Writing Assignment from Jon Paul

Jon Paul wrote this as an assignment for his literature class. I thought you would all enjoy reading it too..

The shoe
Brown and warm
shoes like these are what I wear when I
go hiking.
I like to hike
I went and hiked a few month ago.
It was fun.
It was bright and sunny but still chilly.
The chill weather brings new life into me
I feel refreshed
I walk alone and I absorb my thoughts
The thoughts are mine
I haven't had time to think for awhile
No time to myself
Too much work
I try to keep up but I can't
The world seems to pass me by
I feel small and helpless
I'm not ready for the world.
There is a picture on my wall
It's of me and my dad.
I'm young, sleeping on my father's chest
I don't remember those times
But there is still comfort in the thoughts
My dad with his arms around me in
the picture.
He is what I strive to be.
So calm and collected
I will leave the house soon
He will be the only male in the house again
I leave because I want to be like him
My father's arms around me
Strong, loving, warm
He was gone for a long time
I saw him only once in a year
When he came home I ran to meet him
I grabbed him hard
I don't want to let him go
But I'm pulled away
My mother wants a turn
They hold each other for a long time
The people in the airport walk past
Probably feeling the emotion that my family
is sharing.
Seeing my dad is a solider they wait
When we have hugged enough they thank him
His service means a lot to them.
I can see that my dad is proud of what
he does.
He is proud of me
When I mess up he does not yell
Once I brought home a low grade.
He asked my problem
We talked and came to a conclusion
He wanted to know what he could do
How he could help
Not yelling, not degrading he suggested a solution
When I have children I hope to be as good
of a father as he was.
Not was, as he is
Even when I leave I can still count
on him
Why is he like this?
How was he raised?
He tells stories
Stories about what happened when he was
a child.
His father was in the Navy.
Once, when Grandad was away, Gram make a video.
It was candid shots about the house
the life of the kids
Random cameras
carrots
Once on those videos my uncle stuck
carrots in his nose.
My aunt shrieked.
I don't know my aunt
I've met her only once at
my uncle's wedding.
The wedding
At the reception they played the chicken
dance.
I didn't know what I was doing
I was seven I think
Now I'm known for my random dancing.

(Jon Landon_Feb 2009)