Life and Production: S2 E5: Pappy's Story

In His Honor

Black and white Delaware license plates called to mind a simple elegance in the realm of the conventional. Each plate represented a statement of the owner of the vehicle saying, “This is my special plate for my unique state.”

The scant amount of numbers and the ivory and ebony template displayed an acute sense of acknowledging the magnificent among the mundane. And Telly “Pappy” Lesane prized his plate.

As it consisted of only four numbers accompanied by his initials, the plate told a microstory of the life of its owner. His career as a bricklayer prepared him to appreciate the minute details of what man’s mind could create. Pappy’s legendary status in his neighborhood lead to commissions and work for high profile clients.

Once, he completed the foundation for the Rehoboth Beach house for Hollywood star Torey Milgram. For his work on that project, he received the commendation for construction workers at a dinner held in his honor.

Effort and Thought

So, in his eyes, the small accents like the license plate complimented his style. He drove (manual shift without computer assistance) a Karras Level 2 pickup truck that was close to two decades old. His large hands resembled Goliath spiders.

He gripped the wood grain wheel. He had purchased the home that he now inhabited with proceeds and savings accumulated over three decades in service. He always said, “I like working with my hands but I love to use my mind.”

And that’s how he perceived his work. He wasn’t just some stooge who crushed rocks into pebbles. He was a master craftsman who could form some of the most eye-catching walkways, fireplaces, and decks. Pride welled up in him. He knew that his job, though physical and demanding, called for effort and thought.

From what he had surmised in his youth, he had figured that a job is well done, or it isn’t done at all. The copper-colored truck swayed back and forth through the raindrops. When he had arrived at his domicile, he didn’t have robots to meet him at his garage.

No, the essence of his life was not in the latest gadget or service. He enjoyed exerting himself even in the smallest of undertakings. Not a Luddite or technophobe either, Pappy just wanted to lead an existence independent of whatever task a new toy could perform.

Revealed

Instead, he anticipated employing his talents in ways that bucked current trends. He threw his wet clothes in a hamper and changed into fresh, dry clothes. He sat down to read the newspaper; this was the actual paper kind. He read about the blackouts, severed gas lines, and destroyed hydraulic fracturing equipment. He swore.

The suspects in these disasters never surfaced and law enforcement held few leads. His platinum watch ticked in synchronicity with the grandfather clock standing in the corner of his living room. Both timepieces he kept in the divorce from him and his wife Lynquisha.

They had split when Trevor Lesane was just 10-years-old. Lynquisha who had used crack cocaine for the early parts of Lesane’s childhood was deemed unfit for motherhood. Though she did not smoke any psychoactive substances during her pregnancy with Lesane, the judge ruled in Pappy’s favor to have complete custody nonetheless.

So, Pappy raised Lesane with every intention of making him not only a man, but a man of principles. He ensures that Lesane would be able to deal with life’s challenges with dignity and honor. He insisted that Lesane learn that this is a wonderful existence and it is to be enjoyed.

Ever since Lesane was a teen, Pappy presented life lesson after life lesson to enrich his understanding of the world. One lesson, in particular, involved a brick that smashed a glass table at a client’s house. Pappy asked his subordinates if they knew who shattered the glass. What did Pappy do next? He imposed a hold on all of his workers’ pay until the man at fault stepped forward and confessed.

Given this amount of information, the culprit soon confirmed his guilt and the pay of the other men continued. Pappy outlined that if the values of any particular individual are threatened, then the truth may be revealed. Pappy’s judgment sustained him and the knowledge and wisdom that he imparted held fast within Lesane’s psyche. He had just finished reading the news when he received a call. This was a landline, of course.

Regardless

“Hey, Paps,” Lesane said. “Why don’t you stop by for dinner? Saffron just got back from her trip and we’re having Mahi Mahi. Don’t worry. Saffron’s cooking it herself from a technique she learned in Los Angeles.”

“I’ll be over there, boy,” Pappy smiled.

Pappy hung up the phone and reached for his keys. Still raining, he donned a jacket and boots and headed to the front door. On the walk over to his son’s house, he considered his accomplishments. The late November shower stirred up memories of when he raised Lesane. Through the years, as a single father, he provided for Lesane regardless of the fact that he sometimes worked odd hours.

Like Lesane now, Pappy still found time to observe Lesane’s makeshift laboratory. He knew that the young man would fair better than he although he had a thriving construction business albeit modest. His reward came in the form witnessing his only son grow up to be the tremendous success as a scientist. He recalled those days when he thought that Lesane was at school.

In reality, he was in the basement of the local library experimenting. This activity would lead to the chemist that Pappy was glad to call his son. When he had reached the threshold, a robot beat Preston to the door. It allowed Pappy inside, but he was nonplussed. Lesane greeted his father.

“Boy, don’t you know that I almost kicked that thing?” Pappy said, eschewing the plastic, glass, metal, and rubber object. He saw his grandchildren. Preston and Symphony descended the escalator into the foyer.

“Hey, Pappy,” Preston said.

“What you say there, boy?” Pappy said.

Symphony ran into her grandfather’s arms.

“Pappy, I’ve made something for you,” she said. She then unfolded a picture of the planet Neptune.

“I see,” said Pappy. “I love it.”

Lesane then took Pappy’s jacket and boots and handed him his house shoes. Saffron exited the kitchen and greeted her father-in-law.

“Hey, Pappy,” she said.

“It sure smells good in here, sweetheart.” Pappy hugged Saffron and proceeded to his place at the table.

“It’s almost ready, Paps. Why don’t you have a seat in the living room?”

“As long as that thing doesn’t bother me, I’ll go,” he said. The robot cleared its way for Pappy to have a seat on the tan leather recliner.

The Justice

Pappy had found his son’s furniture to be rather comfortable and now looked forward to dining with his son’s wife and children. Pappy considered the blue orb depicted on his gift from Symphony. In just a few minutes, Pappy would be asleep in his chair. Symphony walked over to her grandfather.

“Wake up, Pappy. It’s time for the justice,” she said.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” he said.