As Night Fell

                                                              "As Night Fell"



                                                                        By



                                                                Jerry Steele







Mother and daughter stood in front of the bay window, sharing the same thought: Where was he?



He was late, very late.



The television behind them droned on and on about the weather, flight cancellations; school closings.  His wife thought, he should have called...he should have called. His daughter though, mother is so worried...why didn't he call?



It had been like this for hours. It seemed like years.



The mother ached to hear his gravel-covered voice over the phone saying, "Everything's okay. Everything's all right. I'll see both  of you soon."



The daughter was still in a comfort zone. Daddy would make it home. He always made it home. At age nine, daddy was Superman. He knew everything. He could do anything.



The phone rang.



It was him.



Mother and daughter smiled on cue.



He'd never know. He'd never understand.







                                                                    THE END