Conquering our Everest | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Conquering our Everest | Previous Challenge Entry
By alan kane
11/20/14
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'Daddy, stop faffing; you're going to make us late. Come on, Dad--dy!'
'Enough!' I nearly told them we weren't going to go when they started singing,'Why are we waiting, why o why o why?' Typical children, knowing how to press your buttons.

Ninety per cent of the time I have to gulder at my three children to get them out. Today's the exception; we're meeting their mother at the fireworks show on the other side of town. Tonight, she is selling tickets for The Matlocks Ladies' Rugby Team, where she plays tight head prop, who are running this fireworks spectacular.

'Don't worry, we will drive there in ten minutes. So come on, lets go then. You all got coats on? Good, lets move it. You don't want to be late now, do you?' I stand at the front door, checking my pockets. Colin, who, like his mother, adores rugby, playfully slams into me, shouting 'Come on, Dad.'

'STOP! Anyone seen my keys?' With that question still hanging in the air, I hear the unfortunate and most dreaded of sounds; the click of the front door, locking behind Colin.

All four of us look at each other. What now? Ever since the accident twelve years ago when my ankle was struck by a pallet jack, I find walking difficult. Looking at their hopeful, expecting faces, I know there is only one decision to make. We walk.

My oldest suggests we go through the park, as it will shave ten to fifteen minutes off our time.
As it is still twilight I chance it.
We are making good time until my youngest sees the play park.
'Daddy, we play?'
'No!'
'Me want play, me go paypark!' and dashes hell bent on reaching before i can constrain him.

So much for saving ten minutes, just wasted over twenty minutes coercing the three of them to leave. Colin and my eldest also joined in the palava and, no matter what bribes or threats I blustered, they would have none of it. I felt like the big bad wolf, trying to blow down all their shenanigans; eventually we compromised, with hot dogs when we get to the fireworks.
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Approaching the gates I start to feel the town council is contriving against me. What sane person closes these gates just before the annual fireworks event? Not just closes them, but chains and padlocks them as well?
My youngest starts to cry when I rattle them in frustration. Now he wants his promised hot dog.

Thankfully, I remember from my dog walks with Janna our Border Collie a small drainage ditch runs alongside the road. Should only be a quick jump across, then the Rugby Club is two minutes up the road.

Setting off, I proudly watch my little family as we pursue our goal. It may not be climbing Everest or running a marathon, but we are striving together. It is so nice to have a special quality time with my children, without all the bickering and fighting.

O! No! 100 yards from the ditch, we enter a quagmire. Slipping and sliding, we squelch through the maze of uneven terrain. Relieved the kids are wearing boots, as they plod on, giggling at my attempts. Unfortunately, I only have shoes on as I had intended to drive, not to remake a daring escape scene from a movie. With relief, we reach the ditch and I pass my youngest over to his sister, as I go to jump over, take a run up, stumble and fall face down into the mud.

Scrambling over to the other side, I wipe myself down. For once so glad I am covered in mud, as the kids can't see how embarrassed I am, as they hoot with laughter

We all walk down the final stretch of road to the Rugby Club holding hands, just as the first fireworks launch into the sky and explode in multitudes of colours and cheers from the crowd.

Like conquering heroes, we push through the audience to receive our accolades from Helen, my wife. She looks at youngsters, and at then at me."You seem to have had an adventure. Looking forward to hearing all about it." she laughs.

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