Thoughts

Meet Your Grandfather

A big, dark coated Newfoundland stood tall barking out the window at every leaf that blew or person that walked by the window. “Charlie! Cut out all that damn barking!” Sylvia bellowed, wobbling from one foot to the next on her cane. Her eyes were covered with a gloomy gray film and her body looked stiff and worn out. “Damn dog.” She muttered to herself, Charlie whined. The front door swung open, the gust of air almost knocked Sylvia over. “Who’s running in and out of my damn house?” She shouted. “It’s just me Mom!” Julie shouted from the driveway. “Oh! I was wondering where you had gone.” Sylvia said. She hugged her daughter tightly. “How are you doing Mom?” Julie asked, closing the door behind her. Sylvia smiled. “ As good as 76 can do.” She told her. Charlie came from between Julie’s legs panting. Julie patted his head. “Grams!” A little girl ran up from behind Julie. She had the greenest eyes and curliest hair, it was dark and coarse pulled back into a ponytail. “Well. Hello Missy.” Sylvia said, putting her hand on her hip. Sylvia could barely see her but she knew how much she loved her. “Can I feed Charlie?” She asked. Sylvia had never heard anyone be as excited to feed that dog as Marie. “Are you sure? That’s a big dog.” She said smiling. Marie nodded excitedly. “Alright. Go for it.” Sylvia told her. Marie took off down the hall. “CHARLIE!!!!” Marie bellowed down the hall. Charlie followed her. “That’s an interesting one you got there.” Sylvia said, chuckling. She took a seat in the big worn out recliner. “So. Let me see the ring.” Sylvia said. Julie gave her mother her hand. “Oh that is beautiful. It’s a very nice diamond.” Sylvia said, squinting. Julie smiled. “It’s a black diamond. One of the toughest.” Julie put her hand on her chest. “ Curtis said it reminds him of our love.” Sylvia sighed. “I’m sure it’ll be a nice wedding. It's a shame. I won’t be around to see it.” Sylvia said furrowing her brows. “Mom. Stop. You’re fine.” Julie said. She crossed her arms. Julie hated when her mother talked like that. Julie couldn’t imagine having her wedding and her mother not being there to see it. “What are your colors?” Sylvia asked. Julie smiled. “My colors are rarity and imagination.” Julie said. Curtis rolled his eyes. “Her colors are purple and purple.” Curtis said. “That sanctuary looks like it’s been hosed down with mashed up blueberries.” Curtis told her. Sylvia chuckled. Julie rolled her eyes. Curtis had the blondest hair and the nicest blue-green eyes. He was cock-eyed and wore glasses but that’s what Julie loved about him the most. “Mom!” Marie called from the kitchen. “What’s up?” Julie asked, bending down to take the color pallets out of the box. “What’s this box?” Marie asked. The box had the words Hartman carved into the side. Julie frowned. “I told you not to snoop.” Julie said, taking the box. “Don’t be a pain in the ass. Let her look in the box.” Sylvia told her. Julie hesitated but gave her the box back. “Let’s see.” Sylvia said, taking the top off the box and feeling around. Sylvia pulled out a picture of a young couple on the beach. “Is that you grandma?” Marie asked her. Sylvia nodded. “And that is your grandfather. Lieutenant Colonel William E. Hartman.” Sylvia said proudly. She swore that she was the only person who was as proud of him as his parents. She loved him more than anything and she made sure everybody knew it.

The soft waves that crashed on the white sand filled Sylvia’s ears as she waited for him. Him. He’s coming, she thought. She loved how the sand felt on her feet. It reminded her of the sandbox she used to play with. “Sylvia!” A voice called from a distance. Sylvia swung her head around to see who was there. Nobody. She swung it the other way to see if it really was somebody there. Maybe it was him she thought to herself. Nope. She sighed. Sylvia grabbed handfuls of sand and threw into the ocean. Her eyes watered as she watched the sand dissolve. She leaned forward to see her reflection and scoffed. “Some fairytale.” She muttered to herself. Then she heard it again but softer. “Who’s there?” She called back and no response was given. Finally, Sylvia had decided she’d had enough and began to pack up her belongings. The loud roar of the white Ford Thunderbird startled her. “Him.” She thought when she looked up at the 6 foot black man in his Navy whites. “Where the hell have you been?” She asked him, he smirked. “You look nice. Thanks for waiting for me.” Sylvia rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe you did this.” They stood there for a moment, just like that. Him looking at her fondly and her looking at him with a blank expression. “Well are you going to open the door?” She asked him.“ Or are you just going to stand there like a blinking fool?” She asked, leaning against the car. Her bright blue cocktail dress radiated off the side as if the car was a lake. He opened the door to the car and watched her get in. “After you.” He said closing the door. “Where are we heading?” She asked him. “Someplace you’ll never forget.” He started the car and the engine rumbled so loudly Sylvia's seat vibrated. Sylvia yelped. “This isn’t funny.” Sylvia scowled at him. “Knucklehead.” Sylvia said, ramming her palm into the side of his head. “Y’know I’m trying to drive here, actually.” He said, twisting her arm, she yelped again. “You crazy nut.” She hated when he called her crazy. She wasn’t crazy. She preferred the word rambunctious.“Well I oughta slap you right your bucked teeth.” She said standing and placing herself on the rear of the car. “What the hell are you doing?” She was worrisome to him. “The hell do you think you are, Marylin Monroe?” He asked her, Sylvia grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She said to him, “You know one day somebody’s gonna beat the crap out of you.” He told her. “I bet you hope it’s you.” She retorted. He turned the brightest shade of red she’d ever seen. He stopped the car Sylvia flew forward and hit the dashboard. “Bet you wished you would’ve kept your mouth now don’t you, huh?” If Sylvia could punch him and not get arrested she would. “Now sit up and in the seat.” He told her as began driving again. Sylvia crossed her legs and folded her arms. “You look nice though.” He said to her. “It's Colbat blue. It's your favorite.” She said picking at the sequins.