A Father's Day

Lane DeGregory: GULFPORT — On the day he got the phone call, Michael Turbe went to work early.



He locked the room he shares with his parrot and his pit bull and plodded down the sidewalk to the TLC convenience mart, where he works the night shift.



The owner greeted him with a how-you-doin'. Normally, Mike would have answered, "Just glad to be here." And he was.



Finally sober after 41 years, he had what he needed to get by: a job, a room, a phone. It was a good enough life.



But on this Wednesday, his answer was different. "Great!" he said, loudly. A grin grew beneath his gray mustache. Behind his bifocals, his blue eyes danced.



"Better than great. This is the best day of…