a father's gift

Went golfing on Sunday with my brothers and my father. As I've mentioned before I am the weak link in this foursome though lately I've been gaining a little ground. My father who is in his 70's continues to age well both as a person and a golfer. He opened with 39 on the front nine. I had a 43 which on most days would make me almost giddy. We made the turn and somewhere around the 14th hole, my dad strained his back while swinging. He struggled gamely through that hole, but he had to get on his hands and knees to retrieve the ball from the cup (we were quicker after that and managed to help him with that chore). My brothers and I watched him, knowing that in all likelihood he would finish the round, even if it killed him. He lifted up his shirt and cinched up his back brace even tighter. He took easier swings and still managed to collect pars. At sixteen he seemed to remember something, and he said that he'd forgotten about my birthday a few days earlier but that he'd buy me lunch after the round as birthday gift.

I looked at him and said, "Why don't you just let me beat you this round. That can be my present."

Dad looked at me for a second, then with a sly grin he said, "I'll buy you lunch."
That memory is a keeper. I couldn't have asked for a better gift than that.
K

p.s. he beat me by five strokes