grumpa
09-01-2009, 08:35 PM
WEIRDUARDO here...I hope you enjoy my little tale
The parlor was dark with only the light from the hall shining in under the door. There was a cold draft moving along the floor, from the fireplace, I supposed. Autumn had come early this year and the wind's icy fingers had grasped visciously at my unsuspecting world for the last couple of days. I scurried across the room to the large bay window, the oaken floor boards creaking, protesting my presence. The musty smell from the heavy velveteen curtains was smothering. But the strange eerie view that greeted me at the window made it almost unnoticeable. The withered leaves shifting mysteriously across the lawn seemed to echo my childish idea of the suffering of the dying summer outside.
"Achooo!"
The dust from the curtain had caused the spell to be broken. I backed away feeling guilty and foreign. I knew I wasn't supposed to be in that room. Mama had said she'd spank me good if I went in there. I found myself desperately pleading with all my childhood heroes not to let me be caught. But the sneeze had gone unnoticed by those in other parts of the house. Yet I wondered if Grandpa had noticed. He was in the room too, or at least that's what Mama had said, there in the long box in front of the fireplace. I crossed the room again quietly, cautiously, with a simple reverence I didn't understand. My fingers ran inquisitively along the mahogany covering and onto the white satin material that lined the inside. The satin was smooth and sent a chill down my spine. My chin was level with the top of the box and I could see the profile of Grandpa's face. His white hair looked especially radiant in the twilight. The eyes, accustomed to sparkling, now were closed in sleep and his lips, so often parted with laughter, were pressed tightly together. There in the pale glow of the moonlight now floating through the window he looked strange and unfeeling. I had never seen him this way before. There had always been the big smile, but now nothing, not even the pat on the head that made me feel so
grown-up. I didn't like the way Grandma would kiss and hug me like I was some sissy. My eyes moved aimlessly down the genteel figure until they rested on his hands clasping a book. If I could only get up closer maybe Grandpa would let me sit on his lap and read me a story from the book and the strange look would be gone. There in the corner by the window and the bookshelves was a small stuffed stool. Quickly and quietly I fetched the stool to Grandpa's side and climbed up. He looked so peaceful I paused doubtfully, wondering if I should disturb him. Grandpa wouldn't mind, he liked to read. My hand felt hot and sticky as
I put it out to touch Grandpa's massive hands. The wrists were so slender you could see the bones and veins . . . How could he stay still so long? I knew, Grandpa was playing a game. I shook his hands. They were cold and stiff, and my throat ran dry.
"Grandpa what's wrong?" I thought desperately. This time I was frantically pulling at his arm. "I'll get Mama to help!"Stepping
awkwardly off the stool, I tripped on my shoelace carelessly left undone. Falling, I scraped my arm on the table
"Kauff."
I jumped up, whirled around expecting to see Mama or someone else standing in the doorway but there was no one. The large double doors still stood closed. It was Grandpa! He was going to read to me! I climbed back on the stool and again reached for his hands. I could feel the warmth rush back into his body.
"Well hello you little scamp!" he said as he tossled my hair, the twinkle shining from his bright blue eyes."So you want me to read you a story?! I fooled you with my possum trick huh? Come on, speak up, cat got your tongue?" Grandpa teased as he
fumbled the pages of the book."Read me the story about Captain Scotty and the pirates!" I said ex-citedly."You've heard that one so many times you could tell it to me!" he
laughed. My face dropped."Oh well, once more can't do any harm! Once upon a time . . .""Johnny!" My heart fell to my feet. I had become so engrossed in what Grandpa was saying that I hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps and voices nearing in the hall. I spun around. There in the doorway, the bright light almost blinding me, was Mama and my two aunts."Johnny how could you?!" she was asking with a stunned disbelief. The warmth vanished from the old withered hand I still clung to."Come out of there!" said Mama a tinge of anger in her voice. I walked out feeling hot, my face flushed, a gnawing sensation in the pit of my
stomach and stinging tears burning their way down my cheeks.
The parlor was dark with only the light from the hall shining in under the door. There was a cold draft moving along the floor, from the fireplace, I supposed. Autumn had come early this year and the wind's icy fingers had grasped visciously at my unsuspecting world for the last couple of days. I scurried across the room to the large bay window, the oaken floor boards creaking, protesting my presence. The musty smell from the heavy velveteen curtains was smothering. But the strange eerie view that greeted me at the window made it almost unnoticeable. The withered leaves shifting mysteriously across the lawn seemed to echo my childish idea of the suffering of the dying summer outside.
"Achooo!"
The dust from the curtain had caused the spell to be broken. I backed away feeling guilty and foreign. I knew I wasn't supposed to be in that room. Mama had said she'd spank me good if I went in there. I found myself desperately pleading with all my childhood heroes not to let me be caught. But the sneeze had gone unnoticed by those in other parts of the house. Yet I wondered if Grandpa had noticed. He was in the room too, or at least that's what Mama had said, there in the long box in front of the fireplace. I crossed the room again quietly, cautiously, with a simple reverence I didn't understand. My fingers ran inquisitively along the mahogany covering and onto the white satin material that lined the inside. The satin was smooth and sent a chill down my spine. My chin was level with the top of the box and I could see the profile of Grandpa's face. His white hair looked especially radiant in the twilight. The eyes, accustomed to sparkling, now were closed in sleep and his lips, so often parted with laughter, were pressed tightly together. There in the pale glow of the moonlight now floating through the window he looked strange and unfeeling. I had never seen him this way before. There had always been the big smile, but now nothing, not even the pat on the head that made me feel so
grown-up. I didn't like the way Grandma would kiss and hug me like I was some sissy. My eyes moved aimlessly down the genteel figure until they rested on his hands clasping a book. If I could only get up closer maybe Grandpa would let me sit on his lap and read me a story from the book and the strange look would be gone. There in the corner by the window and the bookshelves was a small stuffed stool. Quickly and quietly I fetched the stool to Grandpa's side and climbed up. He looked so peaceful I paused doubtfully, wondering if I should disturb him. Grandpa wouldn't mind, he liked to read. My hand felt hot and sticky as
I put it out to touch Grandpa's massive hands. The wrists were so slender you could see the bones and veins . . . How could he stay still so long? I knew, Grandpa was playing a game. I shook his hands. They were cold and stiff, and my throat ran dry.
"Grandpa what's wrong?" I thought desperately. This time I was frantically pulling at his arm. "I'll get Mama to help!"Stepping
awkwardly off the stool, I tripped on my shoelace carelessly left undone. Falling, I scraped my arm on the table
"Kauff."
I jumped up, whirled around expecting to see Mama or someone else standing in the doorway but there was no one. The large double doors still stood closed. It was Grandpa! He was going to read to me! I climbed back on the stool and again reached for his hands. I could feel the warmth rush back into his body.
"Well hello you little scamp!" he said as he tossled my hair, the twinkle shining from his bright blue eyes."So you want me to read you a story?! I fooled you with my possum trick huh? Come on, speak up, cat got your tongue?" Grandpa teased as he
fumbled the pages of the book."Read me the story about Captain Scotty and the pirates!" I said ex-citedly."You've heard that one so many times you could tell it to me!" he
laughed. My face dropped."Oh well, once more can't do any harm! Once upon a time . . .""Johnny!" My heart fell to my feet. I had become so engrossed in what Grandpa was saying that I hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps and voices nearing in the hall. I spun around. There in the doorway, the bright light almost blinding me, was Mama and my two aunts."Johnny how could you?!" she was asking with a stunned disbelief. The warmth vanished from the old withered hand I still clung to."Come out of there!" said Mama a tinge of anger in her voice. I walked out feeling hot, my face flushed, a gnawing sensation in the pit of my
stomach and stinging tears burning their way down my cheeks.