Very thought provoking, without being overly morbid.
If you’re interested, I just published the short story collection that contains this story. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Wauw, really bizare but intreging post. It shows how important family is. I should say i recognise a lot in your story to be true, like the peace you feel when you’re about to die. I’m not gonna share that story by the way, but i must admit that it was not only intreging and bizar. It was toutching too.
Reblogged this on donnalh34's Blog.
Reblogged this on oovekbk0710.
Beautiful writing.
Wow, thank you!
I finally published this story with some others. You can find the print copy here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Tears.
I hope they were good ones. 🙂
Of course they were.
Just so you know, I finally published a collection of short stories. This one appears in it as well. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Daddy drowned you in the bath water 😦
I like the tone and the way you are telling the story. I get the feeling Daddy had something to do with the momma’s and the baby’s dying. Just a feeling.
Wonderful story I really enjoyed reading. While I’d wondered at first about Dad’s motives, I didn’t see the old cigar coming at all. Very well constructed with an interesting perspective from ‘the other side’.
I have a new short story collection that has just been published! This story appears in it. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
This was incredibly disturbing, but well written and powerful. I could see everything perfectly.
I just published the short story collection that contains this story. There are also some other disturbing stories in there… at least, they’re disturbing to me. 🙂 Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Pingback: Small Sample Size – “Funny Things” by ML Candelario | Pumpkin Cake's Bohemian Bay
Kept me glued to the screen. Great writing… Love when a writer surprises me.
It’s been a while, but I finally published the collection of short stories that contains this one. If you’re interested, print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Very well written. I like the tone and the twisted, yet positive take on the ending. Quite unique and an excellent piece of flash fiction!
After taking time to work on other books, I’ve finally published this short story collection! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Wonderful post, thanks for sharing it. ❤
If you liked this, check out the collection that contains this short story. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Odd, but very intriguing….I enjoyed it…l look forward to next series
You’re in luck! I just published the collection of short stories that contains this one. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Very emotional. Beautifully written and very interesting perspective
If you liked this, check out the short story collection that contains it! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Reblogged this on Crumbs in the Butter and commented:
Great writing
There’s more where that came from. Check out the entire short story collection, newly published! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
This is beautiful and brilliant.
The collection of stories has been published! If you’re interested, here are the links. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Wow I really enjoyed this. It’s beautiful!
I’ve just published the full short story collection! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
AMAZING
I’ve got more available. Just published the full collection of short stories. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Wow. This was amazing. I was questioning my thoughts the entire time! My thoughts went to a teen who committed suicide in the bathtub, to then knowing it was a child who (drowned)? this was amazingly written. I loved how you didn’t just spell it out, we had to keep reading to know the whole thing. And I loved the detail about the stitches on the dad’s overalls…. it gave me chills.
Maybe the rest of the stories in this collection will give you chills, too. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
This is crazy…very interesting…thank you
This story appears in my new short story collection. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Reblogged this on seriouslycr8tive and commented:
An Art is an Art is an Art
If you’d like to help support that art, check out the collection from which this story is taken! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Reblogged this on Inward Movement.
I liked this because it was well done. A fine piece of writing. I’ll be honest though it pissed me off when realized what had happened. That’s kind of funny too. Awesome Job.
I think getting pissed off is really the best emotion one can have with this story. And I’m so glad that my writing brought that emotion out. 🙂 Thanks for the feedback and kudos.
You might like the rest of the stories in my collection. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Wow. Such a simple, almost cliched, story that takes on heightened importance by the point of view of the narrator. Unbelievably well done. One question, though. The line “… my papa who’d died before I was born.” I feel this comes out of nowhere, without explanation. I came to the realization that “daddy” was not the father and that “daddy’s” boss was. It just confuses the story and is an element that I don’t feel advances anything. But overall, I love this. Thank you!
Just to clarify, the “papa” is the baby’s grandfather. I didn’t think about that, but now I can see how it’s a bit confusing. I might change it to some other synonym. Thanks for the input!
I’ve got a new short story collection available for purchase. This story appears in it! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Love this. !!!
The whole collection is now available! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Reblogged this on M.T. Miles.
Amazing post, you took me into your story, I felt like I was there witnessing everything. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
The whole short story collection is finally available for purchase! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
hilarious article..
First, let me congratulation you being Freshly Pressed! This is wonderfully written; you caught me totally off-guard, something I hope my own stories will do (once I get them out of my head & in print, that is!!:-D ) as well!
Thanks! Get those stories out soon. The more you write, the more you want to write. At least, that’s how it works for me.
If you liked this story, check out the collection from which it was taken. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Wow. I am totally impressed. I was reading to check it out as you do when searching. Then thought to myself. Wow got to keep reading. It was intense and I couldn’t stop until it was over. Awesome read. Thank you for sharing. Pretty deep.
Thanks so much! I appreciate the compliments.
You might be interested in the rest of the stories in this collection. I think they’re all pretty deep. 🙂 Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Beautifully woven!
I’ve got more available now! The collection from which this story was taken has finally been published. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Thank you very much for the info. My apologies for not being prompt. Would definitely go through the link. Best Wishes!
Reva.
In your story, I believe you are the voice of that little boy, talking to his daddy as now an angel from heaven, and the other children he has meet since the little boy has been in heaven with God, that angels do exist, as I will continue the end of your story with all due respect : Years have passed, and time stands still, for in my heart, and always will, hold a special love for you today, that can’t grow old in anyway, you may not see me, but I’m really not gone, just in another place to carry on, if ever you need me, look towards the heaven above, whisper the word angel, I’ll send you my love.
There are more stories where this came from! Check out the new collection, freshly published. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Thank you for your interest in my writing micandelario will check out that website, Most Sincerely, Thank you.
I hope you liked my story of comments , Congratulations and good luck on your accomplishments of published a new book. Most Sincerely,
Reblogged this on angel31260's Blog and commented:
In your story I believe you were the voice of that little boy as an angel to his daddy, and I say : Time has passed, and time stands still, for in my heart, and always will, hold a special love for you today, that can’t grow old in anyway, you may not see me, but I’m really not gone, just in another place to carry on, if ever you need me, look towards the heaven above, whisper the word angel, I’ll send you my love.
Heey mlcandelario, you are nominated for the inspiring blogger award. See my post for the rules.
Whoa, that’s pretty neat. Thanks for the nomination!
This is such a great story. Thanks for posting it.
very thought provoking
creative picture
Wow I felt like I was in the story. Well written
Thanks very much!
The collection from which this was taken has now been published. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Reblogged this on Sudhvedham.
Powerful and so sad. I like your voice and style. I’m happy to get here through a prompt on the Commons.
If you want more of my voice and style, check out the collection from which this story was taken. Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .
Awesome writing. One commenter spoke about you dropping clues. But it was like leaving crumbs on the way to the story’s end.
The collection from which this short story was taken has finally been published! Print copies can be found here: http://t.co/tSQSrdXAGb . For the ebook version, check here: http://t.co/X1uqkQWyvz .