Grandfather's Dance

by Patricia MacLachlan

  There were horses and wagons and cars in town. Papa parked the car in front of Dr. Sam’s office.

  Grandfather opened the door.

  “We’ll meet you at the store when you’re ready,” said Mama.

  Anna worked for Dr. Sam. Her eyes widened when she came out of the office and saw the car.

  Papa laughed.

  Anna hugged Grandfather and peered into the car.

  “How does Zeke feel about this?” she asked Papa.

  “He’s on a little holiday,” said Papa.

  “For the aunts,” said Jack, his thin voice startling everyone. And then he added what Papa was afraid he would. In a clear voice, so easy to hear, like a little bell in the wind.

  “Three old women on a dapple-gray horse.”

  That night Grandfather had to move into Jack’s bedroom to make room for all the people who would come to the wedding: the aunts, William, and Caleb—who would be home from school. Jack was very happy. He sat on his bed and watched Mama and Papa move Grandfather’s bed in.

  I carried in some shirts to Grandfather.

  “This is not forever,” Grandfather said to Jack. “You understand?”

  Jack smiled at Grandfather.

  “This is my bed, pal. And that is yours,” said Grandfather, pointing.

  “Pal,” said Jack happily.

  “All moved in?” asked Mama at the door.

  Jack looked up.

  “Pal!” he repeated.

  “Thank you for this, John,” Mama said to Grandfather. “I know this isn’t the way you’d want it to be. You look tired. Are you all right?”

  “Old,” said Grandfather, sitting down. “Older every day.”

  He took some pills out of his pocket. I knew he had gotten more pills from Dr. Sam.

  “Well, I thank you, John.”

  “You bet, Sarah,” he said.

  “You bet, Sarah,” Jack said.

  “Do you have a story today?” asked Ian.

  Ian and I rode home. It was the last day of school. We had packed up our notebooks and said good-bye to Mr. Willet. The day was warm. Summer was here.

  “Do you?” he repeated. “Have a story?”

  “I’m out of stories,” I said. “My head is busy, Ian. The aunts are coming tomorrow. The wedding is a week after.”

  Grandfather’s getting older. Older every day.

  “A happy story about a wedding would make me sleepy,” said Ian. “A hero’s wedding.”

  Ian could always make me smile.

  Prairie dogs scampered alongside the road.

  “Once there was a strong and brave prairie dog,” I said.

  Ian laughed.

  “What was his name?”

  “Monty.”

  “How brave was he?” asked Ian.

  He laid his head on my back, and I hoped he’d fall asleep soon so I wouldn’t have to make up a long story.

  “He could fly as high as the clouds. He saved lost cattle and put out fires. And once he tied up a robber.”

  “What was the robber’s name?”

  “Ian,” I said. And Ian laughed again.

  “Was he nice?”

  “Oh, yes, he was kind and good. They gave him a huge wedding party in town, and all his prairie dog friends came. There was dancing.”

  “Who did he marry?”

  “The Princess Prairie Dog.”

  “Was it a happy wedding?” asked Ian, yawning.

  “Yes. It was the best wedding in the world.”

  I reached down to pat Molly’s neck. It was warm from the sun.

  “The end,” I said.

  Molly walked on. Ian didn’t ask any more questions. Just as he had said he would, he had fallen asleep.

  That night, when I woke in the middle of the night and went downstairs to get a drink of water, I looked in Jack’s bedroom. In Grandfather’s bed was Jack, curled up like a small cat under Grandfather’s chin. Lottie and Nick slept on Jack’s bed.

  5

  The aunts wore hats.

  The car drove into the yard in the late afternoon, and the aunts got out, wearing dresses with lace trim, and stockings and hats.

  Even Aunt Lou, who Caleb told me usually wore overalls and worked with animals. She walked over to the paddock fence. Zeke and Bess and Molly came over right away so she could rub their noses. Two of the sheep came, too.

  Grandfather and I watched through the upstairs window as Mama and Jack went out for hugs and kisses.

  “The ship of aunts has arrived,” said Grandfather softly. “Aren’t you going down?”

  I nodded.

  “You’ll be nice, won’t you?” I said to him.

  “I will be as charming as a prince,” said Grandfather.

  “We’ll see,” I said.

  I left Grandfather laughing behind me. I went out to hug Aunt Harriet and Aunt Mattie and Aunt Lou.

  Aunt Harriet surprised Grandfather right away. She brought her flute, which did not impress Grandfather.

  “You don’t have to like it,” she told Grandfather when she saw the look on his face. “I didn’t bring it for you.”

  She also brought a deck of cards and invited him to play. They played many games, and Aunt Harriet beat Grandfather every time. While Aunt Mattie helped Mama with her dress for the wedding, Aunt Harriet kept winning into the night. Lamplight fell across the cards on the table long after Jack had gone to bed.

  “I’m not amused,” said Grandfather as Aunt Harriet won again.

  “That’s all right. I am,” she said.

  “Me, too,” I told her.

  Aunt Lou was up early, dressed in overalls. She and Papa sat at the table drinking coffee and having a peppy discussion. Jack sat between them, his head turning from one side to the other as they talked. I stood in the doorway, listening.

  “Why?” asked Papa.

  “I want to,” said Aunt Lou.

  “Do you have a permit to drive?” asked Papa.

  “Yes,” said Aunt Lou quickly.

  Papa smiled slightly.

  Jack smiled, too.

  “Well . . . where is it?” asked Papa.

  Aunt Lou took a deep breath and went to find her bag.

  “Good morning, Cassie,” said Papa.

  “Good morning,” I said, coming into the kitchen. Grandfather came after me, pouring coffee and sitting next to Jack.

  “Pal!” said Jack.

  “Pal,” said Grandfather, putting his hand over Jack’s hand.

  Aunt Lou handed Papa a folded piece of paper.

  “Here.”

  Papa looked at it, then at Aunt Lou.

  “This says Lou can drive, signed, Horace Bricker.”

  Aunt Lou nodded.

  “Yes, Horace taught me how to drive. That’s proof.”

  Papa’s mouth opened. He looked at me, then closed it again.

  “How about,” said Papa slowly, handing the paper back to Aunt Lou, “you drive on the tractor roads that go through the meadows. Could you do that?”

  “Oh yes!” said Aunt Lou happily. “You didn’t think I wanted to drive on the main roads, did you? With all the fools out there?”

  She tapped Grandfather on the shoulder.

  “How about it, John? Want to go driving? Past the slough and across the far meadows? We can go fast!”

  She stopped and looked at Papa.

  “We can go fast, can’t we?”

  Papa put his hands over his eyes and leaned on the table.

  Jack put his hands over his eyes and leaned on the table, too.

  * * *

  We speed across the prairie, birds scattering, prairie dogs disappearing down their holes. Grandfather sits in the front seat next to Aunt Lou. He laughs. I sit in the back.

  The slough whizzes by.

  Zeke and three cows lift their heads and watch us pass.

  Sheep scatter.

  Grandfather and Aunt Lou laugh. We drive up a hill and all I can see is the blue sky above and around us.

  I ha
ng on to a handle in front of me. I’m scared.

  And then, after a moment, I begin to laugh, too.

  * * *

  Mama, Papa, Jack, Aunt Mattie, and Aunt Harriet had gone to bed.

  Aunt Lou and Grandfather drank tea at the kitchen table.

  “That was very fast,” I said. “I’ve never gone that fast on the prairie. Except maybe galloping on a horse.”

  Aunt Lou smiled at me over her cup.

  “If I’d been writing in my journal, my dog husband would have chased the car,” I said. “I almost looked out the back window to see if he was there.”

  Aunt Lou put down her cup.

  “If he’d been chasing the car, I would have stopped for him,” she said.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  She looked at Grandfather.

  “And how did you like the ride?” she asked.

  “You’re a madwoman,” he said.

  Aunt Lou smiled.

  “I live life to the brim,” she said.

  “And a little over the top, I’d say,” said Grandfather.

  6

  The next day Jack got sick. At supper he came into the kitchen, holding Aunt Mattie’s hand, his blanket trailing behind him. He climbed up on Grandfather’s lap.

  “You want some soup, pal?” asked Grandfather. “Aunt Mattie made it.”

  Jack shook his head and leaned back against Grandfather.

  “He feels warm, Sarah,” said Aunt Mattie.

  Mama leaned over and put her lips on Jack’s forehead.

  “Oh, Jack. You are warm.”

  She picked him up and sat him on her lap. Jack buried his head in her shoulder.

  “He has a fever,” she said. “Cassie, would you get some juice, please?”

  “Not a good time for him to be sick, is it? The wedding and all,” said Papa.

  “There’s never a good time,” said Mama.

  I poured orange juice and handed it to Jack. He shook his head.

  “Come on, Jack,” said Grandfather, picking him up. “We’ll rock in the chair. We could, in fact, rock all through the wedding. They don’t need us.”

  “Sing,” said Jack.

  “I was waiting for that,” said Papa, grinning.

  Grandfather sighed.

  “Sing,” Jack said again.

  “Twinkle, twinkle, little star . . .” began Grandfather. “How I wonder . . .”

  Jack shook his head.

  “No?” said Grandfather.

  He began again.

  “Hush, little baby, don’t say a word. Papa’s going to buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don’t sing . . .”

  Jack put his hand over Grandfather’s mouth.

  The aunts laughed.

  “I know the one he wants,” I said.

  Grandfather didn’t say anything for a moment. Papa looked up. He knew, too. Grandfather had sung the song to him when he was little. Then Grandfather began his song. Jack didn’t stop him. He lay back and closed his eyes as Grandfather’s soft voice filled the kitchen. The aunts were very quiet. Aunt Mattie put down her knitting and listened. The dogs looked up.

  “Sleep, my love, and peace attend thee,

  All through the night;

  Guardian angels God will lend thee,

  All through the night.

  Soft the drowsy hours are creeping.

  Hill and dale in slumber steeping,

  I my loving vigil keeping,

  All through the night.”

  It was very quiet. And then there was a rustle at the door.

  “You sang that song when you first came, Grandfather,” said Caleb. “When Cassie found you. A long time ago.”

  We all turned.

  “Caleb!” I cried.

  Caleb put his finger to his lips so Jack wouldn’t wake. I hugged him. Mama did, too. And Papa.

  “How did you get here?” asked Mama.

  Caleb smiled as the door opened.

  “Dr. Sam gave me a ride,” said Caleb.

  “I had to come,” said Dr. Sam. “To have a look at the aunts.”

  Grandfather laughed.

  “Well, this is Harriet, and Mattie, and Lou,” said Caleb, touching each one on the shoulder.

  “How do you do? Didn’t you have sheep by those names?” Dr. Sam asked Mama.

  Mama smiled.

  “Yes, I saw Mattie the sheep just yesterday,” said Aunt Lou. “She’s a bit fat.”

  “Sam, could you have a look at Jack?” said Mama. “He’s got a fever.”

  Dr. Sam put his hand on Jack’s forehead. Jack didn’t wake.

  “He’s warm, for sure. Could be the beginnings of a cold. Make sure he has lots of water,” said Dr. Sam.

  He took his stethoscope out of his pocket and listened to Jack’s chest.

  “A little congested. Keep an eye on him. Call me if you need me.”

  He smiled at Mama.

  “Wedding is four days away. Are you ready?”

  “I am. I’ve been ready for Anna to marry your son for a long time.”

  “We’ll be family,” said Dr. Sam.

  Papa said what we all knew.

  “You’ve always been family,” he said.

  It was quiet. Then, all of a sudden, there was Jack’s clear voice.

  “Caleb’s home!” he said, making us all smile.

  Dr. Sam felt Grandfather’s forehead before he left.

  “And how are you?”

  “Tired,” said Grandfather.

  “You might catch what Jack has,” warned Dr. Sam.

  “Maybe,” said Grandfather. “Maybe I’m too old.”

  “That’s a nice car you have,” said Aunt Lou, looking out the window.

  “Would you like a ride?” asked Dr. Sam.

  “I would,” said Aunt Lou.

  “Don’t, under any circumstances, let her drive,” Grandfather whispered to Dr. Sam.

  That night Aunt Mattie gave me a box wrapped in bright paper.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “Open it,” she said. “I made it for you. There’s so much fuss for Anna that I was afraid you’d get lost.”

  Caleb put his arm around me.

  “Cassie? Cassie’s never lost. Except maybe in her head,” he said.

  In the box was a blue dress made of silk, with a lace top. It had satin ribbons braided in the lace. They flowed down across the dress.

  It was so beautiful I could only whisper.

  “I’ve never had a dress so fine,” I said softly.

  I threw my arms around Aunt Mattie.

  “Thank you so much!”

  “You will look beautiful,” said Aunt Mattie. “We will all look beautiful.”

  “I plan to,” said Aunt Harriet.

  “Me, too,” said Aunt Lou.

  “I plan to attend the wedding in my underwear,” said Grandfather.

  Jack raised his head.

  “Boppa’s underwear,” he said.

  When I wrote in my journal it was very late. Everyone had gone to bed except for Caleb and me.

  * * *

  My blue silk wedding dress flows out behind me as my dog husband and I ride Zeke across the prairie: past the sheep, Harriet and Mattie and Lou; past the slough; and past the stand of Russian olive. My ribbons fly out behind me so far that when I look back, I cannot see where they end. Like the prairie.

  * * *

  “Do you like school?” I whispered to Caleb in the upstairs hallway.

  “I love it,” he said. “But I miss you, Cassie.”

  We heard Grandfather’s voice then, so soft in the dark, singing to Jack.

  “Remember that?” asked Caleb.

  I nodded, thinking about the time so long ago when I found Grandfather behind the barn. He had come to see his old farm. And he had sung that song.

  “Some things don’t change,” Caleb said softly. “Some things.”

  * * *

  Angels watching ever round thee,

  All through the night;

&n
bsp; In my slumbers close surround thee,

  All through the night.

  * * *

  7

  The aunts began to cook for the wedding. The kitchen was filled with bowls and platters and pans. Anna came home to help, bringing more plates and silverware. Mama and Caleb and I weeded the gardens and clipped the grasses around the porch. Matthew and Maggie, Mama and Papa’s very best friends, brought chairs and tables. Their children, Rose and Violet, came too—Rose to help and Violet to see Caleb. They whispered to each other by the barn, Zeke coming over to nose them.

  “Zinnias,” said Maggie. “You always loved zinnias.”

  “You brought them to me when I first came here,” Mama said.

  “Now it’s the first wedding of any of our children,” said Maggie happily. “Anna and Justin have known each other for a long time.”

  “So have they,” said Mama with a smile, looking at Violet and Caleb.

  “Ah, the young ones,” said Maggie.

  “Too young,” said Matthew briskly.

  Maggie and Mama laughed.

  “We’ll see,” said Maggie. “We’ll see.”

  Matthew shook his head. Then everyone straightened, shading their eyes as Papa’s car came up the road, sending up little dust clouds behind it.

  I looked quickly at Mama. This was what she had been waiting for.

  Mama started running as the car turned into the yard. Papa came to a stop and William bounded out of it, lifting Mama up in his arms. William was taller than Mama, but his hair was fair like hers. His face was brown from the sun. William was out at sea every day and fished all day long. His teeth looked very white as he grinned at Mama.

  “I miss you!” cried Mama.

  “I miss you, too!” said William, his arm around Mama as they walked to the house.

  “I miss Meg, too,” said Mama.

  “So do I!” said William, and they both laughed.

  “How was the train?” asked Mama.

  “On time! I am impressed.”

  Mama introduced William to Matthew and Maggie and the girls. Caleb hugged William.