Storytelling Saturdays: First Father’s Day

Contemporary Flash Fiction

By Braheim Gibbs

Isaiah looked down at the tiny bundle half-asleep in the cot. His baby son, Joseph, gazed up at him. Joseph’s deep brown eyes were only partially open. He wore a light blue onesie that was decorated with a lion on the front.

“Are you waking up or going to sleep?” Isaiah asked with a chuckle. The baby let out a low squeak in response.

Leaning against the side of the cot, Isaiah gently took Joseph’s hand. Joseph responded instinctually by wrapping his tiny, delicate fingers around his father’s index finger.

Isaiah had been a father for three months. Three incredible months since he and his wife Yolanda had welcomed Joseph into their lives. Sometimes he still couldn’t believe how fortunate they’d been. And after three months he and Yolanda were still unable to decide on which one of them Joseph looked more like. What little hair Joseph had definitely seemed to suggest that he had inherited Isaiah’s loose curls. Beyond that, they could not agree. Yolanda thought Joseph looked like him, but Isaiah believed their son was beautiful like her.

Joseph let go of his father’s finger and stretched his arms and legs to their fullest extent, wiggling his hands and feet as he did so. He let out a series of high-pitched burbles before blinking and opening his eyes fully.

“Well, I guess that answers that question,” Isaiah laughed. He carefully picked up his son and cradled him in his arms. He stood there for a few minutes, marveling at the little life he had helped to create.

Joseph let out a single, expectant cry.

“Ah, you’re right,” agreed Isaiah, “time for some food.”

When Isaiah came downstairs with Joseph, Yolanda was already in the kitchen warming a bottle of milk.

“Hey babe, it’s nearly finished. How’s he doing?”

On cue, Joseph gave another cry.

“Definitely starting to get hungry,” said Isaiah. He sat down and tickled Joseph’s chin in an attempt to distract him from his belly. The baby giggled softly and reached out his hand towards his father’s face. Isaiah bent forward so his face was next to Joseph’s and kissed his son. Joseph giggled again.

“Here you go,” said Yolanda, handing Isaiah the bottle with a smile.

“Thanks.”

“Hey,” she planted a kiss on her husband’s forehead. “Happy Father’s Day,” Yolanda said softly.

Isaiah grinned at her. His heart suddenly felt as though it was bursting with wonderful, warm emotions that he could barely describe.

“Thank you.” He held the bottle of warm milk for Joseph who immediately began to drink.

Isaiah gazed at his son. They had so much to look forward to; his first steps and his first words. Then he would watch his son discover who he was. Would he be sporty or creative? Would he be shy or sociable? What would his favorite color be or his favorite food?

But all that could wait. For today, Isaiah planned to spend his first Father’s Day with his son snuggled safely in his arms.

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