The superhero dad

"Dad, why are you still insisting to work? you carry those heavy things again?" Nelson the eldest child of 5 was so amazed that his dad was still wanting to continue working as a labor in a store in the town. Nelson's tears burst out eventually when his father did not say anything, but stay silent instead, looking down and sometimes shook his head.

"I need to work for all of you my son" The father said but in tear.

"Dad, please, those things you carry everyday are too heavy. That works for those young people" Nelson was like begging his father so that he would not be working in the store anymore.

"I don't know Nel, I just want to be a good father for all of you, providing the best for you" The father Alan was still with his words. He did not want to stop from working in the store until Nelson will finish school and got job to support the family.

"Dad, you are the best dad in the world we ever had. None better than you dad. But please daddy, I can't bear it anymore. I don't want you to be sick not only physically but mentally as well." Nelson's tear burst out at last. He looked at his younger sister and brothers. They were like him as well. They did not want his father to work in the store anymore as he was getting older and his energy was lessening day by day. The mother Sandra was standing there with them as well. She did not have anything to do. She has no more words to say. She had been asking her husband for many times to stop working in the store and find another job or continuing their previous job to work in the farm they undertook. But her husband was just so stubborn.

" When i am tired then i will stop, i promise" Alan was still insisting.

"but until when dad?"

"Until you finish school, got job and support your brothers and sister for schools and Nick is enrolling to college next year"

"Dad, i nearly finish my education. I promise i am not gonna disappoint you" Nelson sadden, but he knew that he could not stop his dad.

"That's my boy. It's okay buddy i am all alright. You see? don't your trust on your dad? I can do everything. I am still strong anyway!" Alan felt better when his son Nelson stopped asking him question. But depth down in his heart. He felt pains. He had to carry all those heavy sacks for every single day. And the pain on his body mainly at night, only God knew how painful it was. Plus he worked overtime for everyday, he knew that it hurt but he did not care about it anyway, what he wanted was, to provide the best for his family at home, and to pay anything for his son Nelson who was studying at university.

"alright kids, go to sleep, it's late now and you Nelson, you just arrived, you need rest" Sandra asked her children to go to bed. And as usually, all of them were adhering their mom's order.

Early in the morning, Nelson woke up with a hard feeling. The house was empty. His brothers and sister went to school and his parents went to work. Nelson went to the kitchen, breakfast had been prepared by his mom. And suddenly, the house telephone was ringing,. He got up from the chair and picked up the calls.

"hello, is there Mr Neal's house?" The voice on the phone speaking.

"Yes it is, may I know who's speaking?" Nelson replied

"I am Alan Neal's colleague. I am talking to whom right there?"

"Hi sorry, i am Nelson Neal. Alan's son. May I know why are you calling sir?" Nelson asked curiously.

"Great! I am looking for Mr Neal's next of kin. Mr Neal is in the hospital now. He suddenly fell down while at work" What Alan's colleague told Nelson was breaking his heart. He could not wait to hear more.

"You're not joking right sir?" He asked.

"This is not a good time to joke young man! hurry up, we need your dad's important document. Bring them to the hospital as soon as possible!" The man calling was hung up the phone.

Nelson rushed to his parents' room, finding the health documents as required by the man who was calling him earlier. Took his wallet and cellphone on the table and then ride his bicycle to the the nearby hospital. On the way, he can't stop crying. He was too sad of what was happening and he knew that his father perhaps secretly have diseases that he did not want to reveal to anybody. He kept cycling with tears and this time he really needs his strength though he knew he was hopeless and was not strong enough to encounter these such tough obstacles especially when it came to his dad who knew no tiredness just to make sure they could eat and wear something. The bicycle he ride was running fast but it did not the same anymore as it was now chasing the superhero dad. Deep down in his heart, there were a voice saying "Dad, you are a superhero, I know you are stronger than anyone else i ever seen, and you are the toughest dad ever in the world and no one can beat how strong you are facing this amazingly tough life. Dad, In my graduation day soon, I wanna introduce you to the whole world, in front of all others, that you're a superhero who afraid of nothing. Dad, you're a real superhero, yes dad, you are a superhero!"