Tommy grew up with loving parents. He was an only child and lived on a farm. When he was small, his parents took turns reading to him. During his elementary school years, he did very well in school because his parents encouraged him a lot. He had many friends and was a happy go-lucky kid. His dad took him fishing, and he helped him catch a 14 pound fish when he was six. He went on camping trips with his parents. Little League baseball and soccer were sports he loved to play. His dad, Jim, often pitched to him to help improve his swing. They attended all of his games, and he helped his teams win many games.

He did many odd jobs for his parents like mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, and feeding the calves. His parents gave him a two-week allowance. Sometimes when Tommy was in his room, he heard his parents laughing and joking around.

When Tommy started attending junior high school, his dad was no longer a loving person. He had just started working as a machinist. Many times he worked more than forty hours a week. On the weeks he worked long hours, he came home drunk. His appearance had also changed. Instead of having a normal haircut, Jim had long hair and a long beard. His parents sometimes got into arguments, and he heard things being thrown. A few subjects in school were hard for Tommy. He didn't do as well on his soccer team. Whenever he received a poor report card or he cost his team the game, instead of encouraging him; his dad yelled at him, "You can do better than that!" Then he would knock him against the wall a few times and give him bruises on his face and back. He even stabbed his mother on her arm.

His parents soon got a divorce, and his dad moved far away. His mom got married again, and he learned to love his step-dad. He didn't know if he could forgive his dad for hurting him and his mother. He had been his best friend.

When Tommy was 18 years old, he met the girl of his dreams and married her. They had a baby boy named Nathaniel when he was 21. He didn't move away when he got married so his dad would know his phone number.

When his son was a toddler, he looked like his grandpa. As time went on, Nate wanted to know more about his grandpa and wondered when he would meet him.

Tommy told his son the first twelve years of his life were very happy. He told him his dad and him fished together, and he went on camping trips with his parents. He told Nathaniel he had wanted to grow up to be like his dad until he started yelling at him and throwing him against the wall. His son was so sorry to hear this, but he still wanted the chance to meet his grandpa. Tommy decided he would try to find it in his heart to forgive his dad for his son. Of course he had no idea where his dad was. He couldn't even write him any letters.

Nathaniel and Tommy kept hoping for the day when his dad and Nathaniel's grandpa would have a change of heart and ask Tommy to forgive him for what he done to him.

Six months later, when that phone call finally came Tommy told his dad he had been angry at him for hurting him, but he was leaving it in the past. He wanted to know what he had done to deserve what had been done to him.

His dad told Tommy he had hated himself for yelling at him and throwing him against the wall. He said his drinking caused him to act the way he did. His dad said he had been sober for six months.
Then he apologized to Tommy. Tommy knew right then his dad was sorry for the way he had treated him. He forgave his dad. Tommy also asked his dad to move close to him so they could become friends again. Then Nathaniel could meet him and get to know him. His dad said he would, but he did not know when. Nathaniel got to speak to his grandpa too. He called him "Papa". That melted Jim's heart. Both Tommy and Nathaniel told Jim they loved him. They heard him cry tears of joy on the phone.

Three months later, there was a knock on their door. Jim had come to say he had moved fifty miles away. He now looked like his old self. He had cut off his beard and no longer had long hair. Tommy and Nathaniel gave him a bear hug at the same time.