A Father’s back I read somewhere that boys grow up watching the backs of the men in their lives. James McCloud was such a sporadic presence in life I rarely saw it. I knew my dad was busy when I was four. I finally asked my dad why he seemed to be gone all the time he grimaced and said “I have to work”. “Why?” I asked. “Toy’s aren’t free” he replied jokingly. “Would you be around more if I told you I don’t want toys anymore?” I asked. He smiled and tussled my head “If only things were so simple Fox.” He sighed. “I also work to keep you and mom fed and safe.” “Okay, but what if I need you?” I asked. “Your mom can handle it” replied my father. “What if it’s something she can’t do?” I added. “There’s nothing she can’t do” he chuckled. “But, I want to spend more time with you.” I found myself swallowed up in his embrace. “I want to spend every minute that I can with you, I work hard to steal as much time as I can from work just to have more time to spend with you.” I frowned I really wanted to spend more time with my dad. James McCloud set me down, kneeled and removed his shades so that I can see his eyes. Fox I can’t be around all the time but when it really matters I will be there when you need me most. We spent that afternoon playing soccer and I wished it would never end. When I was eleven there was a fight, I had gotten a black eye but I made sure the guy who gave it to me had two to match. I was surprised to see my father arrive in the office to pick me up. Once we are outside I glared at him, “you weren’t there when I needed you”. “This is going to sound mean but you didn’t need me.” “I got hurt.” I whined. “You did”, he squatted down twisting my head from left to right “I can see that”. “What I want to know is why were you fighting?” “These three kids were picking on Slippy at first I told the teacher and she scolded them. During recess they found us on the field and pushed Slippy they called him a snitch and started to rough him up. I told them to stop.” “I’m assuming they did not?” I shook my head side to side “so I told them the truth it was me.” “What happened next?” “Two of them grabbed me while the third told me I would pay for snitching.” “Is that how you got the black eye?” “I nodded then continued the kid punched me and it really hurt, I needed you to come save me.” “This was your fight” he stated I looked at him confused “what?” “I’ll explain once you finish telling me what happened” he said calmly. I was angry but I continued with the story. “Slippy tackled one of the kids holding my arms the other let me go to help his friend. The kid who punched me tried to hit me again, I moved out the way and hit him in the left eye. “What happened to Slippy?” He asked. Well, Slippy was on the ground wrestling with the other two kids. After punching the kid I pushed one of them off of him. Then the kid I punched grabbed me and spun me around I punched him again this time hitting the right eye. Then what happened The guy I had pushed ran off and got a teacher he lied and said we started it. James McCloud looked up at the sky and briefly sucked in air before stating I’m proud of you. I looked at him in confusion but I got in a fight and you weren’t there when I needed you. Fox I am here now making sure you are okay I stared at him in confusion Fox there are times where I have to stand back and let you get hurt. Now I was even more confused why? Let me tell you a little secret there are bad people in the world, sooner or later you are going to have to face them. Now there will be times where like with those bullies you and peppy faced, that you are going to get in trouble even though you did nothing wrong. Right now I have to say that I am proud you told the teacher, I am proud you were willing to go so far to protect your class mate. I know we told you growing up that fighting is wrong but there are going to be times where you will have to make a choice. Do I let people get away with a bad thing even if it does not affect me or do I do the right thing even if I might get in trouble or hurt? I did the right thing? You did, I am so proud of you right now.
Mom’s going to be mad I was suspended. don’t worry she won’t, tomorrow we are visiting my job. At eighteen he didn’t come back, I found out the day of graduation when I looked up and I saw the general sitting next to my mother at the ceremony. After I learned what happened I told the general I would lead Star Fox in my father’s stead. At the end of the battle with Andross with his final explosion he set off the self-destruct and managed to take out my navigation systems. The destruction of the base had begun and I had no idea where to go. My targeting system activated did Andross leave something behind to ensure my doom? The coms flared to life “Don’t ever give up my son” Father I exclaimed. Follow me Fox. In the end my father kept his promise.