eat your heart out mercer mayer

we went to the mall, just me and my dad

Been having coffee with my dad regularly.

We go to the mall.

We get something from Tim Hortons then look for a spot.

Ideally, we get the chairs that move on their own.

There’s a series of tables with liberated chairs.

Last Friday they were all taken. We had to settle for the twisty posters - the bolted to the floor swivel chairs that are about as welcoming as a nun’s hammock.

Every time we go we run into people he knows or knew in his childhood.

They come over, say hi, rant for a bit, ask a couple of questions, shake their heads and move on.

There are recognizable groups of old dudes that I notice now. Old dudes who hang out in the mall. They walk, talk, drink and laugh. Some are in power chairs. Others are fully mobile. Others still have knee braces or other afflictions.

And then there’s me and my dad.

We’re a couple of old men hanging out and drinking coffee talking hockey and seeing familiar faces in the mall.

He sure has a lot of stories.

I wonder why it took so long for me to pay so much attention.

Either way, I’ll tell you this.

He’s a really neat guy.