Free Finding My Way by Megan Keith Page A

loves to methodically plan
everything!  He has always been that way.  When it came to family
holidays growing up, he was an absolute nightmare.  He has an obsession
with checklists.  “Now Ethan you still haven’t told me what colour you
want for the decorations.”
    “I dunno Dad,
whatever.”
    “No Ethan, not whatever ,
if whatever is what you want, I will make everything pink!” he jokes.
    “Ugh… alright, how
‘bout …  black and red?”  Ethan suggests.
    “Black
and red?   So you follow Essendon now do you?” Dad scoffs.  Dad
hates Essendon Football Club, natural enemies of his beloved Collingwood
Magpies.
    “No!  Okay, what
about black and silver then?”  Ethan replies.
    “Black and Silver’s
good,” I agree and hop up to help Mum dish up dinner.
    We’re having
lasagne.  I love it when Mum cooks her lasagne, not only because is it
delicious but also because she always has plenty left over for me to take home.
 I usually get two meals worth to put in my freezer, which I am especially
grateful for, now that I am living on my own.  I just cannot get used to
cooking for one!
    We talk more about
Ethan’s party while we eat.   Then after
dinner, Dad convinces Ethan and me to look through the photos with him. 
We start sifting out the good ones of Ethan at various ages in various poses
and spread them out over the dining room table.  There are photos of Ethan
having a bath as a toddler, as a baby in Mum’s arms, his first school
photos.  There’s a photo of Ethan and me that was taken at Christmas when
he was three and I was six.  A couple of pictures of Ethan
playing footy, and one of him sitting on the couch with some
mates.  I find a great one of Ethan, Josh and me that was taken one Easter
when we went camping.
    Ethan leaves Dad and
me, about half an hour into it, to go to the Greenes ’
place to play pool with Jake.  In the end Dad and I have about forty
photos laid out across the table and we have told a story about each one. 
I actually love looking at old photos and reminiscing and I have enjoyed spending
the time with my Dad too.
    Mum enters the
kitchen in her dressing gown.  Looking at my watch, I realise it is
already past ten.
    “I didn’t realise it
had gotten so late,” I say stifling a yawn.  Turning to Dad I say, “This
has been fun.”
    “Yep, it has.  Thanks
for your help sweetheart.  But it’s about time for me to hit the
sack.  Good night love,” Dad says as gives me a peck on the cheek and
stands for a stretch.
    “You go on ahead
Brian.  I will be in shortly.”  Mum says taking his seat.  Her
eyes pour over the photos spread across the table.  After a moment she
says, “Wow you have got a heap of pictures here.  I don’t know if they
will all fit.  I think your Dad may have to make a bigger board.” 
She takes the photo from my hand.  “Are you sure you want all of
these on there?”
    The photo she’s now
holding is a picture that was taken about two years ago.  It’s a photo of
Ethan and Josh.  They’re dressed as cowboys, leaning against each other,
their arms crossed over their toy guns.  It was for a Halloween party.
    “That’s a great
photo.”  I say.  She eyes me speculatively.  “Mum, Ethan and
Josh are still friends you know.  Just because we’re not together anymore
it doesn’t mean that their friendship has to end.  Besides it really is a great photo.  Do you remember how Josh and Ethan chased Kat with those
water pistols that night?  She got soaked.”  I laugh.  “You were
so pissed when she dripped all over the carpet!”
    “Yes I remember,” she
says as she rolls her eyes.  She turns and looks at me more
seriously.  “Are you sure you’re okay?  It can’t be easy for you, Josh is in so many of these pictures.”
    “Truly Mum, I’m
okay.” I assure her.
    “Well he was a part
of the family for such a long time,” she sounds melancholy and I know that she
misses him.  She had accepted Josh as