"Why do make an old man wait?" Val says from behind the cash register as I rush pass ignoring her.
Frank stands and we embrace in the crowded back dining room.
He's frail and his body has shrunk since I last saw him four years ago. Instantly I fill with emotions ... my eyes grow moist, the throat is dry as my arms completely engulf him.
"You look great!" he says, stepping back with his arms still on my shoulders.
His face absolutely beams. Glistening eyes and the crooked smile lets me know he how much he loves me.
A moment is suddenly a thousand years.
Once he was a force in Savannah. Owner of a chemical distribution company that he started from scratch, Frank rose to be President of the Downtown Rotary Club, served on numerous Boards and was a behind-the-scenes Kingmaker. He'd helped orchestrate the Savannah Music Festival, the Paul Anderson Youth Home and was the first big time member of my Board at Union Mission.
We'd met when he'd asked me to speak at the Rotary Club. He stood immaculately dressed in a dark suit, black hair greying at the temples, and bounced nervously as he waited on me to show.
"Mr. Stanton?" I asked.
Confused, he stared at me wearing blue jeans with a blue blazer and a tie. My hair was tied in a pony tail and I was carrying copies of my first book.
"Rev. Elliott?" he asked completely perplexed. "You don't look like a minister."
"Thanks," I said as we shook hands and he led me into the Ballroom.
The speech went well, there was applause and in appreciation Frank bought a book.
Late the next afternoon he burst into my office demanding to know, "Who wrote this?" as he held the book in front of my face.
"Ummmm," I smartly replied at his unexpected intrusion into an already too long day, "that is my name on the cover."
"That doesn't mean anything," he shot back which made me burst into laughter and in turn, he burst into laughter too.
We went on to accomplish great things together: The city's first shelter for women and children, first response to people with HIV/AIDS, first drug treatment center for women, and health care clinics sprinkled throughout the County for people without heath care which was half the population.Throughout the decade, Frank smiled and brought countless investors to meet me, gave wise advise and lavished me with the gift of time away from it all. He forever surprised me with trips somewhere so I could relax then be at full strength when he introduced me to the city's decision makers.
I may have been successful without Frank but he certainly made everything happen faster.
He's retired now, living in another town and misses the things that used to be. Life is spent alone with his wife who is ill, he reads old books and every time he watches television he's reminded that life has passed him by.
We spent an hour reminiscing as everyone who works at The Breakfast Club recognized this was a special reunion. They thrust sweetness on us. There was lots of noise but we didn't hear it. The staff patted his shoulder as they refilled his coffee then they rubbed my back to share in the holiness of the moment.
Frank seemed to grow as we talked then he placed his hand on top of mine ... in front of a very crowded restaurant that suddenly seemed to grow quiet ... in front of the long line waiting on the other side of the window to come inside ... in front of God herself.
"We did good didn't we Parson?" he said softly.
Nodded my head up and down, my voice cracked as I agreed. "We did."
I walked him to his car and we embrace again.
"I love you Frank," I said in his ear.
"I love you Parson," he whispered before lifting one leg with his hand to climb inside his car.
And I watched him wipe tears from his eyes as he drove away.
_____________________________________
An eccentric life dotted with eclectic characters pop from the pages of award winning author Micheal Elliott’s newest book Sandy Bottoms & Duct Taped Hearts. Over 200 pages of his musings immerse you in a world of headshaking wonder, gut wrenching laughter, heart touched tenderness and empathetic tears.
Never letting the truth stand in the way of a good story, Elliott’s ninth book takes you on a wild journey of “Wow! Really! I can’t believe that!” every day moments. Sandy Bottoms & Duct Taped Hearts exemplifies his gift of capturing common thoughts and painting them perfectly into words. Release date (pre-order books ship) is September 23, 2013.
Just click http://www.meellc.com/wordpress/newbook/
