Shadows And Sunshine
We all love stories, be they factual, or fictional like that I’ve penned below,
Which is just another look at life, through a poetically rhyming window.
Yes, my very own creation, blending reality with imagination,
In other words, drawing from life, for where better to acquire an education?
Jack Crane was a decent young man, good at heart, clean living, and law abiding too,
But he struggled with certain things, and sometimes made mistakes that saw things go askew.
Misunderstood at times, and treated less than kind, he would get discouraged, lose heart,
Often wishing he could somehow get a break, a chance to prove himself, a new start.
Jack had married young, was the father of two sons, and though a struggler, did his best,
But life wasn’t easy, and money was always an issue, which could leave him depressed.
However, his family was fed, clothed and housed, and getting by (albeit barely),
But now, how Jack missed his wife of seven years, a woman who he’d loved very dearly.
What a shock it was to find that she’d gone. Couldn’t cope with things anymore, she’d said,
And now, all that he had was that note she’d penned, one as wounding as an arrowhead.
Yet somehow (though he really had no idea how), he had managed to carry on,
And for all he knew, she could be living anywhere from Australia to Saigon.
As hurt as he was, Jack would’ve gladly taken her back, and for the boy’s sake,
Who after being tucked in bed at night, wouldn’t go straight off to sleep, but remained awake.
And as time went by, Jack became aware of the complexities within us all
(That due to background say), have some doing what doesn’t make sense, things that hurt and appall.
There were those who could’ve helped Jack (before and after), and thereby, his family too, but sadly,
Help seldom came his way, which Jack amidst his lowest moments resented strongly.
Unable to afford a car, Jack would bike to work, whistling as he made his way,
His love of music an oasis midst those things in life that filled him with dismay.
And so it has been for many of us, for life’s no respecter of class or race,
But rather, casts its shadows and sunshine over all, anytime and anyplace.
And hence those troubles that can befall us, be they random or of our own making,
Some merely passing irritations, others painfully protracted, or heart-breaking.
Well, things were about to dramatically change for Jack, who’d neared an intersection
Where a shiny black chauffeur driven Mercedes was heading in his direction.
As it quickly approached the waiting green light, where it would then make a sharp right turn,
A stray dog ambled towards the road and oncoming car, filling Jack with concern.
And Jack’s concern proved prophetic, for in veering to avoid the straying canine,
The Mercedes ended up on its roof, left side crushed against a concrete incline.
Jack gaped in horror as flames speedily emerged and began to lick at the car,
Its right hand passenger doors jutting into the gouged asphalt; and half ajar.
Dropping his bike to the ground, Jack rushed to rescue the occupants still caught inside,
Firstly dragging the young woman well clear, and then the driver, both shocked and wide-eyed.
Almost immediately, the car was engulfed in a ball of fire and acrid smoke,
And as they nervously crouched there staring at the raging inferno, no one spoke.
Well, I could elaborate much more on the accident scene, but suffice to say,
That the appropriate appliances arrived, and officials, as is the way.
Other than cuts and bruises, the occupants were fine, and of course, Jack a hero,
To whom the father of the young woman a debt of gratitude would thus owe.
The father?
Sam Fontayne was very wealthy, his wealth founded on illegal activity,
And if he so desired, he could dispatch his opponents unceremoniously.
Yes, such was his power and wealth, but Sam was basically a good man at heart,
And only adverse circumstances had seen him from the straight and narrow depart.
Thus, there was a certain connection, chemistry, that occurred upon meeting Jack,
A meeting Sam initiated, fetching Jack via a chauffeur driven Cadillac.
And there they chatted, the grateful father and the humble hero, who Sam employed,
For Jack innocently accepted Sam’s offer, a role he consequently enjoyed.
And another thing that Jack enjoyed, was those regular encounters with Sam’s daughter,
A very bright young woman who studiously applied the business skills Sam had taught her.
A young woman who seemed more attractive than when Jack had pulled her from that car,
Thus sparing her father from a gaping wound that his life from there on could mar.
As time went by, the bond between Jack and Sam grew, and Jack prospered financially,
For Sam, out of gratitude, had gifted Jack a home and car, and a sum of money.
Jack was riding high, living well, and nothing was too much for his boss Sam Fontayne,
Who trusted Jack implicitly; which saw Jack moving quickly up the company chain.
Jack had finally hushed his critics, who if anything, were jealous now, (though subdued),
And that Jack’s good fortune was due to ill-gotten gains were happy to so conclude.
While Jack ignored their obvious thoughts, there was a growing unease deep within him,
For he had become extremely close to Sam, and Jack was certainly far from dim.
Some of those who came and went from Sam’s palatial office looked rather shady,
But that could be said of many, Jack thought, who’re behaving quite legitimately.
However, there were other things that Jack had noticed that’d left questions in his mind,
But given the lack of concrete evidence, he had tried to put those thoughts behind.
Jack expressed his concern to his sister who felt he was overly concerning himself,
But as much as Jack tried, his uneasiness didn’t sit well on his mind’s back shelf.
As grateful as Jack was for all that Sam had done, he wanted no part in crime,
And knew in his heart that questioning Sam was something that he’d have to do in time.
Each company, though under one umbrella, operated independently,
So surely not all were tainted, Jack surmised, if there was any criminality.
Yes, Sam didn’t believe in putting all his eggs in one basket, a wise approach,
But the subject of criminality was something that Jack felt he still must broach.
Well, as it does in those who’re transparent, the time soon came when Jack confronted Sam,
And to his surprise, words spilled from Sam’s lips as if someone had opened gates on a dam.
“I’m sorry, Jack, I really am, I shouldn’t have involved you, I realize that now,
But I was so grateful to you, and I responded the only way I knew how”
Sam continued…
“I was down on my luck, life hadn’t been too kind, and I thought I’d found a way out,
And I had in a sense, but time catches up on us, something I’ve oft though about.
Believe me, I never wanted to get involved in criminal activity,
And the last thing I wanted was to get caught up with the criminal fraternity.
We like to think that we can get away with things sometimes, and sometimes we seem to,
But it’s really just like gambling, for somewhere, sometime, things end up going askew.
As far as you’re concerned though, I’m well aware of your principles — hence why I hired you,
Because underneath, Jack, I admire integrity, and such secretly desire too.
That’s why I saw to it that anything that came your way was legally acquired,
And I’ve all the receipts and documentation should such be desired, or required.
Besides, I would stand by you, have my lawyers and accountants see you in the clear,
But quite honestly, if push comes to shove, I don’t think we’ll have any need to go there.
It’s I who’ll go down, not you, and only two companies are my Achilles heel,
The others I’ve kept free of any such activity — they’ve nothing to reveal.
However, you’re free to go, there are others who’d take you on without hesitation,
And I’ll have no hard feelings given I got you into this whole situation.”
It appeared that Sam had seen this coming, had even been mulling over coming clean,
Fed up with constantly looking over his shoulder, sick and tired of the whole scene.
Jack could almost feel the weight pressing down on Sam — that is, amidst his own concern,
And he leaned well back into his chair, deep in thought, some cogs and wheels beginning to turn.
Oh, how we err, Jack thought, well aware of his own mistakes, and their consequences,
And how sometimes it’s only when we suffer from such that we come to our senses.
Thus, who was he to condemn, and he still considered Sam his closest friend, best friend,
And Sam had meant well, so why let just a mistake bring such a friendship to an end?
Neither spoke for a spell, each just staring into space, the air tinged with gloom and tension,
But reality was better faced, the problem clearly in need of attention.
Jack’s voice broke the silence. “If you come clean, Sam, I’ll stick with the ship, and stand by you too.
And hey, when it comes to making mistakes, Sam, there’s no one who’s absent from that queue?”
Sam’s head began to slowly nod, “Thank you, Jack, if ever I needed a friend it’s now;
I’ve learnt that the type of harvest we get is in relation to the field we plough.
And that’s where I’ve clearly got to put my hand up, for I knew what I was doing,
Something that I didn’t give too much thought to then, but now am certainly ruing.
I know it bothered my wife a lot, and underneath, it somewhat bothered me too,
But it’s the old story, Jack, we let things drift until they’re far too advanced to undo
Better a few years behind bars than to remain imprisoned within for life, and,
To be honest with you, Jack, there’s really nothing worse than living in no man’s land.”
Jack returned to his office and reflected on a photo of himself with his bike,
That photo symbolic of where he’d come from, lest he forget midst his corporate hike.
And such certainly wasn’t forgotten now, given that all could perish overnight,
But at the end of the day, Jack wasn’t about to forgo doing what is right.
As expected, Sam went down for a few years, the two offending companies seized,
And for a period of time, due to the investigation, finances were squeezed.
But as Sam had predicted, Jack was cleared of any wrongdoing (given a glowing report);
And midst Sam’s relatively short incarceration, Jack provided Sam with support.
Sadly so, the strain became too much for Sam’s wife, who succumbed to an illness and died,
Which left Sam badly heartbroken, but so grateful that Jack was standing by his side.
And his daughter too (of course), now seen more in Jack’s company, rather than on her own,
A daughter that Sam could be proud of, one who one day would claim the family throne.
Despite the setbacks, Sam was still a very wealthy man, but better for it all,
For now he was on the right side of the law, and once released, would recover from his fall.
And during his time in jail, he was regularly visited by a new friend,
Whose affection and sympathy for Sam, in a long term relationship would end.
And those wedding bells weren’t so far away, for Sam’s release from prison came early,
Thanks to his co-operation with the police (and his lawyers efforts, clearly).
And the bond between Jack and Sam remained just as strong as it was before, and more,
For Sam, after marrying Jack’s sister, also became Jack’s brother-in-law.
And visa versa, for those wedding bells that chimed for Sam, soon chimed for Jack and Carey,
A couple deeply in love, who would never part, oft seen in each others company.
Yes, a union formed midst shadows and sunshine, as so often is the way in life,
A fact not lost on Jack, who happily echoed, “I do,” and hugged and kissed his new wife.
And there you have it, another story with a happy ending, though not pain free,
But surely one that we can take something from, applying it beneficially.
For along life’s journey we’ll invariably find ourselves midst shadows and sunshine,
But may it be, that more sunshine rather than shadow, daily cross your path, and mine.
By Lance Landall
This poem was penned August 2010.
