As Eddie gathered his words, his father's calming voice broke through the other end of the line. "I'm here for you, son. Take your time," he assured him, letting Eddie know he had all the time in the world to speak his mind.
This wasn't something new, but what Eddie was about to ask his dad would change the course of his life forever. An atheist who only believed in good karma, Eddie paid his taxes and parking tickets on time and had done nothing but be a good father.
What he lacked within himself, he provided, but as life would play out, it just wasn't enough. What is enough, anyway?Â
After 27 years of marriage and fatherhood, he had no one else to open up to but his dad. Though his dad lived in the same city, it seemed like traveling to another state or province by some other country standards. This was New York, and that's just the way that the city is constructed.
His dad had started asking about where he was and how he'd come around to pick him up. Silence hung in the air as Eddie put down the phone. It was one of those office desk telephones from back in the day, before mobile phones were heavily accessible to the public. As he anticipated, the phone began ringing. He knew it was his dad, but he didn't know what to say or how to explain his feelings.
Eddie answered the phone with the conscience to keep his aged dad from worrying about him. He replied to his dad's voice but was given a command to sit tight, and he was on his way before the phone hung up.
Eddie's dad, Victor Mack, was a veteran businessman, well into his 60s. He managed his own real estate company as CEO and never missed a day of work. Victor was a fine gentleman. His wife of almost 20 years was laid to rest at the age of 49, ten years younger than Victor. They had only one son together, and after her passing, Victor never dated nor remarried again.
The big city lights shimmered beyond the curtains of Eddie's office window when he realized he had been in a state of deep thought for almost an hour. Reality checked in when he realized his dad was on his way up. Eddie saw his whole life flashing before his eyes and had another realization: aside from his dad, there was no other loved one, friend, or family that he could count on or rely on. He had dreamed of a family held together by love and morals, but instead, his kids had their own problems to deal with, and his ex-wife was the only one who called occasionally, usually to borrow money on behalf of their children.
As his dad entered his office, Eddie just sat there, unsure of how to break the silence between them. His dad looked at him with pain in his eyes, knowing that his son had been through a lot and was a strong man. Eddie was a strong and hardworking man who had come a long way since life had dealt him a series of blows right to the gut, and where it always seemed to matter most. Thankfully, he had kept his sanity intact, and though the years were beginning to show, Eddie had the youth of his father within him. It was something that he was always proud to showcase and almost vowed to live by, his dad being his only role model and constant figure in his life.
His dad sat down and started talking after a while of silence. "Look, son, you've been through a lot and I don't want to make you out to be the saint that I'd like you to be, but I can feel that you've hit a dead end, and I don't want to make you into a special needs case. I want to share with you what I think would be the best possible solution to the issues that will continue to nag you as the years come and go. I've been dreading this day, but rest assured, I have the perfect idea to set your mind at ease."
His dad was well-traveled. He was familiar with Southeast Asia and South America as budget destinations. Though he could afford it, he never ventured into Europe. He found a certain liking and fondness for these budget destinations, where he could just stroll through anytime for a visit. He'd been to Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and countless other destinations in between. He was a souvenir in himself for the stories that he held and memories that spoke of wisdom, wonder, and mystery.
"Listen," his father spoke softly. "I can give you some money and you just take off. Go to Southeast Asia, have the time of your life. Forget about your life here in America. Just go somewhere safe and free where you can do what you want, wherever you want, whenever you like." Eddie just sat there, looking into space, seeing what his father was hinting at.
Eddie hadn't been intimate with anyone since his divorce, and he tried to keep it that way as a path to redemption, but it just wouldn't stick together at some point. Eddie could make sense of the fact that his father was hinting that he hadn't had a lady in so long, it was driving him crazy.
As an only child, they had a bond so strong that it was like when one of them pointed at the moon, the other looked at the moon instead of the hand that pointed. He had been through a lot, and his father had been there with him every step of the way.Â
His father knew how to convince him, as any father should be able to convince their kid, except in extreme cases. Eddie didn't put up much of an argument either. His dad told him, "I'll give you twenty thousand dollars to go over to Asia, but I get to pick which country." That seemed like a good deal, and he was due for his pension in two to three years.