Child, Maiden, Woman, Crone
Page 4
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Child (Early Spring)
Johnny worked on the row of small stalks near the rock. Sweat poured off his face, sucked up by the ground as it dripped off his nose. This year he decided he would work the fields his grandfather gave him. He heard muffled laughter and looked up to see Manuel and James grinning.
"Are you going to hoe that row for another hour?” Manuel asked. “I think everything's okay in that particular spot by now."
Johnny leaned against the hoe and studied the ground. Manuel was right. “I've been thinking how to tell you two something.” He walked over to the rock and leaned. “Are you guys taking on extra work this year?"
Manuel shook his head. “With you sharing last year's profits, we don't have to,” he said. Johnny saw worry and doubt creep into Manuel's eyes. “Should we?"
"No, no, that's good,” Johnny said. “So did both of you put some money back for the growing season this year?” He saw their tentative nods. “Good because I'm not going to pay you a salary for working the farm."
"Pardon me?” James looked away.
"Hear me out,” Johnny said. He glanced over the fields and at the hills surrounding them. She's here, he thought. She's always here.
"My grandfather gave this land to me and I will leave it to my son one day, but the farm is another issue. That's a business and I need good partners. If you agree, I'm going to formalize what we did last year. Of course that means that you take one-third of the risk, also."
Johnny saw two mouths open in shock.
"Well?” James and Manuel agreed, still stunned. “Oh and if anything comes up, let me know. I can still advance money. We have an operating loan this year as well as crop insurance."
"Thank you, Johnny,” Manuel said. He opened his mouth, but words failed him. James nodded.
"One more thing,” Johnny said. “I want both of you to take some time off when those two babies come in April."
"Maybe a day or two,” James said. “But my wife would kill me if we left the farm in your hands for too long."
They laughed. James cocked his head at a sound in the fields. Something moved. Johnny heard it. Johnny's partners finished their business with agreeing to meet later that week. Neither wanted a signed contract, they took Johnny's word. Johnny told them that articles of incorporation would satisfy the legalities. James grabbed Manuel's arm when the sound came again, much closer than the first. The two men left.
Johnny threw the hoe in the back of the truck and grabbed the Gibson. Sitting on the rock, he played the song Natalie gave him last year, singing the new words.
A little girl came to the edge of the field as he finished the song. “That's beautiful."
"It's also a hit,” Johnny said, not looking at her. “Duane McAllister wanted to record it and I let him."
Johnny turned to her and smiled. She wore a blue dress and shirt. Her skin reflected the sunlight. She was a beautiful little girl. For a moment, an image of the maiden, woman, and the old woman superimposed on the little girl, but the vision vanished as quickly as it came.
"Hello, Natalie,” he said. “I've been waiting. You need to go see your son. He's at the house with his nanny."
The little girl giggled, but nodded. The wise eyes stared as she smiled. “Play, Johnny. Play the song again."
—THE END—
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