Spending time with Aldrin and Armstrong

It was a clear southern sky that day in late July 1969.  I was barely five years old.  Now, forty something years later,  I would remember this as the most memorable time with my father.

He woke me up late that evening.  I was confused.  What he was doing?

“Get your slippers on son,” my father said.

But why dad,? Where are we going?”

“Just put your slippers on, I want you to see something.”

Together we drove to a remote spot in the country.  It was a beautiful evening.

“Look at all the stars daddy,” I said. “And the moon is so big!”

It was the first time I remember looking at the stars.  I suppose that is normal for a five-year old.  My father and I walked amongst the sugar cane to a spot along a ditch.  We laid down side by side looking into the spotted expanse of darkness.

“Look at the moon, that’s why we came here” he said.  “Do you know that at this very moment there are two men there Victor.”

“Huh.  What do you mean daddy?”

“There are two men on the moon, two Americans.  Be proud son.  We beat the Soviets there.”

“Are we going to go to the moon too daddy?”

“No son,” he replied laughing.  “It is not America’s intention to inhabit the moon.  Just to visit.'”

“Wow!  Maybe I could go one day daddy.”

“Maybe so son.”

We were there for what seemed like hours.  Just staring at the sky.   He pointed out constellations, many I really couldn’t visualize.  He told me he believed that there were other creatures in space.  He explained that the sky never ends.  We talked about his childhood.  His mom. He shared his memories.  I just listened.   It was the only time I remember that he truely talked.  It was the greatest moment I spent with him in his brief time on earth.  We spent an evening together.  Father and son.  Along with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

This writing is FICTION.

This was written for the Trifecta Week Fifty-Nine.

INTENTION (noun)
1: a determination to act in a certain way : resolve 2: import, significance 3a : what one intends to do or bring about   b : the object for which a prayer, mass, or pious act is offered

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