Pack -The Beginning

by R.A Cullison

  *************************************************************

  We all were at my grandpa’s house and I was surprised to see Dolly there, but she acted like a friend only. She knew I knew and was avoiding me at every turn. I had a feeling she was ashamed, as well as she should be.

  Matt and I were in the living room waiting for my parents to show up, which was any minute. Nikki and Kyle went to pick them up at the airport. I couldn’t wait to see my mom and give my dad a huge hug.

  It was 3:30 before they got to the house. I heard the car in the driveway. I jumped up and ran out onto the porch, I could see my dad sitting in the passenger side crying. That made my heart drop. Seeing your parents crying or hurt either physical or emotional was hard. I never liked seeing my dad hurt, I knew he would be upset it was his Mom.

  I slowly walked towards him; he gave me a weak smile. I wrapped my arms around his waist and gave him a huge hug.

  “I love you dad, are you ok?” he pulled back to look at me in the face.

  “I will be fine baby girl.” he wiped a tear rolling down his cheek. He went toward the house, my mom climbed out of the back seat.

  “Hi mom.” I greeted her; she gave me a bear hug, like she always did.

  “How are things in there?” she asked looking towards the house.

  “As could be expected, need help with you bags?” I took her bag from her.

  “Thanks hon.” she put her arm around me and we walked into the house together. As soon as you stepped into the house, the sadness was overwhelming. It was a dark veil or cloud, I felt uneasy, like something was going to happen. I sat my moms’ bag down on the floor next to the coat rack. She went farther into the living room. I peeked into the living room, my dad, Uncle Roger and my grandpa where all hugging and talking. I couldn’t help but tear up seeing the men in my family so upset. My mom hugged my Aunt Lynn, they disappeared into the kitchen. Matt was sitting on the stairs. From the looks of him he felt out of place,

  I stood in front of him; he looked up and gave me a grin,

  “Do you want to go home, babe?” he shook his head no,

  “I can’t leave you when your upset.” he took my hand,

  “I’ll be ok, my parents are here now, and you can go.” he stood up, gave me a great kiss and went out the door. I went into the kitchen, my mom was cooking. She moved so easily in the kitchen almost like a ballet.

  I sat on the bar stool watching her, a few minutes later Nikki came in and sat beside me. She reached over and picked up my hand.

  “I love you Nora.” I looked at her and hugged her.

  “I love you too, Nikki, always.” we squeezed each other.

  “Nora?” my mom said my name and got my attention, “Take the pastries out of the oven for me?” he threw a potholder at me. I got up, went to the oven, opened the door and took them out. They looked and smelled so good. I sat them on the hot pad on the island. “Put that pan in the oven now.”

  I looked at the pan, “Mom, what are these?” she kept on moving.

  “Cheese puffs, your Uncle Rogers favorite.” I smiled,

  “Your so amazing, Mom.” I put them in the oven.

  “Thanks babe.” she touched my shoulder while passing me.

  The kitchen began to get warm. I stood up to leave the room,

  “Nora, take these plates to the guys in the living room , Nikki help her please.” I took grandpas and dad plate to them and Nikki had her dads. My mom and Aunt Lynn brought the drinks, Kyle brought the tv trays. I sat my dad’s plate down in front of him and he just gave me a look of like, Ugh!

  “Eat dad, you will need your strength.” he looked up at me and began to eat, so did the other guys including us.

  Nikki and I cleaned up so mom and Aunt Lynn could be with their husbands.

  I washed, Nikki rinsed and Kyle dried. Nikki handed me a plate and looked at me.

  “It’s hard to see the guys so upset and crying.” I looked at her.

  “Yeah, but she was an important woman to us all.” I began to tear up.

  11:30 everyone was going to bed to get ready for tomorrow. I called Matt to come and get me. He was eager to have me close to him again. I was sitting on the front porch swing. The streets were silent, you could actually hear the crickets. I heard the front door open, I looked. It was grandpa he seen me and smiled. He walked over and sat beside me. It was quiet for a few minutes.

  “Grandpa, I am sorry for saying you disappointed me, I feel really bad. You have done so much for me it wasn’t right to say that.” he put his hand on my leg,

  “That’s ok; I don’t blame you for saying that, I’m disappointed myself. I wish I would have thought more of your grandma then myself.” He looked down.

  “It will be ok grandpa.” He put his arm around me and pulled me towards him, I laid my head on his chest. We sat there swing, the only sound you could hear was the crickets and the swing creaking as it swung back and forth. Matt got there, he pulled up in front of the house , I smiled at him and stood up, “Matt is here, talk to you tomorrow.” I started to walk away.

  “Nora, could you please do me a favor tomorrow?” I turned and looked at him.

  “What grandpa?” he walked towards me and took my hand.

  “I need you to pick out an outfit for your grandma to wear, I don’t know what she would like but you would.” I hugged him again.

  “Sure, see you tomorrow.” I ran to the car and hopped in. Matt greeted me with a kiss.

  “I missed you, How did things go?” he put the car in drive and we headed home.

  I woke up at first light, maybe because I didn’t sleep that well. Matt was out and snoring pretty loudly maybe that’s another reason I didn’t sleep that well. I got up and walked into the kitchen, I looked around and sighed.

  “Today is going to be a rough one.” I said to myself. I walked over and started the coffee. I popped a couple of pop tarts in the toaster and waited for them to get done.

  I kept thinking of what I should pick out for my Grandma to wear. I decided to call Nikki and have her help me. I picked up my cell phone and dialed her number. It rang a few time,

  “Hello?” she sounded like I woke her up.

  “Nikki its Nora, I didn’t mean to wake you up, but I need you to help me with something.” she coughed.

  “With what?” she was hard to understand.

  “To pick out Grandma’s outfit, I would like to have your help.” my pop tarts popped.

  “Sure I will help you, call me back at like noon or something.” I chuckled

  “Ok. Love ya cuz” she said it back and we hung up.

  I poured myself some coffee, put my pop tarts on a plate and went into the living room to watch tv. Talk shows where on and some were really good.

  Noon came fast, I called Nikki, she was up and ready to go and so was I.

  Matt went to his brothers and I went to pick Nikki up. I pulled in front of the apartment building where she lived with Kyle. Luckily she was waiting by the road, smoking a cigarette. She seen me and put it out then jumped into the car,

  “So where we going first?” she asked

  “To Grandpa’s to check out her closet to see what size she wore., then to Mable Rose’s Boutique to get her something nice.” I put the car in gear and we headed down the road.

  “Sounds good, but I know what size she wore.” I looked at Nikki,

  “You do? What size?” she dug something out of her purse.

  “Size 14, I went to her bedroom last night to have some peace. I looked at her nightgown.” I sighed

  “Then to Mable Rose’s Boutique then.” I made a turn and we headed to the store.

  The store wasn’t crowded, thank goodness, I didn’t want to deal with a bunch of idiots. We walked towards the dresses, they were nice but not nice enough. Then I saw it, it was perfect. I picked it up, it was pale blue with white trim, it was perfect.

  “Nikki, I found a perfect dress.” I heard her answer behind me. I sh
owed her it.

  “Oh yes that’s beautiful! Lets get it.” she took it from me and we headed to the check out. The woman behind the register gave us both dirty looks.

  “You know this is very expensive dress?” she said to us in a snotty tone.

  “Just ring it up ok?” Nikki spat out to her.

  “55 dollars and 35 cents.” she said in more snotty tone. I handed her a hundred dollar bill, she looked at it and smugly took the marker to see if it was counterfeit. When it came back not to be she shoved it in the drawer and dropped the change in my hand. I looked at her.

  “You know, this dress is going to be on my Grandma when we bury her today. We don’t need your snotty attitude ok.” the woman looked at us both like I don’t give a shit . I wanted to punch her.

  We had to take it to the funeral home, I dreaded that. I had to do it because Nikki was a mess, as soon as she seen the building she started to cry.

  “Be right back, I have to go take this to Rev. Denny.” I got out of the car, grabbed the dress out of the backseat and walked into the building.

  It was slightly chilly in there, and smelled of roses. The music was classical, very depressing.

  “May I help you?” a woman’s voice surprised me.

  “Yes, I am Nora Treeman, I am suppose to drop off this dress for my Grandma, Vivian Treeman.” she smiled,

  “Oh yes, I will take that. I must say I knew your Grandma, she was my piano teacher for many years, I now play the organ here. I am sorry for you loss and please tell your Grandpa that I am sorry as well.” I shook her hand

  “I will and thank you .” I said. She let go of my hand.

  “Your welcome.” I watched her walk down the long narrow hall.

  I briskly walked back to the car, Nikki was leaning against the car smoking.

  “Nikki your not allowed to smoke on the property here, you can smoke in the car, lets go.” she smiled and got back into the car. We were outta there and fast, the place gave me the goose bumps.

  I dropped Nikki off at her place and headed to Grandpa’s place. I pulled up in front of the house, dreading going in. I got out of the car and went into the house, it was quiet. I was expecting my Grandma to call out my name but that wasn’t going to happen now.

  “Grandpa?” I yelled for him. No answer so I headed upstairs. I heard something from Grandpa’s bedroom, right away I knew what it was. I listen to hear who it was, right away I knew. I couldn’t believe it my Grandpa and Dolly at it again. I ran downstairs and this time I yelled louder just to make sure he heard me.

  He answered me from the kitchen. I walked in, he was walking out of the pantry with a can of coffee. I was shocked, if he was here then who was upstairs? Oh my! It was my parents, I started to laugh to myself.

  “What’s so funny?” he smiled alittle too

  “No reason, what are you doing?” I asked

  “I am gonna make some coffee and watch alittle tv, want to join me?” he sat the coffee down on the counter and started to prepare the coffee pot for some brewing.

  “Sure, I would love too.” he grinned. He looked worn out.

  “Did you get the clothes picked out for your Grandma?” he poured the water in the coffee pot.

  “Yes, me and Nikki both did it and we took it to the funeral home, it’s a real pretty dress.” I looked around the kitchen.

  “That’s good, I just cant believe 3:30 today is the funeral.” he took a big sigh.

  “Everything will be ok Grandpa, you been holding up pretty good.” I got two mugs off the shelf and handed them to him.

  We got our coffee and went into the living room to watch some tv. He found a talk show that was pretty funny. He chuckled alittle. My parents came downstairs, they were surprised to see me.

  “Nora! How long you been here?” my Dad asked.

  “About half hour, about time you two got up.” I smiled, yeah they knew I knew what they were doing up there.

  “It’s 2, don’t you think you better go get ready for the funeral?” my Mom asked me, hinting that I better get my butt going.

  “Yeah, I better go and get ready.” I stood up and took my cup into the kitchen. “I’ll see you there.” said as I darted out the front door.

  We arrived at the funeral home just alittle after 3. Matt looked good in his black suit. I was in a black dress and shoes. We walked into the room, I seen the open casket up front and my Grandma was visible. I held onto Matt’s hand and we walked towards it.

  She looked beautiful and to my surprise Nikki resembled her a lot. I had a white rose in my hand, I placed it on my beside her. I noticed several pictures inside the coffin with her. I looked closer. I could tell it was Nikki, James and myself her only grandchild.

  I stood there looking at her and crying. Matt rubbed my back and was trying to give me alittle comfort.

  “Nora?” I turned toward the voice it was my Great Aunt Sally, she was my Grandma’s sister.

  “Aunt Sally? Its great to see you.” she smiled at me and we hugged. She smelled good,

  “Your so beautiful. You turned out to be a very lovely woman.” she let go, “who is this big guy?” she said looking at Matt.

  “Oh, this is Matt Hanson, my boyfriend.” she reached up and hugged him too. He awkwardly hugged her back

  “Thanks for being here with her.” she said pulled away from the hug.

  “Oh course I love her and I wouldn’t be anywhere else but here.” she looked at me.

  “Well Nora this one is a keeper.” she patted my shoulder and walked over to my Dad.

  “Who is she?” Matt asked looking at her.

  “That is my great Aunt Sally, she’s my Grandma’s sister.” I looked up at Matt who was looking down at me. “What?” he hugged me.

  “I am here for you babe, whatever you need you let me know.” he bent down and kissed me.

  I seen Rev. Denny came in, I knew it was time. We found a seat behind my parent. My Dad turned around and looked at me.

  “How you doing, Nora bug?” he looked horrible.

  “I’m ok Dad. How are you?” he gave me a weak smile, he looked horrible.

  “Eh, I am ok, Love you pumpkin.” I saw a tear run down his face.

  “Love you too Dad.” I smiled alittle. He turned around and faced the front.

  The Pastor spoke for awhile and then he read from the bible, that’s when I started to cry hard. Matt put his arm around me. I leaned into his side , the tears just flowed. Memories of her flooded my mind. I tried to not think but I would miss her.

  It was just the family, My Grandpa, my Dad, my Mom, Nikki, James, My Uncle Roger, my Aunt Lynn and great Aunt Sally were in the room to watch them close the casket. They wouldn’t let anyone else in.

  I hugged on to Nikki as the Mortician closed the casket. My Dad turned away he began looking at me, crying really hard . Our eyes met, he was in pain, emotional pain and I didn’t know what to do to help.

  We walked out of the room, Matt was leaning against his car talking to Kyle. I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around me.

  “You’ll be ok.” he whispered into my ear.

  “I want this day over with.” he shushed me.

  “I know babe, do you want to go home?” he pulled back to look at me in the face.

  “We cant, we have to go to the cemetery.” we both sighed at the same time.

  I got into the car while Matt went and helped carry out Grandma’s casket.

  I began to tear up again, I sat there waiting for Matt. He finally got in and we followed the hurse out. There was a long line behind it.

  We arrived at the cemetery, we packed on the side of the little road behind my parents. I got out and waited for Matt to get out. He came over to my side and grabbed my hand then we walked to the barial site.

  I felt like my heart was shattering, I stood behind my Grandpa. He turned around and grabbed my hand,

  “How ya holding up, Nora-bug?” he asked.

  “So so.. How are yo
u holding up?” I asked in return

  “Surviving.” his answer was generic. Rev. Denny started. It was extremely sad, we all started crying again, Matt put his arm around me, being my support. He held me up, I felt my legs get weak and his arms got tighter around me.