While I am in the process of writing the other part of this series, Forrest suggested for me to post the first 'installment' on here. What a great idea! Thank you for thinking for me, Forrest!
* Just a note to everyone: This is a fictional story. Hope you enjoy! (Also, I may change the last paragraph to fit the series later on).
Hummingbirds
By:
Jesse McKenzie Jr.
Mother Nature is
gleaming today. The vibrant colors flow
harmoniously; the rainbow is encircling the mountain. The
trees are back to life and the grass full with patches of blooms reaching for
the heavens. Birds sing praise of the
new beginning. Deer, moose, and bears
roam freely through the dense forests and feed upon the bounty. Spring returns and what a welcome it is
after a brutal, long winter. The melting
snow is heard rushing along the slopes and finding their way to new
ground. Life has returned once again.
Ethan
is inhaling the fresh air, as if it was the first time, and closes his eyes to
completely consume the surroundings. A
blaring horn wakes him from his nature meditation. For a moment, this slim, average height, 29
year old man experienced life and all of its gifts. But that moment has passed, and he is
reminded of the convenience store on the busy rural route – the only one for
miles – he just exited. The smell of
gasoline returns to his nostrils and makes him appreciate nature even
more. Ethan takes a breath; trying to
recapture the forbidden essences. Unable
to, he walks back to his brand new Camaro, and drives off.
He is traveling to see
his grandmother, Ellie, which he has not seen in many months, mostly because of
the weather and where she lives. It is
not a simple drive, nor is it a comfortable one. The only road to her house is not supported
by the city; therefore, it is not maintained as properly as it should be. The dirt is loose on dry days, but springtime
and winter wreak havoc on the flatness.
Once a year – if the city is feeling generous – a truck will take a
quick sweep and grate it, which sometimes only makes it worse. After a rainfall, the road will shake a
vehicle violently; slower speed increases the roughness on the car and
occupants. Though, speeding is not
recommended either. First, it is law to
remain around the noted limit, and second, it is wise to take caution in the
countryside. Wild animals can leap out
of the forest’s tree line, which is almost on the narrow road on either side,
at any given time. The other reason is
because his time is consumed on work and school.
His excitement to see
Ellie is impossible to contain. The
smile is permanently fixed on his lips as he drives on the paved road; the last
portion of pavement before the horrendous road ahead. Ellie has not refrained from telling every
person that Ethan is her favorite, including family members, since his
birth. They have always had a special
bond; a natural bond that no one can discourage or remove. The absence has only strengthened their
connection, but he wishes he could see her more often. All he can do is promise himself that he will
visit more frequently after graduation and secure a decent job.
His thoughts are rudely
interrupted when the car’s tires strike the country road. He slows down enough to avoid the vicious,
unforgiving road. He cannot contain the
thoughts as he drives on the endless path.
He begins to think about other people’s views about this torturous road,
and how he has heard people say that they have ran off the road into the close
ditch, an animal jumped out in front of them without any time to react, or the
fact that the road is not pleasant. All
negative things, he thinks. How could
they all think of it like that? How
could something so beautiful and magnificent be so demonized? Yes, the road is not the best, but all he
could think of was that his destination was more important than bumps in the
road.
Ethan realized he was
coming up on a corner that needed every ounce of his attention. The corner was sharp and barely enough room
for one car, so he had to be extra cautious.
Though he could not help but think of how close he was to Ellie’s
now. Just a couple more miles and he
would turn another corner, and then the log cabin would be visible. His thoughts are racing, but he wanted to
arrive in one piece. He had to commit
full awareness to the road. He was
almost there!
The final mile was the
most difficult, and most boring. Either
side of the road consisted of small corn fields. Nothing to look at but corn stalks. During this time of year it is even more tedious
because the corn seeds have not been planted yet. Fresh weeds cover much of the fields, for
now, that is, until the farmer tills it again.
The beauty still surrounds the edges of the corn fields, “Maybe the
farmer wanted to retain the natural beauty while having the ability to plant,”
Ethan thought.
The last corner was
rapidly approaching, and then he would be able to see the log cabin. His grandparents built it just after they
were married. Ellie’s father owned a
lumber mill, which he provided the wood for the young couple’s house. All they had to do was buy the land. They saved for many years prior, and with
good fortune and cheap land rates at the time, were able to obtain a vast
amount of acres just below a mountain in New Hampshire. Their backyard was the slope of the mountain;
a breathtaking scene. They both fell in
love with the area, even though it was miles outside of any town. However, the neighbors were few and far in
between; the closest one living two miles away.
They wanted privacy and they definitely achieved that goal.
Unfortunately, Ethan’s
grandfather, William, passed away a decade previously, so he was not privileged
with his presence any longer. Ellie
refused to give up the house or the land because she has lived there for almost
a half a century, and the memories of her husband and their offspring’s’
childhood remained. A mother cannot let
go of something easily when it involves the people she loves the most.
The house did need some
work and her two boys, now men, did all they could to help out. The things they could not help with, such as
plumbing and electrical, they helped by paying a professional to come to the
house and fix it for her. She lived in a
small town – everyone knows each other, and they know all the gossip – and many
times the professionals would only charge half price because they know Ellie
and they knew and respected William.
Nonetheless, the house was superb.
Five bedrooms, moderate in size, one for each child and one for Ellie
and William; one large living room, which housed the massive television and
wall unit along with the furniture and decor; one average sized bathroom,
covered in blue and white tiles with a marble floor and white fixtures; and an
enormous kitchen, which contained two large mammoth windows facing the
driveway. Ellie would sit at the table
in front of the windows and stare out the window for hours while playing cards
– mostly solitaire – when she was not cooking or cleaning. “She did most of her thinking and reminiscing
looking out that window,” Ethan thought as he recalled watching her in previous
visits.
“Finally!” he exclaimed
loudly as he turned the corner viewing the house. He had arrived. The driveway was pretty long considering it
was at the base of a mountain, slightly sloping uphill; following the motion of
the landscape. The driveway is like most
of the trip, rough and bumpy because it is not paved, instead of dirt though,
it is gravel, which is better than the dirt during the wet season.
Grammy, as Ethan called
her, was waving at the kitchen window, and just as he shut the car door she was
opening the front door to greet him. He
always laughed to himself when he saw her.
She is a stout woman of 79, and Irish heritage that were clearly visible
by the flames upon her head. A sweet,
caring woman but do not cross her or get on her bad side in any fashion. She might be gentle and extend her heart, but
once offended or maddened and her voice deepens to a stern discipline. Ellie is not a violent person; though, her children
would run when they tested her limits.
Her slap across the face, when provoked, would leave an emotional scar,
but trained the person to think twice the next time. She never hit or used the stern voice with
Ethan because she did not need to – he respected her and demonstrated that
respect – and because he is her favorite.
She held out her arms,
her smile as big as the mountain in the background, and she pulled Ethan in
close. The hug lasted about a minute,
but to the both of them it lasted a lifetime.
Her first born grandson had returned.
Some say that is the reason for her favoritism toward Ethan, he was the
first born male from her eldest male child.
The reason did not matter to Ethan.
He loved her just as much because in secret she was his favorite
grandparent. She always had dessert or
freshly cooked food waiting for him when he arrived, and this day was no
different. He could smell the apple pie
aroma flowing out the window and through the air, as if the fragrance was meant
for his nose only. Ellie, the smell of
the pie, and the scenery struck him in the heart; he was once again home.
Ellie and Ethan went
inside to the kitchen and sat at the table.
She usually waited a few minutes before offering the ‘surprise food’, so
he could relax from the long trip from halfway across state. They expressed the delayed time between
visits, but were grateful the chance had arrived and life had permitted the
visit. Ethan told Ellie about his
accomplishments and daily routines first, and then it was Ellie’s turn. While talking Ellie stood up and brought the
pie to the table. Ethan closed his eyes
and inhaled the scent of apples; cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter fill his insides. His body felt the warm cooking life fill his
heart. She cut him a piece, as well as
one for her, and sat back down while they enjoyed the scenery, pie, and each
other’s company.
Ellie pushed her plate
to one side and asked while she pointed out the window, “Do you know what kind
of birdfeeder that is, Ethan?”
“I believe it is a
hummingbird feeder, Grammy, correct?”
“Yes. Do you know why I have so many hanging from
that tree and the edge of the house?”
“No, why do you?”
“Hummingbirds are my
favorite bird. They are colorful and
light as a feather. They fly around in
such grace. I would love for once to
have one land on my palm. They are such
beautiful creatures. Free and wild at
the same time,” she said in a low, calm voice as she dreamed out the window. “I sit and watch them all day long, or so it
seems sometimes.”
“They are precious,
Grammy.”
She said nothing more
for a few minutes, just dazed out the window watching those small birds come
and go, while she smiled. Suddenly, her
expression changed to sadness; a worrisome look overcame her lovely face. Her eyes drooped, and her eyes closed.
“Grammy, are you
alright?”
“Ethan, there is
something I have to tell you. It is
something you are not going to like, but I want you to listen to me and
understand,” she softly demanded and hoped.
“Of course, Grammy,
whatever it is.”
Looking at him and
forcing a smile she continues, “I was having pains in my abdominal area. The pain was too unbearable to ignore, so I
finally, after a while of procrastinating, went to the doctor. They ran some tests and I have the results
that I know you will not fully accept.”
“Grammy, what did he
find?” asked Ethan. The intense
conversation is stiffening his muscles and brain and panic filling his
heart.
She paused and looked
out the window again as tears welled up in her eyes. Without looking back at her grandson –
refusing to see his desperation – her eyes lingered outside the window. “He thought it might be one of my kidneys, so
they did an ultrasound. The right side
was fine, but the left,” she paused to collect herself because she did not want
to lose control of her sadness in front of him.
Ethan always saw her as a strong individual. One that could handle any obstacle that faced
her. She has been through so much
already; the loss of her true love and two cases of cancer: both times breast
cancer. After a few moments, she began
again where she left off, “The left kidney could not be found.”
Puzzled, Ethan asked,
“What do you mean it could not be found?
Did you have it removed when you were younger?”
“No, and what I mean is
they could not see it. It was there, but
it was hidden. The cancer had completely
covered it.”
Devastation filled
Ethan’s entire body, not just his heart this time. He wanted to fall to the floor in defeat, but
he could not react this way in front of Grammy.
Besides, she had conquered cancer twice before. She is a tough woman, and she will conquer it
again. “What are your options? What did the doctor say can be done? Is there a treatment available?”
“Hold on, Ethan. I am not done,” she insisted looking back at
him.
“Sorry.”
She forced another
smile to let him know she accepted and understood. “The doctor told me of two options, but I
have come to a decision.”
“Okay,” Ethan stated
while listening carefully.
“I have been through
the treatment twice before. My body and
mind are not willing to go through that experience anymore. I have given this a lot of thought and I am
refusing the treatment.”
Ethan sank in the
chair, his heart crashed through the floor, and despair entered without an
invitation. His eyes felt pain as he sat
there listening to her situation. He
tried with all his might to suppress the emotions, but the pain was more
forceful than anything he had witnessed before.
He wanted to bust out in a crying rage, but he knew that was not the
time. He had to be strong for
Grammy. He had to listen.
“I have known the
diagnosis for a couple months. I did not
want to tell you over the phone and I did not want to give you a notion that
something was wrong. I did not want you to
travel with the questions taking over your mind, and hinder your concentration
on that long drive. I knew that calling
you and inviting you here out of the blue would be enough for you to know that
I wanted to see you,” Ellie explained.
The only words Ethan
could pour out of his mouth without sobbing or show his anger toward life were,
“Thank you.”
She nodded her head and
looked out the window for a second, and then back at Ethan. “I have lived a marvelous life, Ethan. I found and married my true love, had four
wonderful children, and multiple grandchildren.
It is not a secret that you are my favorite grandchild. Do you know why you are my favorite?”
Fighting the tears with
every ounce of energy Ethan had left, he answered, “Not really, Grammy. I assume, and heard, it was because I was the
first male grandchild born.”
She smiled and
responded, “That is part of the reason, yes.
There is another reason though.
When I first met you after you were brought into this world, I saw
goodness in you that I knew would last a lifetime. You were innocent and fragile. Somehow I knew that would always stay inside
you, would grow from that, learn from it, and be special.”
Ethan’s ability to hide
his emotions diminished after hearing what his grandmother expressed. He bowed his head and the tears flooded his
cheeks. He was not sobbing, but the
tears would not stop. The damn had
broken and nothing was going to stop the flow.
He just sat there with his head bowed and let the tears run like a faucet
down his pale cheeks.
Ellie watched out the
window as she tried to focus on the hummingbirds to prevent her from the same
reaction. She knew he had to allow the
emotion to free itself because it would do no good keeping it inside;
festering.
Minutes passed before
Ethan regained control. Wiping his eyes
with a tissue, he said, “I love you, Grammy.”
The only thing she
could do was stand up, walk over, and hug him for comfort. Not only to comfort him, but to comfort her
as well. They both needed a hug at this
point. The information was
overwhelming.
After a few minutes, she
went back to the other side of the table where she was sitting before. The both stared out the window focusing on
the tiny hummingbirds floating on air just outside the feeders. Then, without warning, Ellie stood up and
walked into her bedroom, which was down the long hallway. Upon returning, she held a book in her hand
and handed it to Ethan.
“Open to page 7. There you will find more information than I
could give you about my father. I can
tell you about him as a father, but that chapter describes him as a
businessman,” she informed.
Ethan took the book in
his hands and opened up to the page. It
described Fred – Ethan’s great grandfather – as a wise man of business. He owned a lumber mill and a paper factory,
which his grandfather built with his bare hands, and has passed through the
generations of the family. However,
halfway through Fred’s life, the economy and times had changed. Both the lumber mill and the paper factory
closed. There were more pages about
Fred, but Ethan’s mind was preoccupied with Grammy. “Grammy, why,” Ethan started to ask then
composed himself and continued, “Why have you not told anyone before now? Why did you choose me?”
“You are the only one
in the family who is going to know about the personal aspects of your other family;
my side. I have not discussed it with
any other. I have heard others assuming
my family is evil because of not discussing it.
They think I do not talk about my family because there is something to
hide; something I do not wish to remember.
That is not true. I have always
held my family close to my heart. They
are sacred to me, as you are. Until now,
I have not wanted to share it with anyone.
I choose to share it with you. I
want you to know where you come from, how special you truly are, and how much
you mean to me. You are very smart, even though you do not realize how smart
you are. You are in school for
English. Whatever you choose to do with
the information is up to you. I do not
want the secrecy anymore. You come from
a good, smart, and loving family that I wish you had the chance to meet. Both my parents died before you were old
enough to remember them. My mother, Louise,
was strict but she did everything she could for us. Whenever we needed clothes, she would sew
them; she was frugal and used every opportunity to save as much as she
could. It helped in later years when the
factory and mill closed. My father was a
respected man in town. He helped any who
needed it. If he could not help
financially, he would help as best he could in other ways. My brother, well, he was as much a handful as
I was. We tried mother’s patience more
times than I care to admit. However, my
brother and I never got into trouble with the law. We were troublemakers, but not law
breakers. We were good kids for the most
part.”
Ethan tried to remember
each and every detail she told him that day.
She told him all about the family and the legacy they left, or tried to
leave to the future family members. The
closing of the mill and factory was not a positive occurrence to leave for the
future, but it did last four generations.
Some may think it is a failure, but Ethan always thought of it as a
triumph. During his research, he
discovered that his family succeeded long after other mills and factories
sealed their doors. The legacy lives on
in the historical society museum. No
person could be more proud of his heritage.
The following year,
Grammy passed away, but Ethan spent as much time as he could with her during
that final year. Listening to her
stories, watching out the window at the hummingbirds, and laughing any chance
they could. It was difficult toward the
end because she was on morphine and was not coherent most of the time. Ethan saw a different side of her that he
never thought possible, but he still remembers her as the resilient, fun,
loving grandmother he had always admired.
That year changed his
life. He had a new found respect for a
family he never knew. He acted upon
Grammy’s wishes pertaining to her family information. He wrote a book detailing each event,
success, and each failure. The last
chapter focused on the inspiration for the book; Grammy and the hummingbirds.
