Crystalline Cool (14)

   
   "Crystalline Cool (14)"
   
   Duncan's Dad was having a twinge, or more, of guilt.  While his son had stood steadfast during his mother's illness, the old man had run at first, phobic concerning the negative energy of it all, yet returned before the end, helpfully holding his wife's wilting body in his loving arms; nevertheless, that initial lack of courage had haunted him, of recent, in his dreams, making him lose a bit of his stoic, Native humor, and once again--guilt was upon him.
   All the old man did was imbibe chocolate milk, which fueled him with more girth and nutrition; plus, chain-smoke cheap cigars; regardless, he still felt like he was near death.  So, as it goes, the Native man went out into the woods behind the house, laid there for days--no food and no tobacco, waiting to die.
   Duncan was worried and concerned about his Dad's absence, but had witnessed it before; thus, kept digging ditches in isolation save the company of the loyal Golden Retriever dubbed Roadkill; still, he was weirdly worried.
   Then, in a state of mystical dreams, Duncan felt contacted by Saint Roch, the Patron Saint of dogs and the falsely accused, knowing the Saint too had once went out into the woods to die after contracting the plague; therefore, Duncan went hunting.
   With Roadkill's nose on the prowl, he followed the holy hound into the woods, finding his father naked and dwindling to death, uttering prayers in his Apache language.  Immediately, Duncan knelt down next to his father, and assisted by Roadkill's licks of love that made his father's spirit shine, Duncan gave the old man some distilled water from a bottle he was carrying, and within minutes, the old man's spirit of glee and humor jumped back into him, his voice offering:  "Saved by a noble beast and a ditch-digging son, but I don't see a dilemma here.  Heck, we should go back into the house and watch some Barney Miller  reruns."
   Assisting the old man to his feet, Roadkill's tail wagging, the dog pleased with itself--the threesome made their way home, brewing up some green tea with the Stevia leaf, and indeed, Barney Miller metaphors brought the family to laughter and life, resurrecting the test for the quest.  It was all cool.