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“Kellen, I am tired.  Shall we return to the bench in front of the Post Office?” Kirk said.  The feeling waves effect the living.  Those effects were taking there toll on the older Hage member.  The weary lines  across his forehead were more etched.  The crows feet lines  at the corner of each eye were slightly deeper and more pronounced.  The heart beating much faster and working to hard.

Kellen,  being the bright young boy that he was, could see that his Father was in need of rest.  Kellen had witnessed the struggle  his Father  had with cancer.  He saw the debilitating regime of chemo and radiation treatments that his father went through in order to battle his cancer.  Those treatments are what is effecting his Father at this moment.  He knows his Father is not joking.

“Sure,  we have all day.  Let’s head back to the Post Office and sit a spell.   We can continue on from there.”  he responded in words that  belied his youthful age.

Standing on the corner together they turned to the west to walk the short city block to the Post Office.  Kellen taking stock of his father’s condition.  Trying to gage the strength that his Father has in order to keep himself erect.  Kellen had many days when he could do nothing but watch his Father rest.  He learned to be protective of his fathers condition.  Although proud and strong as his Father may be,  Kellen knew that his efforts did not go unnoticed by his Father through those years. In fact they both new it bonded them for an eternity.

“There is no need to hurry, Father.”  he said as he consciously slowed the fast pace that his father had initially set by linking his right elbow to Kirk’s left elbow. They began walking arm in arm.  ”We have the rest of our lives plus the feeling wave.  I think that is special, Father?

With the pace slowed they gaze west toward the post office.  They could see the baseball park of the Inwood off in the distance.  The sun was low in the western sky blocked by the white barn owned by Mr.Scholten just past the old railroad right of way on the western outskirts of town just a few blocks ahead.  With the street protecting them from the wind the bright setting sun still has some warmth for the old bones of the Father.  Both Kellen and the sun had warming effect on Kirk.  One from the inside out and the other from the outside in.

Kellen’s thoughts go back to when he was five.  His Father had been home for five months since his seasonal layoff from construction work in Alaska.  Kellen really enjoyed the walks to school with his Father each day.  Then his Father would return at noon to walk him home again.  It was nice to have his father home.  He had overheard his parents discussing his fathers return to seasonal employment in to Alaska.  This was not a subject that he liked to hear.  That means he will be gone again for six months.  He tries to understand the reasons but it is somehow lost to the youth in understanding as to why his father could not do his road building in the state of Texas instead of Alaska?

On many days they would play video games together on computers.  The young son did more teaching then the young father.  It mattered not to them.  The elder was lost in the feeling wave with out knowing that his young son was preparing for the same gift that Kirk was enjoying.  God has his plan and is using the feeling wave to do his bidding.

Kellen steadies his father as they walk towards the post office.  This is not the first time that something like this has occured.  He goes back to his first boy scout weekend camp out.  Seven years old is the age for a Tiger entering the Cub Scouts.  The whole winter spent attending the weekly  den meeting making ready with badges, ribbons, and awards all giving testament that the young man had fulfilled the requirements to cross over to the next level called Webelos.

It was about six months after ending Kirk’s treatments for tongue cancer when this campout weekend was to occur.  Kirk had lost about 180 pounds and  had yet to swallow anything other than water and medication.  A food peg had been placed in the abdomen of Kirk.  He was subsisting on liquid protein.  It made him quite sick each time it was administered so Kirk was reticent to use the product.  Consequently his progress was slowed dramatically because of this.  Despite the weakening effects Kirk mustered up enough strength to load the pickup with camp goods for the over night trip.

The camp ground itself is quite an affair.It is called Tehuaya.  It is east of the city limits of Belton, Texas.  It covers over eighty acres of Texas hill country land donated to the Boy Scouts of Texas by a rich oil man years ago.  There are meandering streams running through the property. The tree laden land has a complex set of trails used to explore the caves, cabins, and other out buildings from a earlier time in Texas history.  It is quite the experience for an adult.  It is a veritable treasure to the mind of a seven year old.

Kellen remembers driving up to the camp ground in the old black chevy truck.  His father was so proud of the old black truck.  Together they would spends hours cleaning and washing the truck.  Kellen did the wheels.He liked shiny wheels.  Kellen knew for sure that the truck was shiny that day as they drove into the parking lot of  Camp Tehuaya.  He and his father had seen to it that very morning prior to arrival.

Aware that his strength would be limited Kirk instructed Kellen to find the scout leader, Ms. Mary, to ascertain the area designated for his cub scout pack.  Kellen was up to the task and soon returned with useful information and a half a dozen little cub scouts.  With an excited voice he exclaimed, “I found them Daddy.  I found them.  Ms. Mary is right behind me.  Can I go and play with my friends!  PLEASE!”

“Hold on, Buddy.’ he said . ‘We need a little more information before you go off and play. I will talk with Ms. Mary and get an itinerary for the day before we get separated, alright?”

Ms.Mary approached just as Kellen gave an exasperated shrug of acceptance.  ”Don’t worry, Kellen’, she said. ‘I heard what your Father said.   I have the situation well in hand.  I have the schedule of the days events right here in my hand.  We can get you and your Father situated very quickly if you remain patient while we discuss what you and your Father need to do.”  Kellen and the rest of the Cub scout pack members, not wanting to slow the process,  went immediately to statue status replete with zipper motions for mouth closed, motions to signify eyes wide open, and  motions to signifying  ears on.  He and the rest of the boys had listened  while at pack meeting.  Their actions showed that they  knew what do do and how to show it when  Ms. Mary spoke.

“Thank you for coming out to meet me, Ms. Mary.  It sounds like you have everything well in hand.”  he said as they shook hands.

Ms.Mary was the den leader of the Pack.  She was married to an officer in the army who was deployed in Iraq .  Probably in her middle thirties.  Standing beside her was her son, Nick, was a member of the Boy Scouts.  He was fulfilling a requirement of the Boy Scouts by acting as a mentor to the cub scout boys.  He was five foot two and a little shorter than his mother but they share similar features.  Both had deep brown eyes with light brown hair.  Both were athletically thin.  The boy’s hair was cropped as if in the military with his mother sporting a bouncey pony tail for the day.  Both looked very official in their  scout uniforms.

Kellen and the other cub scout still standing at attention were beginning to become anxious.  Ms.Mary took charge of the boy’s and said, “Ok fellas, we need to pair up.  From now on we do not go any where with out a parent or a buddy.”

The cub scouts that were standing at attention soon looked at each trying to decide who to pair up with.  By the end of the pairing it was obvious that their would be an odd man out.  Once Kellen realized that there was going to be an odd man in this group he turned on his heel,  did an about face , and He ran towards his father with his angelic smile on his face and genuine youthful exuberance in his step and said. ” I am going to partner with you today, Dad!”

Not much needed to be said after that to Kirk.  Kellen spent the entire weekend with his father.  Listening to the stories that he now knows with out knowing because of his feeling wave gift .  Kellen is flitting from feeling wave to reality. For him to remember is not a feeling wave.  A feeling wave cannot be remembered but a remembered memory can be in a feeling wave.  Because of his Father,  Kellen can feel his first reality experience because his Father was there to experience it all at the same time.  Because Kellen experienced the Boy Scout campout with his father simultaneously  he cannot understand the feeling of knowing with out knowing why?  The gift of the Hage Clan gives knowledge to the feeling wave.  It does not have to explain a gift from God.  Merely accepting it is a requirement.  So going from reality to memory for Kellen because of his gift may soon become a problem?  Where is he now?  Who is he sharing his feeling wave with?wave?  Is this a reality memory or a feeling wave?    Can he feel a memory through a feeling wave?

Kellen is back to the present.  Kirk and Kellen are now standing on Main St. facing the Post Office.  Kellen can see the stroll through the streets has taken it toll on his father.  Lifting his fathers left hand with his and continueing to keep his right arm locked into his father’s left elbow he managed to bolster his father’s tired and weak step enough to get them across the street to the bench from which their stroll had started.

Tired but not unaware, Kirk has been feeling the wave that Kellen experienced as they walked the city block between the gym and the brown house that Sox Simmonsma owned.  Kirk was aware of the steady hand the young boy was providing.  To tired to speak he let the wave speak for him.  He was there to show Kellen the way on the day of his first Boy Scout camp.  So Kellen is feeling things through Kirk’s pride.  This pride changes the way people view events.  Kellen does not understand this at his young age.  The gift of the feeling wave will not teach him.  So when Kellen has a feeling wave with prideful feelings that are not of his choosing it is disconcerting if not uncomfortable if one does not accept it.  Acceptance without question is the only way that the feeling wave gift from God can be fully appreciated.

Kirk is using the wave to gather his strength.  Together at the bench both sit in time that has stopped as Kellen leaves reality and returns to the feeling wave of the boy Scout weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (0) Nov 07 2011

Kirk had strolled down the street headed east towards Don’s Standard service station east of county road 180 that runs north and south into the small community leaving Kellen lost in his thoughts.  Knowing full well that the young boy would hot foot it towards him when he came  to his senses.  The feeling wave does take time to become familiar.  No easy task for a full grown adult.  The pressures and temptations of the feeling wave,  can.. and do,  take precedence to real time adventures.  Kellen will be finding new and great things as his life progresses.  Having the feeling wave will enhance his ability to appreciate what has been to with what has not yet happened.  All with out knowing but being better because of it.

When standing at the corner Kirk ponders the direction the he will choose.  To him each direction is to the future. All that is past is behind him.  Matters not the direction.  To the south leads to a new county.  The oil of the county road 180 changes at the stop sign on the south end of the city limits.  Connecting to a state road of concrete that travels to another city, county, and memory.  Those will be with Kellen.  The wave will do its appointed task.  ”To the south we will not go this date.” Kirk mumbled to no one in particular.

Turning to his left the road travels north past the old Lutheran parsonage.  Home of memorable preachers through out Kirk’s life.  Pastors Habel, Nyjus, and Roland to name a few.  Each with there moods and all of them with wonderful intentions.  Role models for the youthful Kirk’s upbringing.

Memories of living at the farmhouse four miles from this spot.  Nineteen years of family memories.  Great brothers, sisters, and parents.  Good food warm clothes, and clean sheets every Saturday afternoon.  Jumping into to a cold bed on the south side of the Lloyd Hage home farm place during the winter  is amemory that one should only have to experience once.  In his eyes this shivering moment is only eclipsed by the warm glow that resulted from the layers of warm blankets that his mother had carefully placed atop the crackling cold clean sheets from the afternoon session on the close line to dry.

ON one of those winters day it brings to mind a cold day during school the school year.  Supper had been served.  Consisting of fried eggs, bacon,  fresh baked bread, and enough left over boiled potatoes from the noon meal,  fried in the bacon grease that we had mounded on a serving platter, to soak up all the bacon grease as it fried.  ”Hmmm that was a good meal.” he murmured. Again, to no one in particular.

This was a typical meal for the day since Lloyd had entered into the world of chicken ranching.  Procuring hatched eggs from the Inwood Hatchery.  Taking the chicken from days old to two year olds.  After that butchering them for the house as well as for sale to the chicken packing plant.  Mom and Dad were anxiously finishing there meal with the family.  There was to be a church congregation meeting that night.  Being on time was important in the Hage household.  Dad would work outside doing the final chores.  He then would enter into the house through the porch entrance to the basement to hang his bibs above the steps that lead downstairs and place his shoes on the short two step entrance into the kitchen.  After he open the nicely finished solid oak door he would veer to his right and wash up at the sink positioned at the northwest corner wall of the new addition to the house.

Nothing was said at that evening meal.  The food was to good .  Kirk’s parents were on a mission to attend a church meeting so all the kids dug into their food and ate in silence.  Once Lloyd had completed his meal he scurried up the stairs to turn on the water for his bath.  The kids dispersed to the TV room as Leota gathered up and washed all the pots, pan and dishes after every meal.  Kirk  gave pause to the wave to appreciate jsut how much work his mother had done for him as a youth growing up.  IT embarrassed him to remember what was done for him and what he has done for his own son.  It pales in comparison.  Yet Kirk knows that he is doing what he can.  It does not seem to mitigate anything so he moves on with his memory.

About the time that Lloyd has finished his bath Leota heads up the stairs.  Seeing the coordination between the two showed a comfortableness that goes with a good marriage.  Each knew there task.  Moving from room to room and not running into each other.  No one questions what they would wear.  Leota outfitted in a nice dress.   Lloyd in his wool pants with short sleeved shirt.  Kirk marveled at how much was done in a matter of minutes.  Less than an hour precious the world was flurry of activity.  The chickens being fed.  The eggs being packed from the daily gathering.  Milking our small herd of cows.  Feeding the cattle.  Those things are now forgotten.  Lloyd and Leota are going to “church meeting.” Leaving the the two youngest boy’s Kirk and Karl home to fend for themselves the rest of the night.  Kirk remembers how Karl wanted popcorn like Mom makes.  Kirk knew then that it would never happen.  No one makes popcorn like Mom.  Kirk laughed at the thought.  The wave has taken Kirk to another place.

The feeling of a long lost evening  has brought to the Hage Clan wave to Kellen.  He scurries to the east towards his Father as he waits patiently for his son to be by his side.  Kellen is aware of his fathers thoughts and asked him through the felling wave, “Father, why is this date such a wonderful memory?”

Kirk did not have to formulate an answer for Kellen. He knew why and sent a feeling wave to Kellen so he would know.  His parents were not party goers.  They worked hard , enjoyed their life, and were part of the community.  They got up at the same time and went to bed at the same time.  If they said that they were going to do something…they did it.  So it was assumed that they would return from the church meeting by ten o’clock.  Ten thirty at the very latest.  At midnite the area TV stations all shut down for the day.  Kirk was sitting in the TV room watching test patterns awaiting the arrival of his parents. ” It was not like them to be out late. he thought.  ”Who do I call?  IT is winter.  It is cold.  There could have been an accident.  The variables grow with each thought, Kellen? ”

“How old were you at the time , Father?”  Kellen willed his  feeling wave to his Father.  Rather enjoying this intimate form of communication.

“I was 14 , Kellen.  I was going to confirmation class at the time.  My first year.    I had studied my confirmation class lesson that night.  Conrad Rolland was our Pastor. WIth it being midnight I was at a loss as to whom I should call?  We did not have 911 back in those days.  A call to the county sheriff  was out of the question.  This was not an emergency.  What would you do Kellen?  he willed back to his to his son who was approaching Kirk’s position from the east.

“IT is not fair of me to answer Father.  I have the feeling wave to lend me aide.  Please tell me so I need not remember but rather feel your thoughts. ”  Kellen implored.

“As you wish, Kellen.” Kirk said as he will his Hage clan wave to it s final end of this little story.  Kellen could see the church on county road 180.  A nice A-frame church with brick walls and a natural store hallway corridor separating the church from the south sloped mono sloped roof top of the fellowship hall.  ”Do you see what has happened, Kellen.” sharing his feeling wave image as if it were 3D TV” to Kellen.

“All the people are gone, Father?”  he said as Kellen tried to peer further into the wave feeling sent to him by his father.

“Yes,  that is true.  I was not possessed with such a gift as yours.  I did not have the advantages of the feeling wave as you do at such an early age.  You are being  spoiled by the gift.  I am glad of it!  I am toying with you, son.  For the feeling is there for the taking.  It is like a picture puzzle for you at this time.  Find the right size pieces, with the proper edge then place them together until the picture comes clear.  It is an easy task that is oft over looked.  I give you the advantage of my years so your gift can be complete.  Now look into my wave and tell me what I see.  Tell me how we feel through this feeling wave memory. ”  Kirk concentrated hard focusing on the parsonage and its residents.

“I see it father!  It is wonderful!  How can waves of feeling be so beautiful?  This is to much for my young brain to take in.  I see/ feel care and love.  This is coming from the parsonage.  There aren’t any Hage clan members in this house are there?” he tentatively asked his now lot in thought father.

” There aren’t any Hage clan members in this house, Kellen.  Though the memories of love and care are. Peer closer into the feeling.  Do yo not see a woman answering the phone at 12″30 at night?”  he said with a plaintive voice.

“Yes , Father.  I see her.” he said. “She is talking to you isn’t she?

“She certainly is.” he said with more warmth than usual.

“Oh, I am beginning to understand, Father!” he exclaimed.  You are talking to her becasuse Pastor Rolland was in bed and did not have a hearing aid on to speak with you.”

“Yes that is correct, Kellen.” Kirk said as he stopped in front of the house by the sidewalk next to the county highway 180.  You see I did not know what to do?  Pastor Rolland was the most honored of all men in my life being a man of God.  Who else would be better to call for aid than someone called to serve God?”  Do you see what happened next,  Kellen?”  he said,  still gazing at the front door of the parsonage.

I do see.  I do see!  SHe is telling you that Pastor Rolland will change into some winter clothes and head out to the farm post haste.  He drives to the farm 15 minutes later.  You greet him at the door.  IT looks as if you are beside yourself with worry?  What is your concern, Father?” Kellen’s youthful face showing the age lines that will grow in the years to comeas he asked.

“Kellen, had I waited 20 minutes to make the call to Pastor Rolland this whole experience would be nothing but a normal night in the life of the Hage family.  LLoyd and Leota living life, feeding their children and attending church meeting.  Yet on this cold wintery night a youthful son becomes worried of the plight of his parents.  Not knowing what had become of them he wondered why they were way past their curfew.  The winter’s snow blowing across the the dimly lit farm yard driveway by the 250 watt bulb of the yard pole merely added to the dreary thoughts that were filling the youthful teenagers head.  Pastor Rolland arrival was the beginning of a very embarrassing moment for me.”  he said to Kellen as his eyes started to form the famous tears of the Hage clan.

” No sooner had I related all of my concerns of the entire evening to Pastor Rolland did Lloyd and Leota come driving into the farm place.  I was relieved to see them but was at a loss as to what to say to Pastor Rolland.  As I was standing in the entry way when they entered the house I shrugged and shook my head.”

Lloyd took charge as he entered the house and greeted Pastor Rolland with a friendly smile and a warm handshake. “What seems to be the problem?”  he stated with a jocular air.

Pastor Rolland was the kindest of men and immediately realized that the youthful Kirk was merely concerned for the well being of his parents.  He explained to the parents that Kirk had called concerned as to where his parents had gone after the meeting? When the hour become late he called the parsonage.  I in turn arrived 15 minutes later.  I have not been here long enough for Kirk to even complete his story when you arrived here at the farm.  All is good now that you are home.  I shall return to the parsonage happy that every one is safe. ” he said with his unusually deep and gravelly voice.

Leota was standing to the side wringing her hanky as she listened.  Kellen and Kirk could see the relief on the parents face when told of why the preacher was in there house.  Lloyd after listening to the preacher merely shook his head.  Happy that this was a dry run.  Non the worse for wear.  Leota, with hankerchief in hand went to her young son and gave him a hug.  Kellen and Kirk both enjoying the warmth of the hug from the mother/grandmother in the feeling wave.  As she finished the hug with her son and without letting go of her son completely she looked upon the preacher and asked, “Pastor Rolland, now that you are here could I offer you some apple pie or a piece of chocolate cake to go with the coffee that I will make for you if you decide to accept.  It is the least that I could do!”

“Pastor Rolland was no fool, Kellen.” Kirk said.  ”Leota had a reputation for making some of the best sour cream chocolate cake in the county.  His penchant for cake was to much to deny and he accepted on the spot.  It went from there to a more jovial time.  Kirk relived that his parent were home.  The parents relieved that nothing serious had happend.  The preacher’s time assuaged just a little  by the easy charm and grace of a wonderful farm wife and Mother in the northwest corner of Iowa who happened to be a wonderful cook as well as host.

With in minutes the coffee was warming on the stove.  Conversations led to an explanation as to where Lloyd and Leota had gone after the meeting.  Apparently Mr. and Mrs Mike Holland, who lived a one half  mile to the south on County Road 180,  had invited them for coffee after the church meeting.  Several of the neighbors had been invited .  An impromptu party was hatched right there after the meeting.  With the storm blowing and the young boy at home worrying about his parent they were safe and sound with a neighbors enjoy good times and good friends

Kellen and Kirk stood in front of the parsonage on the sidewalk near County Road 180 both of them with tears in their eyes from the love that is between them and the sharing experience of the feeling wave.  Kirk re-living the experience from the real moment and Kellen from the memory.  Both are satisfying.  They smiled and moved forward  in synchronized step to the next corner to the North that crossed County Road 180.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (0) Nov 06 2011

As the feeling wave subsided,  Kellen and Kirk became aware of the present.  The chatters of the Mothers and their children as they walk from the school property on their way to one  of the two the grocery stores on Main St. mix with the men’s voices from the post office that are still talking politics in regard to the local community.  Kellen is aware of the feeling wave of the Hage clan. It is in his memory.  He hasn’t any memory of how the information came to him.  He does not realize that his special gift is to feel the wave.  His special gift is to feel the wave of the fathers before him.  His special gift will bring solace to during his grief later in life.  For the feeling wave of the Hage clan will see him through many rough spots during his long life.  Already he has suffered the terrible fate of never having met his Grandfather.  It does little to ameliorate the loss in the present.  It is hard when he is only allowed to feel the history of his grandfather through the feeling wave with out being allowed to know the reason of how or why?  Kellen will not completely understand his gift of the clan until later in life.  Feeling the wave is special.  Accepting the wave is automatic.  Understanding of what is and what is not happening during a wave is beguiling.

The father and son stand.  Kirk looms over Kellen who happens to be taller than most kids his age.  Standing at six feet two inches Kirk is exactly a foot taller than his ten year old son.  Kirk knows that in a few summers he will need to gaze up to see the color of his sons eyes.  ”Let’s walk, son.” as Kirk swung to his right with a spritely step.  With Kellen soon to be in synchronized step with his Father. Both unconcsciously stepping over each crack in the side walk as they headed past the truck shop of the  Buttendyke Brothers.  Inside Harold Devaul was sitting on the old wooden school chair while Joe was giving him the latest news of the trucking world.

Harold was  a veteran, family man, businessman, and a part time trucker with Joe B. on the weekends.  Most times they would leave early Friday afternoon from the Inwood area with the red cabin-over International that had a sleeper behind the seats of the two passenger truck for Western South Dakota, Montana,  or Wyoming.  The tandem axel tractor was the pride of the fleet.  The International was the only tractor.  The had four strait trucks for short hauls and grain hauling.  The cabin-over tractor pulled a 40 foot double deck trailer with tandem axels.  Harold loved to tell any one who would listen how great it was to drive a truck that had twin screw (two powered  tandem axels) instead of a single axel or a pusher twin axel.  Joe was a slight built man but he had an answer to most anything.  Both of them seemed to be enjoying their day as Kellen and Kirk gazed into the picture window of the office.

Kirk noticed the reflection of the boarding house to the east in the office window of Joe B’s shop.  Beside the boarding house to the North was the old Inwood band room.  Many a Inwood residents used it as a practice room for their concerts.  Kirk’s generation used it as a Kindergarden room. The informational thoughts of the town and its residents give Kellen all the understanding that the Hage Clan feeling wave provides. Kirk’s thoughts are flowing through Kellen as they continue on their way past Inwood Furniture Store owned by Ken Dowdy, one of those radical Methodist.  They always had late church  A good Lutheran was shaking the preachers hand by 10:30,  at the coffee shop by 10:35, and reading the Des Moines Register by 10:40 with a hot cup of coffee  while waiting for the kids who were attending Sunday School.

Directly cross the street from the Inwood furniture store is the Inwood Hatchery.  The owner, Augie Piersma,  was a radical Dutchmen.  He converted to a Lutheran.  Most were glad he did.  His volunteer time with the Lutheran church was extensive.  He greeted the Lutheran kids of the Sunday school with a parable of life to coincide with the preacher sermon each sunday morning for many years.

Along side the Hatchery is another business owned by a Lutheran. H. D. Moen & Son.  It is a farm store for Case farm equipment.  It is a wonderland of tools, belts, and hydraulic fittings.  Herman,  the son of HD Moen,  ran the business with his brother Henry.  Such a wonderful man.  He would always ask the Hage boys how they were doing. “Pokey pete,’ he would say. How are you boys doing!  There were always people at the counter of this store.  The whole store was filled with honest  hard working individuals that were trying to live life.  Each with their own families but an integral part of the Hage Clan.   Kellen is feeling the wave and filling up with knowledge.  Of what use this will be is a mystery to Kellen?

Kellen makes his mind will a feeling wave to his Father not realizing that he has not bothered to speak.  ”Father, I am aware of the knowledge that you impart to me.  What good is this information?  It has to do with you and not me?” he said.

“Who is to say, Kellen?  It is what it is.  It is your gift.” Kellen’s father responded as he continued walking.  ”Each business has an owner.  Each owner has an experience with me.  Being part of the Hage clan feeling wave with your special gift makes  you a privy to my experiences.  Who is to understand why?  God has given the Hage Clan a gift.  This gift is accepted but not explained.  Being part of the Hage Clan feeling wave does not give answers to the living.  It provides feelings.  Those feeling give us this moment of communication.”  Kirk stopped and turned to his son peering deep into the dark lipid pool eyes.  ”Do you see my lips move,Kellen?”

Kellen looked around as if shocked when he heard the question.  With eye brows raised his face went blank,  his mouth fell open, and stood frozen in the realization that he had heard the communication of his Father without his Father speaking. ” You see, Kellen,  as we were walking you were wondering what were my connections to these businesses and the people that own them?  As we were walking the answers flowed through you from me without speaking.  My knowledge is your knowledge.  My memory is your memory.  We need not speak to communicate to each other.  From now on we only need to speak aloud when someone other than a Hage clan member needs to hear.  It is a God given gift that we share for this moment.  NO one knows how long it will last?”

Kellen shakes the cobwebs out of his head.  He is feeling great.  All the questions that ran through his mind when he thought of his deceased Grandfather, Lloyd Hage, have now been answered.  Standing on the corner of Main street he was directly in front of the weekly Inwood Herald office.  With the help of the  feeling wave Kellen could see the face of his Grandfather standing at the office counter the day of the big political advertisement for his son, Kirk.  Attired with his customary chambray shirt, bib overalls,and white farmers hat, Kellen could see the man reach into his left chest pocket of his chambray shirt and pulled out a very old and very worn wallet.  Packed with sale ads from the newspaper, cattle buyers/agent cards, and assortment of cash, and Inwood State Bank counter checks.  He pulled out one of those counter checks to pay for the ad  that Kirk was going to order for a county auditor election coming up in the fall.  He could see the man writing the check, signing his name, and laughing quite hardily when handing the check to the office clerk .  Pride was pouring out of his being.  Kellen was surprised that it was so vivid.  His mind cleared he looked for his Father.  He noticed his father had already crossed the street heading east past the farm store towards the new addition to the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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