Noah placed Logan, into the passenger seat and buckled him in. He shut the door and returned into his friend’s house to grab a few last things. Logan’s mother was in her son’s room, going through some of his photos, “are you two ready to head on out?”
“Just about Mrs. Laux, I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget anything.” He said as he went into Logan’s dresser to grab one of Logan’s favorite CD’s.
“You know,” she got up from her son’s bed. “You know, he thought of you as a brother, even he was going to Pennsylvania for college.” she was standing in front of Noah now, a tear streamed down the side of her face, he hated seeing her like this.
“I know.” He started to walk away.
“You know, you’ll always have a place here, Noah. If where your going doesn’t wo...” she trailed off as Noah passed through the door way. Outside, he took a look back at Logan’s window. Mrs. Laux was up there looking out. At what, he did not know. She looked down to him, and he waved good-bye and got into the car and pulled out of the driveway.
He looked over at Logan, “Well man, it’s time we get this moving along.” He put in the CD that he got from his friends room. “This last year has been fun.”
* * * * * * * * * *
The skeletons of old cars were piled on either side of the path, most of them had parts falling off at the slightest touch. Others were almost brand new, but wrecked, never to have tires run across the paved road again. But the two friends had heard of a great find from the junkyard dealer just get it out of here, and they could have it. Logan climbed up on a pile of old cars.
“Hey, Noah,” he said. “I think that old fuck was lying to us. There are no good cars here that we can fix up; even if we search all night I doubt we’ll find it.” He jumped down from the third car in the stack, shaking off years of dirt, and causing the pile to sway ever so slightly, but it was enough to get on Noah’s nerves.
“One of these days, Logan, you’re going to break your neck doing something stupid like that. I just hope I’m there to laugh my ass off.”
Logan just shrugged, like it wouldn’t bother him one way or the other if something did happen. “Well, man, as long as I have a good time, then I say fuck Death. I’ll go smiling each step of the way.”
Noah just laughed at his friend. “Yeah, but then what? You’ll be stuck in a plot not going anywhere. And, aren’t you the one talking about going to the east coast for college.”
“There is room for you too to come, you know that.”
“I’ve already got a Job here, as long as I get a girl, I’ll be fine.” He knew he would be fine. It’s what he has known for all of his life, and it would be good for the rest of it too.
“Noah, we both know that you won’t be fine. You might like it here. But what have you really seen?” Noah knew that Logan’s mother loved to move, and somehow ended up in this town.
“You know that not everyone is born with Gypsy blood running through their veins, causing them to move every other year.” He knew that that would get on Logan’s nerves. It was one of the few things that ever could.
“Shut up. At least I know what I want to do after this year.” Logan has been trying to talk Noah to putting out more college applications than just the local community college.
“Like I said man, I’ll be fine here. I don’t need to go to a big city, with its big college.” They walked on a little farther. Until they came around a corner and found what they were out there looking for. Noah went up to examine the car. “Isn’t she a beauty?”
Logan’s eyebrows arched. “If you mean a hunk of junk, with a real need to be shot and put out of its misery, then yeah, it’s a beauty.”
“Just you wait, Logan. You’ll want it for yourself once we get it fixed up.” Noah went to open the door, just to have it pull off of the frame. “Okay, maybe it’s a long shot, but you know what they say about the old stuff.”
“Yeah yeah yeah,” Logan let out a sigh and mimicked Noah, “They don’t make them like they used too.”
“Glad you see it my way, now let me see your cell, I need to let Tom know that I want it.” Logan pulled his phone out and tossed it to him.
* * * * * * * * * *
The cool wind ran across Noah’s face, bringing with it the foul smell of gasoline, snapping him out of his daydream, as he leaned up against the car that he and Logan fetched out of that junkyard just under a year ago. The nozzle clicked letting him know that the tank was full, ready for their trip. Waiting for the pump to spit out his receipt, he thought of what they went through that year, and where they were heading next. It wouldn’t have been possible without this car, and their determination to fix it. He climbed into the driver seat. “Well, Logan, it’s time for us to hit the road.” He checked his watch “The sunrise is in about eight hours, we should be good on time.”
Within a few minutes, he was on the highway heading east. He was never the one with the plan that was always Logan. Logan was always talking about heading out to college somewhere on the east coast. He just did what he was told, not really worrying about life after high school. Thinking of this brought back more memories of Logan and this car. “Remember what you said when I got this baby into my garage for the first time man?” He paused, waiting for a response that would not come. He started to think about the day that Frank dropped off the car.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Thanks, Frank. Tell Tom that I owe him.” Noah waved bye to the tow-truck driver and went to check out the car now sitting in the garage. What have I got myself into, he thought. Part of the metal bumper was completely smashed in, the original paint job was completely over run by rust, and the door he ripped off was lying in the back seat. He was about to pop the hood when Logan came in holding two bottles of water.
“Your mom just told me that the car was dropped off.” Logan tossed Noah one of the bottles.
“Thanks man.” He untwisted the top and took a drink of the cool water. “I needed this.”
“Well, do you think we can fix up that rust bucket?” Logan opened his own bottle, and sit on the workbench.
“She is not a rust bucket.” he looked back at the car. “Well, okay, maybe she is a little dirty, but come on, man, this isn’t just any old rust bucket. She’s a ‘69 Chevy Impala. Most popular color was gold, and when we fix her up, it‘ll become a bitch magnet
“And you chastise me for fooling around to attract girls and here you go are getting a hunk of junk and expect girls not to laugh. Logan walked over to Noah. “Don’t worry man, once I get a girlfriend, I’ll hood you up with one of her friends.”
Noah laughed. “With the way you act, do you really expect to get a girl?”
“And just what is wrong with the way I act?”
“You act like an idiot, and you’re one of the smartest people I know.”
Noah watched as Logan shrugged. “That’s why I’m going to college on the east coast. And you know I do this because people are too serious.” Noah didn’t see himself as one of those serious people. “But, it brings entertainment to my life, and those around me, including you.” It was true. Noah counted on Logan’s foolishness to wake him up from this life of boredom.
“I don’t know if this town would be the same once you’re gone. It would go back to the same old boring don’t it was before you got here.”
“Then why don’t you apply at the college too? I am sure you would get in.”
“Yeah, we’ll see. But, I bet you girls would love this car once they see it. I wonder how many I would have to turn down for a ride.”
“That might be true, but first things first.” Logan turned to the car. “We need to see what’s wrong with this ‘bitch magnet’ and hopefully it’s something not too severe.” Noah opened the hood and they started to make a list of components they needed.
* * * * * * * * * *
The dashes lines of yellow were and occasional lights from cars heading west almost all that Noah has saw, and Logan what silent in the passenger’s seat. The only thing keeping Noah alert was the familiar hum of the engine. Each mile they traveled down the road, took them that much further from their home. “Look at this Logan,” Noah glanced over towards Logan. “Here we are, driving this ‘rust bucket’ that you thought we would never get fixed.” Logan remained silent, but Noah didn’t expect an answer. “But, I do have to give it to you. You were right about the Girls.” Noah started to think back to the first time they took the car out onto the road.
* * * * * * * * * *
It took them a few months, but everything was in place, and Noah was ready to see his baby get some lover from the sun outside. “Get your ass moving, Logan,” He shouted out of the window. “I want to get this on the road sometime this year.”
“Just shut up.” Logan was taking another look around the car. “I don’t want to get halfway down the road and have this rust bucket break down on us.” Logan was around the back of the car, out of Noah’s view. “So, have you got those papers I gave you filled out yet?”
“You mean the ones for the college that you are going to?”
“Yeah.”
“I haven’t had time too yet. With work and the car, I don’t know if I will be going out of state.” Noah didn’t know about going out of state anyways. Everyone he knew and all he needed was there. “Can you just hurry up, I want to get on the road sometimes this year.”
“I don’t want to get halfway down the road and have this rust bucket break down on us.” Noah could not help but smile.
“If it does break down, I’m sure it won’t be that long of a trip back.” Noah let out a sigh. “Would you hurry up, you’ve been circling the car like a vulture.” It’s been like 30 minutes that Noah has been waiting, and he even checked everything himself to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. “If you don’t hurry up, I’m just going to go on without you.” He put the key into the newly installed ignition. “The key is in, and ready to go.”
“Alright, alright.” Logan got up from the side of the Impala and climbed into the passenger’s seat. “Just don’t blame me if we don’t make it to the corner.”
Noah smiled at Logan. “What’s wrong, is Mr. Badass Jester worried that chicks will love this car?” Logan extended his middle finger. “Watch it now, the little birdie might not like all the attention we will be getting from the girls and try to fly away.” For the next few moments, they were quiet, while Noah listened to the rumbling of the engine for any rattles of forgotten parts.
After a few miles of silence, Logan turned on the radio. “Well, it’s not falling apart yet, but we need to get a CD player installed, then I would say this rust bucket is reborn as a cool car.”
“What, and take away the nostalgic feel associated with it?” Noah could not believe his ears, replace the tape player.
“Nostalgic, what’s so nostalgic about it? Do you even know how hard it is to find tapes to play in it?”
Noah was at a loss for words. “Well, I honestly don’t know if this car can handle one of those newer CD players. They might draw too much amps and mess with the fuses.”
“Noah, do you honestly believe that I would believe that bullshit. I upgraded the wiring in this ting myself.” Noah thought back to the frustration of wiring. “If you wanted to, you could hook up a TV and a DVD player, so I am sure that it can handle a simple CD player.”
They pulled up to a stoplight just as it turned red. “I’ll have to think about it, there is still a few more things we need to do to this baby.”
“You also have to fill out those papers I gave you.”
As they talked about other things they needed to do, two girls pulled up in a dark blue convertible. The passenger got her friend’s attention and pointed to the car, they burst out laughing. “Nice car you got there. Is it held together with superglue?” The light turned green and the girls sped away leaving Noah and Logan with faces burning red hot.
Logan straightened up. “Well, okay man… we need to get this bitch painted and looking fine.”
“Yeah, I think that takes priority over a new radio.”
* * * * * * * * * *
Noah had to turn on the radio. The silence of the road was making him tired. “Man, Logan, driving you ass is putting me to sleep.” He took the next exit that had a gas station so that he could get a something to wake him up. Getting ready to get back into the car, a woman pulled up in a green Kia. “Nice car you got there. Don’t see too many of them driving out here.
“Thanks. I fixed it up with help from a friend of mine.”
She came around to the front of the Impala, Nice paint job you got on it. What is it called?” Noah thought back to the time Logan came into his room and tossed down the magazine with the color.
“Golden Red, my friend picked it out.”
“Cool, I wish I got my Kia in a different color myself. Mind if I steal your paint job?” that made Noah chuckle.
“My friend would be honored.” Noah thought back to the first time they took it out after the pain job was complete.
* * * * * * * * * *
It took them a few weeks, but the paint job was done. So to celebrate, they went to the local Sonic. Noah had just enough time to eat and drop Logan off before he had to run to his uncles’. “Well man, what did I say?” Logan got up and stretched. “The color is perfect for this car.”
“Well, I guess when the Jester is not busy cracking jokes he knows what he is talking about.” Noah just noticed two girls walking up, and pointed them out to Logan.
The girls took a look around the car. “Nice ride you got there.” The taller of the two said she caressed the shinny curves of the Impala. “Where’d ya get it?” Noah was almost at a loss for words.
Logan pointed to Noah. “Noah here fixed it up.” As always, Logan came to the rescue. “You should have seen it before.” He continued with the details of the Impala’s rebirth.
The shorter of the two came to Noah. “That’s cool. You must be a wiz at fixing things.”
“I don’t know if I could have got it done without Logan here.” he pointed towards his friend. “He did most of the wiring.”
“You’ll have to give us a ride in it.” The taller of the two spoke up again. “My name is Tammie.” She gestured to the other girl. “This is Pam. We are going to a party on the east side, will we be seeing you two there?”
“I would love to, but I can’t.” Noah had to repay his uncle for the fine paint job that he did on the Impala. “But Logan is free to go, if he has a way to get there.” Logan looked over at Noah.
“That sounds cool.” Pam got a pen out of her pocket, and wrote her number on Noah’s hand. “Call me when that ride is available.”
“We are in the black Dodge over there.” Tammie pointed it out so Logan could see. Logan hung back while they walked away.
“Well, Logan, what did I tell you? They love it, don’t they?” Noah was looking at his hand.
Logan threw up his hands. “You got me man, you know your cars.” He hopped off of the car. “Now, while the charm of your car is still with me, I’m going to have some fun.”
“Talk to you later, and don’t have too much fun.”
Logan started to walk away, then suddenly turned around. “Oh, tell your uncle that he did a kick ass job on your car.” Logan started to walk backwards a few steps. “And, I owe you for this one.”
“Consider this a down payment for what I already owe you.” Noah said and got into the Impala. He waved good bye to Logan.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Wake up, Noah, Wake Up!” Logan’s frantic voice jolted Noah awake. Just in time, he was heading off the road. He slammed his foot down on the beak, causing the car to screech to a hold just shy sheer edge of the road.
“Fuck, that was too close.” He looked over at Logan. “Yet again, I owe you more than you know.” Once his nerves calmed down, he started to drive again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Noah walked into his house and tossed his jacket onto the sofa and went to see if he had any messages on the answering machine. He noticed a package sitting right behind it, and one message flashing on the machine. He grabbed the package to see what it said, the first line of the letter read, ‘Congratulations on your acceptance to. . .’ That fucker, he though, he went without my permission and filled it out. He press play on the machine and walked into the kitchen.
“Hello, Noah, it’s Beth.” Logan’s mother went quiet for a moment as he peaked around the corner looking at the black box. “Logan was in a car accident earlier.” He dropped the packet and grabbed his jacket off the sofa. “He was rushed to the hospital.” Forgetting about the anger he felt about the application as he exited the door. “The doctors don’t know. . .” was the last thing he heard before the door closed.
* * * * * * * * * *
Noah pulled the car to a stop about fifteen feet from the edge of the cliff. He got out and went around to Logan’s Door, to help him out. “Well, friend, we are finally here.” He walked them to the edge of the cliff. And they stood, together. Looking out as the sun broke the horizon, shooting rays of gold, red and yellow across the waters of the ocean. “It has been a crazy journey, and I owe you my life.” Noah hugged Logan one last time. “But now, it’s time to say good bye.” He took off the lid to Logan’s urn, and tipped it over. Letting the winds pick him up and carry him in their gentle breeze and scattering him over the waters into the rising sun.
Noah stood there, staring out at the sun for what seemed like an eternity. Thinking back to the last joke Logan played on him, he smiled. “I wonder how this college will be with out you man.” He got back into the car and started to head north.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Forest Pie
There are slices of time that each of us savor.
each of a different flavor lasting
but a moment on the tongue
forever in our memory.
Curved paths under the oaks
and through the brush,
sets off the flavor that I treasure.
With that taste on my tongue,
brings me back,
to a moment
when everything seemed so big
There we were, in our wild land
playing a game of hide-n-seek,
and she knew how to hide…
but, not from me.
There she was, sitting on her wooden throne
laying there, like the forest knew she was a princess.
I just a knight in shining armor,
always to look up at her with respect
to keep her safe was my charge,
to have her as mine was my desire.
each of a different flavor lasting
but a moment on the tongue
forever in our memory.
Curved paths under the oaks
and through the brush,
sets off the flavor that I treasure.
With that taste on my tongue,
brings me back,
to a moment
when everything seemed so big
There we were, in our wild land
playing a game of hide-n-seek,
and she knew how to hide…
but, not from me.
There she was, sitting on her wooden throne
laying there, like the forest knew she was a princess.
I just a knight in shining armor,
always to look up at her with respect
to keep her safe was my charge,
to have her as mine was my desire.
Musical Story
I wanted you to know that I love the way you laugh
I wanted to hold you high and steal your pain.
I know you're standing there always waiting for me
to take us back down on the other road.
And now this is my life
it’s not what it was before.
For we are here, so far away
and this is the smile
that I’ve never shown before.
Looking out the back door
as the morning light slowly
moved across the bed.
I discovered that you were beautiful.
I wanted to hold you high and steal your pain.
I know you're standing there always waiting for me
to take us back down on the other road.
And now this is my life
it’s not what it was before.
For we are here, so far away
and this is the smile
that I’ve never shown before.
Looking out the back door
as the morning light slowly
moved across the bed.
I discovered that you were beautiful.
My Friend
do you remember that night
when you took me to the fair?
I got all dressed up for it
looking my best.
you came
with those stupid
green pants,
and matching green jacket
with huge epaulets.
everyone was staring at us, the whole night.
I am still amazed, at how
you picked up that ball,
and tossed it with skill
to knock down the triangle of pins
and win me that tiger.
you always knew how to cheer me up,
but now, I look at you,
laying there, dressed up
black pants, and a black jacket,
something so normal on everyone else
yet so… weird on you.
this is not how I will remember you.
i’ll remember you
as the goofball
in that green suit.
I will miss you.
my friend.
when you took me to the fair?
I got all dressed up for it
looking my best.
you came
with those stupid
green pants,
and matching green jacket
with huge epaulets.
everyone was staring at us, the whole night.
I am still amazed, at how
you picked up that ball,
and tossed it with skill
to knock down the triangle of pins
and win me that tiger.
you always knew how to cheer me up,
but now, I look at you,
laying there, dressed up
black pants, and a black jacket,
something so normal on everyone else
yet so… weird on you.
this is not how I will remember you.
i’ll remember you
as the goofball
in that green suit.
I will miss you.
my friend.
In Motion
A single man stands on the hill
looking out towards the people who have gathered,
and the chaos surrounding them.
With fires burning in the distance,
he grabs the megaphone,
and starts to speak.
This is where we gather,
here is where we stand.
But what are we standing for,
when we could be walking.
Moving towards our destination,
and making sure there is a wide wake behind us.
So that those who come after us will know,
that we were here.
As the fires still burn,
people start to move up to him.
for they know,
he will lead them to greatness.
They used their words
Putting labels on each of us,
and ripped us apart.
But that is changing
From today on,
we are not
Black,
White,
Red,
Yellow.
We are brothers,
and we are sisters.
The fires are dying out,
as the people gather around this man.
it is up to us
to fix this world,
when those who came before us
left it in ruin.
this is our new start,
our new world.
We will rebuild it,
We will fix it.
He is Hope,
He is the light,
He is what they have been missing,
He is a leader.
looking out towards the people who have gathered,
and the chaos surrounding them.
With fires burning in the distance,
he grabs the megaphone,
and starts to speak.
This is where we gather,
here is where we stand.
But what are we standing for,
when we could be walking.
Moving towards our destination,
and making sure there is a wide wake behind us.
So that those who come after us will know,
that we were here.
As the fires still burn,
people start to move up to him.
for they know,
he will lead them to greatness.
They used their words
Putting labels on each of us,
and ripped us apart.
But that is changing
From today on,
we are not
Black,
White,
Red,
Yellow.
We are brothers,
and we are sisters.
The fires are dying out,
as the people gather around this man.
it is up to us
to fix this world,
when those who came before us
left it in ruin.
this is our new start,
our new world.
We will rebuild it,
We will fix it.
He is Hope,
He is the light,
He is what they have been missing,
He is a leader.
Family Flower
Eva woke up to the screaming of her alarm, the music from the night before still pounding in her head. As she reaches over to her night stand to get the medicine her mind thinks she needs, she remembers that she poured them out the night before so she wouldn’t be tempted ever again to slip into the habit of popping a pill to make the pain go away, even if that pain was in her head.
Getting up she headed to the shower, hoping that the water would clear her mind. As the cool water ran down her back, she began to think of the last few years of her life. Mostly of the mistakes she had made, including this last one, where she was kicked out of Medical School. Hooked on the same drugs that are supposed to make people better, she became somebody she didn’t want to know. She needed a change, and earlier this week she got her chance, and she didn’t want to mess it up.
Today, she is set to start helping her grandmother at her shop. Eva loved her grandmother, but she seemed a little bit off at times. Eva thinks to a time when she was young, her grandmother telling her about Fairies helping her grow some of the plants in her shop. When Eva was young, she believed her grandmother. As she got older, she believed less and less of what the lady was telling her, eventually, she stopped believing all together.
As Eva rounded the corner, the shop came into sight. Being one of the only shops on the street, it stood out. It was an old neighborhood; most of the houses had vines growing up the front of them, but they were kept in good condition.
The front of Sumerian Herbs was almost completely covered with vines and wild plant growth; it made the other shops look normal.
She went around to the back door, entering her grandmothers’ garden, and knocked to let her know she was there. Eva started to look at the plants she would be getting acquainted with over the next few months, after which she is hoping that the school will let her back in.
A flower the color of fire caught her eye, she moved closer to it, taking in the rich fragrance emitted from it. She stared at it for several minutes, when suddenly she was scared half to death by her grandmother standing right next to her.
“That’s an Apricot Sprite Agastache,” her grandmother said when Eva realized she was there. “It makes a great ointment. Though, I mainly use it for tea.” Sue bent down and pulled one of the flowers off its stem. “Come, I’ll make us a cup before I show you what you have to do.” She turned and headed back to the door.
She pulled down a kittle from the racks, filled it up with water and placed it on the stove so it would come to a boil, then reached for a bowl that contained a glass bar.
“Come over here really quick Eva dear. This is how you can grind most herbs; this is called a mortar and pestle. You just put the herbs in the bowl part, like this.” Sue put the leaves from the Agastache into the bowl. “And grind it with the pestle.” She moved the pestle around the bowl, making Eva cringe a little from the sound it made.
Eva reached into her purse to grab a notepad and her fingers bumped against something round and plastic. Pulling it out, she discovered that it was a bottle of pain killers. Her head still throbbed, one pill wouldn’t hurt anything. Eva fumbled to open the lid.
“Child, what are you doing?”
“Ah, I’ve had this splitting headache since this morning. Just want to take something to clear it up for me.”
Her grandmother reached over and took the bottle out of Eva’s hand.
“I have a rule here, no modern medicine. It clouds your mind, makes you forget what is real.” She went over to the trash can and dropped the bottle. “I can make you something to clear you head, just walk this way.”
Eva stood over the table with the knife extended ready to cut the leaf down the middle as Sue has instructed her to. “Dear, the plant won’t bite you. If you keep on hesitating before you cut, you will get more cuts on your hands.”
Eva looked down at her once beautiful hands, now covered in tiny scars from cutting herbs day after day after day. Pain comes with knowledge her grandmother kept telling her, but sometimes it seems that her hands are getting most of the knowledge, and not the kind she wanted.
The bell above the door sounded, letting Eva and her grandmother know someone had entered the shop. Sue went to answer it, leaving Eva to finish work on the herb. She heard a woman’s voice talking to her grandmother.
Eva finished cutting the herb and placed it in its container, and was about to wait for her grandmother to come back but decided to head out to the front of the shop.
She saw a woman, with two children, trying to offer money to her grandmother.
“My child, I appreciate your offer to pay me…” she put her hands on the ladies, “but, what I did was on my own choice,” she spoke softly, pushing the money away.
The little girl that was standing next to her mother ran up and hugged Sue. “Thank you, Mama, the stuff you gave my mommy helped me feel well again.”
“Anything for you my little sweetie,” she patted the girl’s head. “Your mommy was really worried about you, and you must not make your mommy worry too much over you.”
The woman looked over at Eva, “You must be the granddaughter she was talking about. You have a wonderful grandmother. Listen to what she says; you don’t meet people as good as her nowadays.” The woman handed her a card as she gathered up her children to leave, “If you ever need anything, just call me.”
Eva walked to the window to watch the woman and her children walk down the street, and wondered if she would be coming back.
“She seems like a nice lady, where did you meet her at?” she asked her grandmother.
Sue looked at the woman’s card, “It was about a week before you started working here. I met her at Rick’s office, her child was suffering from a slight cold, and I gave her the herbs to make her child feel better.”
Eva looked back at her grandmother “Was Dr. Hanashi sick?”
Sue chuckled, “No, my child, he is as fit as a steed. I just had to go in for a checkup, that’s all.”
Eva began to worry a little bit, “Is everything all right, I mean, you never go to the doctors unless it’s something big.”
“It was just a checkup, that’s all. There is nothing wrong with me.” She smiled. “From all my years of making sure you and your mother turn out right, nothing can go wrong with me.”
Eva gave a sigh of relief at her grandmothers words, she wouldn’t know what she would do if Sue died on her now. “I’m glad to hear that, I would miss you if you’re gone.”
“And I would miss you too if I pass on.” Sue walked over to Eva and put her hand on Eva’s shoulder, squeezing slightly to convey her feelings. “Now, how is the mixture doing in the back?”
Eva placed her hand on her grandmothers’, feeling the tiny fingers press against her skin, with the warmth coming from them. “It’s almost done Grandma, I just need the last bit of instructions and it will be ready for Mrs. Burton.”
“Well then, I think we better get back to work.” Eva was ushered through the door, with the question on mind still about her grandmothers’ health, but she will let it pass for now, If she notices anything she will speak with her again.
Her grandmother came into the room after a few minutes. “Now let’s see how you’ve done.” Sue walked over to where Mrs. Burton’s order was on the table.
Eva grew nervous as her grandmother looked over the ingredients laid out on the table, hoping she didn’t forget anything.
Sue nodded as she looked over the plants on the table. “Good, good. I see you remembered the gotu kola this time. Hang them out to dry so it will be ready when she gets here… also, throw in some ginseng and sage. Hopefully it will help her with her menopause.”
Eva was ecstatic, if she keeps this up, she might just forget about going back to medical school. “Thank you grandma, really.”
“Well, it looks like all the orders are done for today.” Sue sit down, “Heck, with you here, I can just watch and not have to worry about getting it all done on time.”
Eva set down next to Sue, “Now, you don’t mean that. I’m sure you can still go circles around me.” She didn’t like to hear this talk out of anyone, she knew that people get old and die, but she didn’t want to think that it might happen to her grandmother.
“Now, now child, I am old. Some days I feel as old as the mountains out there.” She pointed out the windows to the rolling hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. “Just like the mountains, though, I’m going to be rolling around for quite a while still.”
Eva smiled; her weird grandmother was growing on her every day. “I know grandma.” Eva got up and stretched her arms above her head. “It’s been a long week; would you want something to drink?”
“That would be good dear. But, for today, I’ll just have water.” Sue got up and headed upstairs to the more comfortable seats leaving Eva to get the water.
Eva soon went to join her grandmother upstairs, and upon reaching the top step, she could hear her grandmother talking to someone. Eva felt confused; she knew no one could have gotten upstairs without her noticing.
Eva knocked on her grandmother’s door, “Grandma is it alright if I come in?” She heard her grandmother mumble something, and then a click as if she was hanging up a phone.
Sue’s voice emitted from behind the door. “Yes darling. Come on in.”
She handed her grandmother the water and sat down next to her. Looking closely, Eva could see the lines of age on her grandmother’s face. It made the old lady look a little worn, but at the same time, tough.
“Do you remember that flower we drank the first day you were here my child?” Sue suddenly asked.
“Ah, yeah, the Apricot Sprite Agastache, used for ointments and tea… right?” Eva was almost certain it was this one that she was talking about but she wanted to make sure.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” Sue picked up a picture, and showed it to Eva, “That is my mother, your great grandmother. Her grandmother brought that flower over here when she came from England, and we have been growing it ever since.”
Eva knew most of the history of the family already. She still listened to it though out of respect for her grandmother.
“However, have you noticed that our last name stays the same through the generations, even though we all marry and have children?”
In her life, she has known that her last name was the same as her grandmother’s. She had never paid that much attention to it though. “Hmm… that’s odd.” Was all she could think to say, but her mind was now racing with some questions that she should have thought of when she was a child, learning about a person’s last name. “Is it not required by law to change our last name to that of the man we marry?”
Her grandmother laughed, “No child. The law is not the reason people change their last names, it is out of tradition.” She placed the picture back down on the table. “It’s been a family tradition with us not to change.” Eva frowned at the reason, this was not an answer.
“That may be true, but why do we keep it?” now that her grandmother started to talk about it, she wanted her to finish it.
Sue set back with a smile, “I see that your mind is finally clearing from the medicine. The answer is a simple one, but it can be a little confusing if your mind is clouded.” Sue took a deep breath and let it out. “Our last name, Sumerian, runs back all the way before the Romans took over England, back to our Celtic heritage. It is said that in those days, the space between what is real and what people believe is real was thinner.” Sue continued to distinguish the differences between the two reals, how most people today refused to believe that there might be something out there that science can’t explain.
Eva knew her grandmother was a little bit weird, but this talk of what is real and what people believe is real made her head ache. She might need to take a major pill tonight to get the pain to stop.
Eva was on her way in when the front door opened letting Mr. Yuki out with his wife’s medicine.
“Ah, Eve, how are you doing today?” Mr. Yuki was a close friend of Sues’, and also the family lawyer. He always came around when it was that time of the month.
"I am doing good, Mr. Yuki. I see you’ve come for your wives herbs. Make sure she follows the instructions and everything will be ok.” Her humor must have missed because Mr. Yuki just shook his head.
“I’ll make sure she does exactly what you and your grandmother tells her to. Trust me, when you get older, you have to learn to get protection in case your plans fall through.” Eva said her goodbyes and entered the shop.
She found her grandmother in the back, mixing an order already called in. “Good morning grandma, I see you’re already hard at work.”
“Well, my child, I still need to practice myself or you would be better than me in no time.” Eva noticed that Sue’s grip on the pestle was a little bit stiffer than usually.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t want me to do that for you. I mean, you look a little tired, if you want I can easily finish it for you.”Eva moved towards her grandmother.
“Don’t worry, child, I’ll finish this and there will be plenty for you to still do.” Her grandmother continued to mash the pastel around the bowl until the herb was in a powder form. Just as she said, Sue did have work for Eva, and plenty of it.
Another month came and went. Eva continued to study under her Grandmother Sue. She felt that she had learned most of what Sue had taught her, far more education than what the professors at the medical school had taught her. There were some nights, when her wall would come down after a long hard day. She would want to take a pill to make the pain that had crept into her mind go away. Those moments have rarely come recently.
Eva was in the front room dealing with a customer’s order. She was about to send her on her way when she heard a crash in the back. “Excuse me for a moment Mrs. Williams, ill just be a moment.”
She went through the back door to find her grandmother on the floor. “Grandma,” the word barely escaped her lips.
She ran over to where her grandmother was laying. She kneeled down to check if she was breathing. She got up, ran to the phone, and called 911.
Eva was too frantic to make sense to the operator. She took a deep breath and began to explain. At that moment the customer came back to see if everything was alright.
“Madam Sumerian!” She ran over bending down to make Sue feel comfortable, Eva and Mrs. Williams sat over her, holding a hand each until the ambulance arrived.
The Paramedics ensured Eva that they would get her to the hospital and offered to give her a ride as well. Eva wanted to go with them, but she knew if Sue found out she had left the shop open, she would kill her.
“I have to lock up the shop first, but I don’t want you to wait on me. I want you to get her to a doctor, I’ll be along shortly.” Eva raced back to lock up when Mrs. Williams, who had ran into the back before to help, intervened.
“Your place is beside your grandmother. Give me the keys I will lock up for you.” Eva knew she was an honest woman so she handed the keys over immediately.
“Thank you Mrs. Williams,” Eva hugged her, “Really thank you.” With that she climbed into the back of the ambulance with her grandmother.
Eva was holding onto her grandmother’s hand, in shock that this is the woman that had shown her so many things over the past few months. The door opened behind her, and Dr. Hanashi stepped into the room, holding a file.
“How is she Rick?”
He looked at the file before responding to her, “I want to say that she will be fine, it is sad when someone you’ve looked up to most of your life is lying on the bed before you, when she could have easily avoided it.” Eva could tell that he was mad.
“What happened.” She wanted to know how her grandmother could have avoided being in this state.
“A few months ago she came in for a checkup with me. It was brought to my attention that she had a mutated form of arthritis. It is somewhat rare, but there is a cure for it. She didn’t want to take it because it was made in a pharmacy.”
Eva had known something was wrong, but couldn’t figure it out. Her grandmother was stubborn when it came to taking medicine for headaches and stuff, but she never knew that she would refuse to take it, to help her live.
“Is there still time, if I get her to take, to cure her.”
Dr. Hanashi sighed, “If she starts to take them right now, there is a slight chance that it can help her, but getting her to take it is like trying to teach a rock to do tricks.”
“I know, but she is my grandmother. I don’t want to lose her yet.” She looked back to her grandmothers, her skin baked over the many years of being in the sun tending to her garden.
Sue opened her eyes, “child, why are you here and not at the shop.” Eva could tell that she was still sleepy.
She forced a smile on her face to act strong in front of her grandmother. “Don’t worry about the shop; it will be there once you get better.”
Sue closed her eyes again. “Yes, my child, it will be there. But I fear I will not return with you to it.”
Trying to fight back the tears, “There is a cure grandma, Dr. Hanashi says it is not too late if you started now, you can still be saved.” She already knew the answer before the question was out of her lips.
Sue just shook her head. “My child, I want my mind to be clear when Robert comes for me, so I can see him.” Sue slipped into a light sleep leaving Eva with her last words.
Later that night, Eva felt a hand on her shoulder. A young man was standing there, his arm squeezing her shoulder ever so slightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her,” the man turned around and headed for the door, “And she is right. You’ve got your mothers emerald eyes. But I see her spark in you.” Eva blinked and the man was gone. She turned towards her grandmother, silent, peaceful and still.
Sue’s family and friends showed up to her funeral.
“A flower that bloomed early, and stayed with us for a long time, is now gone back into the ground. In her wake, she has left us another to take her place.” One of the speakers was saying, Eva wanted to listen to him, but her eyes kept wandering over the faces in the crowd. She wanted to see if she could see that man who visited her that sad night.
“Eva,” her mother almost yelled in her ear trying to get her attention, “is there anything you would like to add about your grandmother.”
Taking in a deep breath, Eva stood up in front of all the people before her. My grandmother was a great woman. Definitely one of a kind, I have been spending almost all my time with her over the past few months.” A tear ran down the side of her face, “The only thing I wish was different, is that I spent all that time with her.”
There he is, sitting next to a young lady, in the back of the crowd. “She taught me more than just mixing herbs together to cure a rash, she showed me that with a little kindness and a lot of heart, one can touch the lives of so many. It saddens me to know she is gone… but at the same time I am happy for her,” her voice cracked a little bit, “I mean, she is with Robert again. The man who gave up his last name to join our family.” The couple in the back started to walk away, “starting tomorrow, Sumerian Herbs will open back up for business. It was her life’s work to help those who needed it.” The couple leaned into a tree and vanished. “Now that she is no longer with us, I will continue where she left off, for the ones who have yet to be helped.”
Getting up she headed to the shower, hoping that the water would clear her mind. As the cool water ran down her back, she began to think of the last few years of her life. Mostly of the mistakes she had made, including this last one, where she was kicked out of Medical School. Hooked on the same drugs that are supposed to make people better, she became somebody she didn’t want to know. She needed a change, and earlier this week she got her chance, and she didn’t want to mess it up.
Today, she is set to start helping her grandmother at her shop. Eva loved her grandmother, but she seemed a little bit off at times. Eva thinks to a time when she was young, her grandmother telling her about Fairies helping her grow some of the plants in her shop. When Eva was young, she believed her grandmother. As she got older, she believed less and less of what the lady was telling her, eventually, she stopped believing all together.
As Eva rounded the corner, the shop came into sight. Being one of the only shops on the street, it stood out. It was an old neighborhood; most of the houses had vines growing up the front of them, but they were kept in good condition.
The front of Sumerian Herbs was almost completely covered with vines and wild plant growth; it made the other shops look normal.
She went around to the back door, entering her grandmothers’ garden, and knocked to let her know she was there. Eva started to look at the plants she would be getting acquainted with over the next few months, after which she is hoping that the school will let her back in.
A flower the color of fire caught her eye, she moved closer to it, taking in the rich fragrance emitted from it. She stared at it for several minutes, when suddenly she was scared half to death by her grandmother standing right next to her.
“That’s an Apricot Sprite Agastache,” her grandmother said when Eva realized she was there. “It makes a great ointment. Though, I mainly use it for tea.” Sue bent down and pulled one of the flowers off its stem. “Come, I’ll make us a cup before I show you what you have to do.” She turned and headed back to the door.
She pulled down a kittle from the racks, filled it up with water and placed it on the stove so it would come to a boil, then reached for a bowl that contained a glass bar.
“Come over here really quick Eva dear. This is how you can grind most herbs; this is called a mortar and pestle. You just put the herbs in the bowl part, like this.” Sue put the leaves from the Agastache into the bowl. “And grind it with the pestle.” She moved the pestle around the bowl, making Eva cringe a little from the sound it made.
Eva reached into her purse to grab a notepad and her fingers bumped against something round and plastic. Pulling it out, she discovered that it was a bottle of pain killers. Her head still throbbed, one pill wouldn’t hurt anything. Eva fumbled to open the lid.
“Child, what are you doing?”
“Ah, I’ve had this splitting headache since this morning. Just want to take something to clear it up for me.”
Her grandmother reached over and took the bottle out of Eva’s hand.
“I have a rule here, no modern medicine. It clouds your mind, makes you forget what is real.” She went over to the trash can and dropped the bottle. “I can make you something to clear you head, just walk this way.”
Eva stood over the table with the knife extended ready to cut the leaf down the middle as Sue has instructed her to. “Dear, the plant won’t bite you. If you keep on hesitating before you cut, you will get more cuts on your hands.”
Eva looked down at her once beautiful hands, now covered in tiny scars from cutting herbs day after day after day. Pain comes with knowledge her grandmother kept telling her, but sometimes it seems that her hands are getting most of the knowledge, and not the kind she wanted.
The bell above the door sounded, letting Eva and her grandmother know someone had entered the shop. Sue went to answer it, leaving Eva to finish work on the herb. She heard a woman’s voice talking to her grandmother.
Eva finished cutting the herb and placed it in its container, and was about to wait for her grandmother to come back but decided to head out to the front of the shop.
She saw a woman, with two children, trying to offer money to her grandmother.
“My child, I appreciate your offer to pay me…” she put her hands on the ladies, “but, what I did was on my own choice,” she spoke softly, pushing the money away.
The little girl that was standing next to her mother ran up and hugged Sue. “Thank you, Mama, the stuff you gave my mommy helped me feel well again.”
“Anything for you my little sweetie,” she patted the girl’s head. “Your mommy was really worried about you, and you must not make your mommy worry too much over you.”
The woman looked over at Eva, “You must be the granddaughter she was talking about. You have a wonderful grandmother. Listen to what she says; you don’t meet people as good as her nowadays.” The woman handed her a card as she gathered up her children to leave, “If you ever need anything, just call me.”
Eva walked to the window to watch the woman and her children walk down the street, and wondered if she would be coming back.
“She seems like a nice lady, where did you meet her at?” she asked her grandmother.
Sue looked at the woman’s card, “It was about a week before you started working here. I met her at Rick’s office, her child was suffering from a slight cold, and I gave her the herbs to make her child feel better.”
Eva looked back at her grandmother “Was Dr. Hanashi sick?”
Sue chuckled, “No, my child, he is as fit as a steed. I just had to go in for a checkup, that’s all.”
Eva began to worry a little bit, “Is everything all right, I mean, you never go to the doctors unless it’s something big.”
“It was just a checkup, that’s all. There is nothing wrong with me.” She smiled. “From all my years of making sure you and your mother turn out right, nothing can go wrong with me.”
Eva gave a sigh of relief at her grandmothers words, she wouldn’t know what she would do if Sue died on her now. “I’m glad to hear that, I would miss you if you’re gone.”
“And I would miss you too if I pass on.” Sue walked over to Eva and put her hand on Eva’s shoulder, squeezing slightly to convey her feelings. “Now, how is the mixture doing in the back?”
Eva placed her hand on her grandmothers’, feeling the tiny fingers press against her skin, with the warmth coming from them. “It’s almost done Grandma, I just need the last bit of instructions and it will be ready for Mrs. Burton.”
“Well then, I think we better get back to work.” Eva was ushered through the door, with the question on mind still about her grandmothers’ health, but she will let it pass for now, If she notices anything she will speak with her again.
Her grandmother came into the room after a few minutes. “Now let’s see how you’ve done.” Sue walked over to where Mrs. Burton’s order was on the table.
Eva grew nervous as her grandmother looked over the ingredients laid out on the table, hoping she didn’t forget anything.
Sue nodded as she looked over the plants on the table. “Good, good. I see you remembered the gotu kola this time. Hang them out to dry so it will be ready when she gets here… also, throw in some ginseng and sage. Hopefully it will help her with her menopause.”
Eva was ecstatic, if she keeps this up, she might just forget about going back to medical school. “Thank you grandma, really.”
“Well, it looks like all the orders are done for today.” Sue sit down, “Heck, with you here, I can just watch and not have to worry about getting it all done on time.”
Eva set down next to Sue, “Now, you don’t mean that. I’m sure you can still go circles around me.” She didn’t like to hear this talk out of anyone, she knew that people get old and die, but she didn’t want to think that it might happen to her grandmother.
“Now, now child, I am old. Some days I feel as old as the mountains out there.” She pointed out the windows to the rolling hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. “Just like the mountains, though, I’m going to be rolling around for quite a while still.”
Eva smiled; her weird grandmother was growing on her every day. “I know grandma.” Eva got up and stretched her arms above her head. “It’s been a long week; would you want something to drink?”
“That would be good dear. But, for today, I’ll just have water.” Sue got up and headed upstairs to the more comfortable seats leaving Eva to get the water.
Eva soon went to join her grandmother upstairs, and upon reaching the top step, she could hear her grandmother talking to someone. Eva felt confused; she knew no one could have gotten upstairs without her noticing.
Eva knocked on her grandmother’s door, “Grandma is it alright if I come in?” She heard her grandmother mumble something, and then a click as if she was hanging up a phone.
Sue’s voice emitted from behind the door. “Yes darling. Come on in.”
She handed her grandmother the water and sat down next to her. Looking closely, Eva could see the lines of age on her grandmother’s face. It made the old lady look a little worn, but at the same time, tough.
“Do you remember that flower we drank the first day you were here my child?” Sue suddenly asked.
“Ah, yeah, the Apricot Sprite Agastache, used for ointments and tea… right?” Eva was almost certain it was this one that she was talking about but she wanted to make sure.
“Yeah, that’s the one.” Sue picked up a picture, and showed it to Eva, “That is my mother, your great grandmother. Her grandmother brought that flower over here when she came from England, and we have been growing it ever since.”
Eva knew most of the history of the family already. She still listened to it though out of respect for her grandmother.
“However, have you noticed that our last name stays the same through the generations, even though we all marry and have children?”
In her life, she has known that her last name was the same as her grandmother’s. She had never paid that much attention to it though. “Hmm… that’s odd.” Was all she could think to say, but her mind was now racing with some questions that she should have thought of when she was a child, learning about a person’s last name. “Is it not required by law to change our last name to that of the man we marry?”
Her grandmother laughed, “No child. The law is not the reason people change their last names, it is out of tradition.” She placed the picture back down on the table. “It’s been a family tradition with us not to change.” Eva frowned at the reason, this was not an answer.
“That may be true, but why do we keep it?” now that her grandmother started to talk about it, she wanted her to finish it.
Sue set back with a smile, “I see that your mind is finally clearing from the medicine. The answer is a simple one, but it can be a little confusing if your mind is clouded.” Sue took a deep breath and let it out. “Our last name, Sumerian, runs back all the way before the Romans took over England, back to our Celtic heritage. It is said that in those days, the space between what is real and what people believe is real was thinner.” Sue continued to distinguish the differences between the two reals, how most people today refused to believe that there might be something out there that science can’t explain.
Eva knew her grandmother was a little bit weird, but this talk of what is real and what people believe is real made her head ache. She might need to take a major pill tonight to get the pain to stop.
Eva was on her way in when the front door opened letting Mr. Yuki out with his wife’s medicine.
“Ah, Eve, how are you doing today?” Mr. Yuki was a close friend of Sues’, and also the family lawyer. He always came around when it was that time of the month.
"I am doing good, Mr. Yuki. I see you’ve come for your wives herbs. Make sure she follows the instructions and everything will be ok.” Her humor must have missed because Mr. Yuki just shook his head.
“I’ll make sure she does exactly what you and your grandmother tells her to. Trust me, when you get older, you have to learn to get protection in case your plans fall through.” Eva said her goodbyes and entered the shop.
She found her grandmother in the back, mixing an order already called in. “Good morning grandma, I see you’re already hard at work.”
“Well, my child, I still need to practice myself or you would be better than me in no time.” Eva noticed that Sue’s grip on the pestle was a little bit stiffer than usually.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t want me to do that for you. I mean, you look a little tired, if you want I can easily finish it for you.”Eva moved towards her grandmother.
“Don’t worry, child, I’ll finish this and there will be plenty for you to still do.” Her grandmother continued to mash the pastel around the bowl until the herb was in a powder form. Just as she said, Sue did have work for Eva, and plenty of it.
Another month came and went. Eva continued to study under her Grandmother Sue. She felt that she had learned most of what Sue had taught her, far more education than what the professors at the medical school had taught her. There were some nights, when her wall would come down after a long hard day. She would want to take a pill to make the pain that had crept into her mind go away. Those moments have rarely come recently.
Eva was in the front room dealing with a customer’s order. She was about to send her on her way when she heard a crash in the back. “Excuse me for a moment Mrs. Williams, ill just be a moment.”
She went through the back door to find her grandmother on the floor. “Grandma,” the word barely escaped her lips.
She ran over to where her grandmother was laying. She kneeled down to check if she was breathing. She got up, ran to the phone, and called 911.
Eva was too frantic to make sense to the operator. She took a deep breath and began to explain. At that moment the customer came back to see if everything was alright.
“Madam Sumerian!” She ran over bending down to make Sue feel comfortable, Eva and Mrs. Williams sat over her, holding a hand each until the ambulance arrived.
The Paramedics ensured Eva that they would get her to the hospital and offered to give her a ride as well. Eva wanted to go with them, but she knew if Sue found out she had left the shop open, she would kill her.
“I have to lock up the shop first, but I don’t want you to wait on me. I want you to get her to a doctor, I’ll be along shortly.” Eva raced back to lock up when Mrs. Williams, who had ran into the back before to help, intervened.
“Your place is beside your grandmother. Give me the keys I will lock up for you.” Eva knew she was an honest woman so she handed the keys over immediately.
“Thank you Mrs. Williams,” Eva hugged her, “Really thank you.” With that she climbed into the back of the ambulance with her grandmother.
Eva was holding onto her grandmother’s hand, in shock that this is the woman that had shown her so many things over the past few months. The door opened behind her, and Dr. Hanashi stepped into the room, holding a file.
“How is she Rick?”
He looked at the file before responding to her, “I want to say that she will be fine, it is sad when someone you’ve looked up to most of your life is lying on the bed before you, when she could have easily avoided it.” Eva could tell that he was mad.
“What happened.” She wanted to know how her grandmother could have avoided being in this state.
“A few months ago she came in for a checkup with me. It was brought to my attention that she had a mutated form of arthritis. It is somewhat rare, but there is a cure for it. She didn’t want to take it because it was made in a pharmacy.”
Eva had known something was wrong, but couldn’t figure it out. Her grandmother was stubborn when it came to taking medicine for headaches and stuff, but she never knew that she would refuse to take it, to help her live.
“Is there still time, if I get her to take, to cure her.”
Dr. Hanashi sighed, “If she starts to take them right now, there is a slight chance that it can help her, but getting her to take it is like trying to teach a rock to do tricks.”
“I know, but she is my grandmother. I don’t want to lose her yet.” She looked back to her grandmothers, her skin baked over the many years of being in the sun tending to her garden.
Sue opened her eyes, “child, why are you here and not at the shop.” Eva could tell that she was still sleepy.
She forced a smile on her face to act strong in front of her grandmother. “Don’t worry about the shop; it will be there once you get better.”
Sue closed her eyes again. “Yes, my child, it will be there. But I fear I will not return with you to it.”
Trying to fight back the tears, “There is a cure grandma, Dr. Hanashi says it is not too late if you started now, you can still be saved.” She already knew the answer before the question was out of her lips.
Sue just shook her head. “My child, I want my mind to be clear when Robert comes for me, so I can see him.” Sue slipped into a light sleep leaving Eva with her last words.
Later that night, Eva felt a hand on her shoulder. A young man was standing there, his arm squeezing her shoulder ever so slightly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her,” the man turned around and headed for the door, “And she is right. You’ve got your mothers emerald eyes. But I see her spark in you.” Eva blinked and the man was gone. She turned towards her grandmother, silent, peaceful and still.
Sue’s family and friends showed up to her funeral.
“A flower that bloomed early, and stayed with us for a long time, is now gone back into the ground. In her wake, she has left us another to take her place.” One of the speakers was saying, Eva wanted to listen to him, but her eyes kept wandering over the faces in the crowd. She wanted to see if she could see that man who visited her that sad night.
“Eva,” her mother almost yelled in her ear trying to get her attention, “is there anything you would like to add about your grandmother.”
Taking in a deep breath, Eva stood up in front of all the people before her. My grandmother was a great woman. Definitely one of a kind, I have been spending almost all my time with her over the past few months.” A tear ran down the side of her face, “The only thing I wish was different, is that I spent all that time with her.”
There he is, sitting next to a young lady, in the back of the crowd. “She taught me more than just mixing herbs together to cure a rash, she showed me that with a little kindness and a lot of heart, one can touch the lives of so many. It saddens me to know she is gone… but at the same time I am happy for her,” her voice cracked a little bit, “I mean, she is with Robert again. The man who gave up his last name to join our family.” The couple in the back started to walk away, “starting tomorrow, Sumerian Herbs will open back up for business. It was her life’s work to help those who needed it.” The couple leaned into a tree and vanished. “Now that she is no longer with us, I will continue where she left off, for the ones who have yet to be helped.”
A Nights Walk
The fog grew thicker as the man wandered into the cemetery. He had in one hand a bottle wrapped in a brown bag, and in the other a pack of cigarettes. He knew the way to where he was going, so he didn’t need to see his surroundings. He had been out here all too often after the accident. In his mind, their deaths could have been avoided.
He walked under the old willow tree that reminded him of the one parent’s yard, which brought him back to happier times of their youth. The perfect hiding spot for when they were playing hiding and seek. They would laugh after the seekers passed out of sight. The time his first love broke up with him, he hid under it until one of his brothers found him. Their shoulders he could always cry on. Back before that faithful night that split them up, before he was alone.
The cold air sliced into him, making him shiver, reminding him of that night. He remembered seeing the flashing lights of red and blue, people shouting. He saw the site he was heading for. The loud noises of the machine that was being used to pry open the door. He was standing in front of their grave now. Looking down at the two names etched into the reflective surface of the marble. Hands gently pulled him out of the car. He felt a sharp stab of pain, as something was placed against one of his wounds. He opened his mouth to shout about his brothers that were still in the car. He took a cigarette from the pack, placed it to his mouth, and lit it. “Don’t worry, you will be all right.” He heard someone say as they stuck his arm with a needle that eased the pain.
He took the cigarette from his mouth and placed it on one side of the tombstone, under the name of his younger brother, who loved to smoke any chance he could get. He woke up a few days later, his body still aching from the crash. His parents were there waiting for him to wake up. Without having to ask, he knew he was alone. He untwisted the top of the bottle, thinking back to how he could have prevented this. He knew his brothers were not in any condition to drive, if only he would have drove that night, they would still be here now. He turned up the whiskey bottle and poured it on the tombstone. After it was half empty, he placed it under the name of his elder brother. Looking down at their names, he whispered, “I miss you guys. You don’t know how much it hurts with you guys not here.” He laid down the pack of cigarettes and walked back towards the gate.
He walked under the old willow tree that reminded him of the one parent’s yard, which brought him back to happier times of their youth. The perfect hiding spot for when they were playing hiding and seek. They would laugh after the seekers passed out of sight. The time his first love broke up with him, he hid under it until one of his brothers found him. Their shoulders he could always cry on. Back before that faithful night that split them up, before he was alone.
The cold air sliced into him, making him shiver, reminding him of that night. He remembered seeing the flashing lights of red and blue, people shouting. He saw the site he was heading for. The loud noises of the machine that was being used to pry open the door. He was standing in front of their grave now. Looking down at the two names etched into the reflective surface of the marble. Hands gently pulled him out of the car. He felt a sharp stab of pain, as something was placed against one of his wounds. He opened his mouth to shout about his brothers that were still in the car. He took a cigarette from the pack, placed it to his mouth, and lit it. “Don’t worry, you will be all right.” He heard someone say as they stuck his arm with a needle that eased the pain.
He took the cigarette from his mouth and placed it on one side of the tombstone, under the name of his younger brother, who loved to smoke any chance he could get. He woke up a few days later, his body still aching from the crash. His parents were there waiting for him to wake up. Without having to ask, he knew he was alone. He untwisted the top of the bottle, thinking back to how he could have prevented this. He knew his brothers were not in any condition to drive, if only he would have drove that night, they would still be here now. He turned up the whiskey bottle and poured it on the tombstone. After it was half empty, he placed it under the name of his elder brother. Looking down at their names, he whispered, “I miss you guys. You don’t know how much it hurts with you guys not here.” He laid down the pack of cigarettes and walked back towards the gate.
My Date with a Witch
I was so nervous when I asked her; I couldn’t believe she said yes. We have been going to the same school for a few months now. I remember how all the guys looked at her when she stood up in front of the class to introduce herself. She was standing in all black, even thought it was the middle of summer. “Hello, my name is Misa, I am 22 and just moved to Indianapolis. Please to meet you all.” After a few weeks the guys started to get creped out by the way she acted. When she was around it seamed like the sun wouldn’t shine. I think that might be what attracted me to her in the first place. We started to talk a little, and became friends. She told me how she was into witchcraft; I thought ‘sure little chants and incantations, what’s wrong with that.’ When I asked her if she wanted to go see a movie Friday night, she said sure. I offered to pick her up, but she told me that she would drop by to pick me up instead.
So, here I am waiting for her and it’s about five minuets after she was supposed to be her so we can drive to the movie. I was about to call her when my doorbell rang, it startled me a little, because I didn’t hear a car or see any lights. I looked through the peak-hole in my door, to find out that someone had put their finger over the other side. I cautiously opened up the door to find her there standing in all black. But, she was different from when we were in class, this outfit seamed to fit her perfectly. “Sorry I’m late… had to avoid a murder of crows. For some reason they are mad at me, I don’t know why.” I thought it was a little strange for crows to be on the road. “So, are you ready?” I had to get my head back into the game. I am a man of few words, waiting on the right time to say anything, “Yeah.” I really wanted to say that I have been ready for days… but that might have made me sound desperate.
We headed outside, now the really strange stuff started. “Where is your car?” I had to ask because right outside of my door is the driveway, and the only car there was mine. “Car… I’m sorry, but I don’t have my Licenses so they won’t let me get a car.” I started to think to myself, ‘This is strange, she has told me that she has been to all of these places, but without…’ at that time I seen her reach beside my door and mount onto a broom. She looked at me, “Well… get on and hold onto me, we will get there in plenty of time.” I started to think that all the stuff she has told me about Witchcraft was a little more than ‘her hobby.’ ‘Sure, why not. If man can fly in a plain, why can’t a girl fly on a broom.’ I hopped on behind her. “Hmm… where is the O-Shit-Bar at?” she look back to me, reached around and grabbed my arm, pulling it smugly over her belly. “Don’t worry, I might not know how to drive a car, but I am one of the best broom riders in the world.” After I placed my other hand around her belly, “Hold on tightly now.” She kicked off. I hate to admit that I closed my eyes while we were rising into the sky. A few seconds later, “It’s ok, you can open your eyes now. we are stable.” I slowly opened up my eyes and was amazed. This had to be magic to see sparkling lights, racing across the ground, while others maintained stationary on the ground.
“So, you really are a Witch, cool.” She bused into laughter, she looked back at me, with her grin planted on her face, it was like she was a mischievous little kid, “Now, what gave me away?” now it was my turn to laugh. “I don’t know, but… I think I like it. If you want, we can fly around before the movie… or just skip the movie all together and just fly around.”
For the rest of the night, she flew me around. It was just too amazing to describe. But just like anything fun, it ended too soon. She set the broom down right outside of my door. “That was truly amazing.” I was still a little shaky from the flight so I leaned against the post on my porch. I don’t think that her smile ever left her face tonight. “Yeah, I had fun as well, and I’m glad you liked my flying.” I though that she was use to flying. but she leaned up against the post along side of me. “Can we do it again sometime?” She leaned into me and kissed me on the lips, I think a little bit of magic was still in the air, because I received a little shock. “Anytime you want, I will be ready with my broom.”
So, here I am waiting for her and it’s about five minuets after she was supposed to be her so we can drive to the movie. I was about to call her when my doorbell rang, it startled me a little, because I didn’t hear a car or see any lights. I looked through the peak-hole in my door, to find out that someone had put their finger over the other side. I cautiously opened up the door to find her there standing in all black. But, she was different from when we were in class, this outfit seamed to fit her perfectly. “Sorry I’m late… had to avoid a murder of crows. For some reason they are mad at me, I don’t know why.” I thought it was a little strange for crows to be on the road. “So, are you ready?” I had to get my head back into the game. I am a man of few words, waiting on the right time to say anything, “Yeah.” I really wanted to say that I have been ready for days… but that might have made me sound desperate.
We headed outside, now the really strange stuff started. “Where is your car?” I had to ask because right outside of my door is the driveway, and the only car there was mine. “Car… I’m sorry, but I don’t have my Licenses so they won’t let me get a car.” I started to think to myself, ‘This is strange, she has told me that she has been to all of these places, but without…’ at that time I seen her reach beside my door and mount onto a broom. She looked at me, “Well… get on and hold onto me, we will get there in plenty of time.” I started to think that all the stuff she has told me about Witchcraft was a little more than ‘her hobby.’ ‘Sure, why not. If man can fly in a plain, why can’t a girl fly on a broom.’ I hopped on behind her. “Hmm… where is the O-Shit-Bar at?” she look back to me, reached around and grabbed my arm, pulling it smugly over her belly. “Don’t worry, I might not know how to drive a car, but I am one of the best broom riders in the world.” After I placed my other hand around her belly, “Hold on tightly now.” She kicked off. I hate to admit that I closed my eyes while we were rising into the sky. A few seconds later, “It’s ok, you can open your eyes now. we are stable.” I slowly opened up my eyes and was amazed. This had to be magic to see sparkling lights, racing across the ground, while others maintained stationary on the ground.
“So, you really are a Witch, cool.” She bused into laughter, she looked back at me, with her grin planted on her face, it was like she was a mischievous little kid, “Now, what gave me away?” now it was my turn to laugh. “I don’t know, but… I think I like it. If you want, we can fly around before the movie… or just skip the movie all together and just fly around.”
For the rest of the night, she flew me around. It was just too amazing to describe. But just like anything fun, it ended too soon. She set the broom down right outside of my door. “That was truly amazing.” I was still a little shaky from the flight so I leaned against the post on my porch. I don’t think that her smile ever left her face tonight. “Yeah, I had fun as well, and I’m glad you liked my flying.” I though that she was use to flying. but she leaned up against the post along side of me. “Can we do it again sometime?” She leaned into me and kissed me on the lips, I think a little bit of magic was still in the air, because I received a little shock. “Anytime you want, I will be ready with my broom.”
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