One of the first memories I have of my dad is me crying and him sitting me on his lap in a blue rocking chair at his house on Via Largo and reading me The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
I remember seeing the picture of the author with his big, bushy beard on the back of the book and wondering, Is that Roger?
For those who don’t know or don’t remember the book, it’s a charmingly illustrated tale of unconditional love wherein the titular tree gives everything to a boy she loves - apples, branches, even her trunk.
I distinctly recall how the story soothed me and stopped my sobbing.
All these years later, it’s still one of my favorite books. But back then I had no idea how apropos it would end up being.
My dad was the Giving Tree to me and many others.
So if you’ll indulge me, and with all due respect to Shel Silverstein, I’ve taken the liberty of rewriting it to honor that formative memory and the kind-hearted unselfishness of my dad.
Once there was a Dad
and he loved a little boy.
and every day the boy would come home from school
and wait for his dad’s motorcycle to come back from work.
He would play with his dad’s beard and swing from his arms
and eat all the food in his refrigerator.
And they would play the hand slapping game.
And when the boy was tired he would fall asleep in his new bedroom in his new house with his new family on Amberwood.
And the boy loved his new dad…
very much.
And the Dad was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older and moved out.
And the Dad wouldn’t see him as much.
Then one day the boy came to the Dad
and the Dad said, “Come, Boy, come and play with my beard and swing from my arms, and eat all the food in my refrigerator, and be happy.”
“I am too big to play with your beard,” said the boy. “I want to go to college and study music. I want some money. Can you give me some money to go to USC?”
“I’m sorry,” said the Dad, “but USC is very expensive. I have debts and bills to pay. But I will remortgage the house for your tuition. Then you will have money for USC and you will be happy.”
And so the boy decided to go to Cal State Long Beach instead, which was much more affordable.
And the Dad was happy.
But the boy stayed at college for a long time… (6 years, or 7 with a gap year)
and the Dad was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the Dad smiled with joy
and he said, “Come, Boy,
play the hand slapping game and eat all the food in my refrigerator
and be happy.”
“I am too busy to play the hand slapping game,” said the boy.
“I want a house to keep me warm,” he said.
“I want a wife and maybe children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?”
“I have a rental property,” said the Dad.
“It supplies extra income for my retirement, but I will sell it and use the money to help you buy a house.
Then you will be happy.”
And so the boy accepted the money and used it for a downpayment on a beautiful Craftsman home in Long Beach.
And the Dad was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back, the Dad was happy, but he could hardly stand.
“Come, boy,” he whispered, “come and stay.”
“I can’t stay. I need to take my wife out,” said the boy.
“I want a babysitter for my daughter.”
Can you babysit Matilda, so I can take my wife out?”
“Bring Matilda to the house,” said the Dad.
“Then you can take your wife out… and be happy.”
And so the boy brought his daughter to his dad’s house and took his wife out.
And the Dad was happy… really.
And after a long time the boy came back again.
“I am sorry, Boy,” said the Dad, “but I have nothing left to give you–
My beard is gone.”
“I grew my own,” said the boy.
“My arms are weak,” said the Dad. “You cannot swing from them–”
“That’s ok,” said the boy.
“My body is tired,” said the Dad. “I cannot leave the house–”
“I just want to visit you,” said the boy.
“I’m sorry,” sighed the Dad.
“I wish I could give you something… but I have no energy. I am just an old stump. I am sorry…”
“I don’t need very much now,” said the boy,
“just some quiet companionship.”
“Well,” said the Dad, straightening himself up as much as he could,
“well, an old Dad is good for quiet companionship. Come, Boy, sit down.
Sit down and relax.
And the boy did.
And the Dad was happy.
The End.
