by Joy Redmond
He kissed Nana on the cheek and said, “We’ll see you soon.”
Brandon hugged us and said he’d see us soon, too, since he was back home to stay.
Nana, Pawpaw, and I watched from the front porch as the white pickup pull out of the driveway, and no one moved until the truck was out of sight.
Pawpaw smiled and patted my head. “I see you got all the mud off you,” he said with a chuckle.
I hugged Pawpaw and laughed with him. Then we headed back inside and Pawpaw said goodnight and headed for the bedroom.
“Night, Pawpaw. Love you,” I said.
“Night, Sweet Pea. Love you more,” Pawpaw said as he shut the bedroom door.
I turned to Nana and said, “Uncle Scott forgot his shirt so I’m going to sleep in it.” I held up the shirttail. “It smells so good.”
Nana stuck her nose to the shirt and said, “Yeah, the smell of my precious son.” Her eyes became misty. Then she said, “I don’t think he would care one bit if you slept in it, but I just might sleep in it so I can smell him, too,” she said, pulling on the tail, laughing, heading for the kitchen.
As I helped Nana clean up, we kept laughing about my adventure at the creek with the cottonmouths and crocodile.
When the kitchen was clean, we sat in the swing on the front porch. I leaned my head on Nana’s shoulder and said, “Sing songs to me like you used to do when I was little.”
I loved to hear Nana sing. At that moment, I found myself wishing I were still a little girl, sitting in her lap, and dozing off as she sang.
“Sing the song you made up about a teeny-weeny spider, I said.
“Oh, dear, I’m not sure I can remember,” she said, scratching her head.
Hold that thought,” I said, jumping up. “I want to get a piece of paper and pen so I can write it down.”
I hurried inside, grabbed Nana’s tablet she kept on the end table next to the phone and rushed back to her side. “Okay, you can sing now.”
“Teeny-Weeny Spider fell off a water spout,
He climbed up Julia’s nose and sucked her boogers out.
Out popped the sun and there was no more rain,
So Teeny-Weeny Spider ran back to find her brain.”
I laughed as if it were the first time I’d heard it. I thought Nana was so funny when she made up songs and stories. She had a flare for dramatics, too, and I could see the stories and songs unfold before my eyes. Nana sang several songs until she finally said, “I need a break, child. My voice doesn’t hold out like it used to. One of the joys of old age, I suppose.”
“I think you sing like an angel,” I said.
Nana hugged me and said, “Thank you sweetheart. All my kids and grand kids can sing, and it’s something I’m proud of.” Then she yawned. “I think I might be able to sleep tonight. It’s been such a wonderful day.”
“I think I’ll go on to bed, too. Fighting quicksand, cottonmouths, and crocodile wore me out.” We laughed and then hand-in-hand we went inside. Just as we entered the living room we could hear Pawpaw snoring all the way from the back bedroom.
Nana rolled her eyes, and said, “We both are going to need ear plugs tonight.Go brush your teeth and head on to bed. I’ll use the bathroom after you’re tucked in.”
Nana was sitting on the rollaway when I walked into my bedroom. She liked to tuck me in and say prayers, and I knew she felt about me like I felt about Baby Deer. In her heart, I’d always be her baby.
After our prayers, she kissed me goodnight and headed to the bathroom. I tucked the feather pillow under my ears and drifted off into dreamland.
THE FIRE
Although it was dark outside, I decided to visit the Deer family. John and Jane were so precious that I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible before they outgrew me and left, like their father had done. I tiptoed down the hallway hoping the old trailer floor didn’t creak and wake Nana and Pawpaw.
I took the new flashlight from the utility room and eased the back door open, careful not to let it squeak. Then I made my way across the yard, across the driveway, and headed down the dirt lane.
When I reached the bridge I noticed it was rickety. “Pawpaw needs to reinforce it before it caves in,” I mumbled.
It was the first time I had been to Deer Village since the Deer family rebuilt. I hoped I could find their house. I had walked in the woods for several minutes and was about to give up when I noticed a large black nose in the middle of a tree.
“Deer House,” I exclaimed. “I found it!”
I squeezed the nose doorbell. I waited, but I didn’t hear a sound for a long time. Then I heard a deep voice say, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Julia,” I said. “I’ve come to play with John and Jane.”
The door swung open and New Papa Deer appeared. “Come on in,” he said. “It’s awful early in the morning, but the little ones will be up as soon as the sun pops out.”
“We’re up already,” I head John say from the darkness behind New Papa Deer.
“That’s right,” said Jane. “And we’re ready to play whenever you are!”
“Well, I’ll try to keep up,” I said with a laugh. “But your papa taught me a long time ago I can’t run as fast as a deer—not even a baby deer.”
John and Jane were out the door an instant later, scampering and kicking leaves into the air, until John suddenly stopped, stuck his nose in the air, sniffed, and said, “I smell smoke!”
I sniffed, too. “Yes, it’s smoke,” I said, turning my body. “Oh, no! The forest is on fire?” I said, grabbing John and Jane by the ears. “Listen to me and do as I say. Run with all the speed you have, cross the bridge, and wait for the rest of us on the other side, okay? We’ll all be there in a minute.”
As John and Jane took off for the creek, I went back into Deer House and yelled, “There’s a fire somewhere! We need to go to the old barn where you’ll be safe. Hurry!”
“Where are the babies?” New Papa Deer asked.
Dora Doe didn’t talk people talk but at that moment I swore she understood people talk, because she wouldn’t budge until I said, “John and Jane are already across the creek. Run Dora, run.” Dora ran as fast as she could go.
Old Papa Deer and Old Mama Deer were right behind Dora Doe.
New Papa Deer ran to my side. “You can’t run fast enough. Quick, get on my back, hold on to my antlers and I’ll get you to the barn.”
I climbed on, grabbed his antlers and we were off as if we were a streak of lightning. When we got to the bridge, we saw John and Jane waiting on the opposite side of the creek.
We were all half way across the bridge, me on New Papa Deer’s back, when I hear a loud cracking sound, and then the bridge collapsed, sending us all into the cold water.
“Don’t worry, Julia,” New Papa Deer said, “Just hang on. Deer can swim, so I’ll get you across.”
I held on with all my strength, but fear was making my hands shake and I wondered if I could hold on much longer. By the time the thought had run through my mind, we were emerging from the creek on the other side.
As the grownup deer were shaking the water from their fur, Old Papa Deer said, “Julia, it looks like the glow of the fire is coming from the direction of Nana and Pawpaw’s house.”
“You’re right!” I said. “I’ve got to get there fast. New Papa Deer can you give me another ride?”
“You bet,” he said. “Get back on—and hold on tight!”
As we raced up the lane, I could hear the sounds of firefighters yelling and Cinnamon and Sugar barking.
As we drew closer, I said, “New Papa Deer, you’d better let me down here. I’ll go the rest of the way on foot. I don’t want anybody to see you.”
New Papa Deer bend down and I hoped to the ground. Then I raced across the yard—until I felt a hand grab my shoulder.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” a huge fireman asked.
“I’ve got to find my Nana and Pawpaw!” I shouted, trying desperate
ly to free myself from the iron grip.
Before he could say anything, I heard a voice from my right, saying, “We’re okay, child! Thank God, you’re safe! We couldn’t find you and we feared you were in the old house when it caught fire!” said Nana.
I ran to Nana and Pawpaw who were dressed in their robes, wrapped my arms around them, and said, “Thank God, you’re safe, too.”
“The old house was an eye sore,” Nana said, shaking her head. “But I hate to see it go for Pawpaw’s sake. He’s losing precious memories, watching them go up in flames and there’s nothing he can do about it.”
I saw Pawpaw take his red handkerchief from his back pocket and wipe his eyes. He didn’t utter a sound.
Silently we watched the flames until the firemen had the fire under control. Several times, I heard sounds like a Roman candle going off. I figured it was glass or maybe old gasoline cans, but I didn’t ask questions.
Finally the firemen decided they had done all they could, so they packed up their equipment and drove away, leaving Nana, Pawpaw, and me standing in the yard alone.
Nana patted Pawpaw’s shoulder. “I’ll go start breakfast. I’ll have everything ready when you get the chores done.”
Pawpaw nodded, turned and walked toward the barn.
“Poor man,” Nana said softly as she watched him go. “He must be hurting something awful inside. We’ll have to give him some time to sort it all out in his mind.” Then she looked down at me and said, “Do you want to help me with breakfast?”
“If’s it okay, Nana, I have a few things to do first.”
“Okay, honey. Go do your thing,” she said, ruffling my hair before turning toward the trailer.
I looked around and finally saw what I was looking for. At the corner of the barn, the entire Deer family was standing, waiting for me. I walked across the backyard, smiled, hugged them all, and let them know the danger had passed.
“Is everyone alright?” Old Mama Deer asked.
“Yes, but the old house has burned to the ground. Nothing left but ashes,” I replied.
“Well, we’re all glad the Nana and Pawpaw are okay,” said New Papa Deer.
“Me, too, I said, wiping my brow. “I was so scared back at the creek I thought I was going to drown and never find Nana and Pawpaw. Thank you for getting me here so fast.”
“No problem,” said New Papa Deer. “It’s the least I could.”
“Can we talk to Pawpaw?” Old Papa Deer asked.
“Not yet,” I said. “We have to let him be sad for a while. Why don’t you all go back home? I’ll come see you later, okay?” I said.
They all agreed and started down the dirt lane to Deer Village. Then I went into the house to help Nana.
As I walked into the kitchen, Nana said, “Boy, I’m as tired as mule after a hard day’s work in the field. As soon as Pawpaw comes in for breakfast, I think I’ll go back to bed for awhile.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said. “Do you know how the fire started? I was at Deer Village when we saw the flames and New Papa Deer gave me a ride here on his back. I had to hold on to his antlers for dear life.”
“Oh, were they here? I was so scared I didn’t see them.”
“We didn’t want anyone to see them,” I replied. “We didn’t think it would be a good idea.”
“You’re probably right,” she replied. “There was plenty going on without a family of deer in the yard, too.”
As she set dishes on the table, she continued, “I was tossing and turning because of Pawpaw’s snoring, so I got up to get a drink of water and that’s when I smelled smoke. I looked out the front window and saw the house on fire. I called the fire department, then shook Pawpaw awake.” Nana’s voice broke as she continued.
“We went outside, grabbed hoses and started watering down the trailer, just in case the wind blew the flames toward it. We sure didn’t want it to go up in blazes, too. Then you showed up much to our relief, and well, you know the rest.”
Pawpaw finally came in and sat down at the table, but not one word was said about the fire.
After we ate, Nana went back to bed. I sat at the table for a few minutes waiting for Pawpaw to say something. He didn’t seem to want to talk about it, so I said, “I’m going to Deer Village to see the deer family.”
Pawpaw just nodded.
I left the trailer and headed down the dirt lane. When I arrived at Deer Village, they all wanted to know the details, and I tried to answer all their questions the best I could. I was exhausted, too, and I found my own eyes beginning to grow heavy. I asked them if I could lie down on a pile of leaves and take a nap.
“Absolutely,” said Old Mama Deer. “And we’ll make sure the twins don’t wake you up.”
I’d never been so tired in my life. I lay down on the leaves and they were as comfortable as my rollaway at Nana’s trailer. And I could have sworn I could feel a feather pillow under my head.
THE REAL JOHN AND JANE
Suddenly I was awake, my body drenched in sweat. My room was hotter than in the summer time with no air conditioning on. I sniffed. I smelled smoke. I sat on the edge of my bed and mumbled, “Good grief. Nana must have forgotten something on the stove.”
Then I heard the sound of rain hitting the roof. I figured Nana was grabbing buckets to catch the rain, and I needed to get up and help her.
I ambled down the hallway and saw Nana was sitting at the kitchen table, sketching on a piece of paper. She had a page of my drawing paper and my color pencils in front of her. She didn’t look up when I entered the kitchen.
I looked toward the stove. Nothing was burning. I heard rain hitting the roof, but when I glanced out the window, it wasn’t raining. I was confused and wondered if I were sleepwalking.
“Nana, I smell smoke and I hear rain and nothing is burning and it isn’t raining. What’s going on?”
Nana stopped drawing, and when she looked up, I could see that her eyes were red and swollen. She just stared as if she couldn’t form words.
Then I saw Pawpaw walk past the kitchen window, holding a garden hose in his hand.
“What is going on?” I asked again, heading for the back door.
What I saw as I walked down the steps took my breath away. The old house was a pile of smoldering ashes.
I ran back into the kitchen. “Nana, the old house burned down! I knew I smelled smoke, but I thought I was dreaming. And I saw the house—”
“Yes, honey,” she interrupted. “It burned to the ground last night. There’s nothing left. I’m thankful you slept through it. It was a terrible sight.”
I sat in a chair beside Nana, reached for her hand, and said, “I did see it. I saw the whole thing in a dream! Have you ever done that?”
“No, I only see what’s going to happen,” she answered, patting my hand. “I do believe you are a Dreamer, for sure. She wiped her tired eyes and said, “Speaking of premonitions, I had one after the fire. I finally collapsed into bed and fell into such a deep sleep, I think I was in a coma.” She slid the drawing she was so diligently working on in front of me.
“I looked at the picture. I had no idea my nana was an artist, but the picture was done with such perspective it looked as if I could have opened the doors and windows of a perfect, beautiful house.
“Were you so nervous you had to start drawing and coloring to keep yourself from going crazy?” I asked.
“Well, it did help my nerves, but I dreamed I saw this house as plain as day,” she said, tapping her index finger on the picture. “I had to get it on paper before I forgot what the angels showed me. I saw every wall and every room in it, and I touched every piece of furniture. I sat on a beautiful sectional couch, the kind I’ve wanted for years. And there was a round coffee table with a glass top in front of the couch, the kind I’ve wanted for years.”
“Do you really think it was a premonition, or just a wishful dream? My talking Deer family was so real to me, I still think I’m going to find them—but I know I won’t.” I pic
ked up the picture. “Wow. If you get this house, it’ll be a miracle. I sure hope it all comes true.”
“It will come true. Pawpaw confirmed it,” she said, smiling.
“What do you mean?”
“He finally came inside for a cup of coffee after being up all night with the water hose, poking the ashes of the old house, watering in case some hot spots started a fire again. He’d had plenty of hours to think,” Nana said, sliding the picture back under her hands.
“Anyway, I got him to finally talk and he said he had been studying all night as he walked around the old house, and he said he was going to take a tragedy and make a blessing out of it. He checked his insurance policies and discovered the old house is still insured. He said we won’t get much, but it will be a big help. And this is the part I couldn’t believe my ears when it said it.”
I was spellbound. “What part? What else did he say?” I asked.
“He said he was going to sell the two old tractors and the old combine and a bunch of old farm machinery. He has four sheds full of old stuff that was used when his grandpa had a blacksmith shop. Antique dealers will pay a mint to get their hands on all that stuff. The whole back yard and barnyard has piles of scrap metal, and he said he could get a good price for it, too.”
“Oh, my,” I said, thinking my grandparents were going to get rich.
Nana continued. “He’s going to use the money to buy the supplies he needs to build. Pawpaw is a carpenter and he’s built a lot of houses for people, so he said it was time he built one for us after all these years.”
“Pawpaw is going to build you a new house? Where? When?” I asked, my heart racing.
“He’s going to build it where the old house was. We’ll have to clean up the mess, but once that’s done, we’ll start on the new house.”
I picked up the picture again. “It’s beautiful, Nana, I can’t wait to see it when it gets built,” I said happily. “I want to run through every room, touch every wall, and sit on your new furniture.”
“Well, it’ll be awhile yet, but we’ll get there,” she said with a broad smile. She picked up the picture, running her hand across it. “This is what it’s going to look like—just like in the dream.”