“If you both behave yourselves, I’ll take you there,” she added, checking her hair in the rear-view mirror.
“Where?” Jon asked.
“The library,” she replied. Jon slumped back in his seat and groaned.
Sarah leaned over to Jon. “I thought she was going to say TwoSpells too.”
They piled out of the car, stretched and started up the driveway. Sarah examined the old farmhouse. It had a broad sloped roof with elaborate wood trim that bordered the eaves. Twin elm trees towered in the front, one supporting a two-seater swing swaying in the breeze. About a hundred yards away was a massive rustic barn painted a deep green among a set of red silos. Brown-orange rust trailed down their sides, looking as if they hadn’t been used in decades. Apple and olive trees bordered the home on one side and the other had a well manicured vegetable garden. Several chickens darted between the buildings, chased by an obnoxious rooster.
“I don’t know why we couldn’t have just stayed home,” Sarah said. “I’m almost thirteen. I could’ve taken care of Jon.”
“Taken care of me?” Jon protested. “I’m older than you!”
Sarah scoffed. “By two minutes…”
“Still counts!” he called as he ran up to the front porch.
Their mom ran her fingers through Sarah’s hair. “It’s only for the summer, Sweetheart. You’ll have a great time.”
Sarah hoped so.
CHAPTER 4
“IT BE A’ FINE DAY!” Grandpa called with a wave.
Sarah and Jon waved back while Percy gritted his teeth. “Kids, please don’t embarrass us.”
“Don’t ya’ worry old chap!” Sarah said.
“That’s pretty lame,” Percy said, glaring at Sarah. He turned to Jon. “You too.”
“I didn’t even do anything!” Jon protested.
“Yet.”
Jon smirked. “Righto, mate.”
As they approached, Grandma and Grandpa rose from their rockers. They couldn’t have been more than a hundred pounds each, thin and wispy like the branches of a willow. Grandpa grabbed his walking stick and hobbled toward them and Grandma dropped her knitting into the wire basket of a walker. She followed a few steps behind, the wheels squeaking loudly.
“Cheerio, Pappy!” Percy said enthusiastically. He walked with a slight limp from their strange encounter, one boot oozing mud up the steps.
Sarah leaned toward her mom’s ear. “And he was worried about us embarrassing him.”
“Good ta’ see ya’, Percy old man,” Grandpa said, glancing down at the leaking boot.
Percy shook his hand firmly and then hugged Grandma. “You look as beautiful as ever, Cassie.”
“Ya’ tell a mean porkie lad, but I do fancy ya’ tryin’!” she laughed, pinching his cheek.
Grandma rolled over to Sarah’s mom and gave her a huge hug. “And how’s me babe? Ya’ look fit as a fiddle, if I don’t say!”
“I’m fine Mom. You remember Sarah, don’t you?” she asked, nudging Sarah forward. “She’s excited to be here. Aren’t you, Sarah?”
Sarah barely took her eyes off of her phone, her thumbs moving rapidly over the screen. She blushed and nodded. “Yep. Sure am.”
“Say hello to your Grandma,” her mother urged her with another nudge.
“Hello, Grandma,” Sarah mumbled shyly. Her grandmother hugged her and then kissed her forehead.
“I haven't seen the wee lass since she was yea high,” Grandma said, holding her hand as far down as she could get it without toppling over. “The spittin’ image of ya’ mum now, aren’t ya’ lass? Sun kissed skin, slim as a string bean and all of four foot nothin’. Oh, but ya’ certainly have your father’s eye—”
“You remember Grandpa too, of course!” Sarah’s mother interrupted, wheeling her around to greet him.
“Hi Grandpa,” Sarah mumbled. “It’s a pleasure seeing you again.”
“Blimey! So serious. The pleasure’s all mine!” Grandpa exclaimed. “You're in need of plumpin’ up.” He prodded her in the stomach with his walking stick. “We’ll see to that!”
Sarah bowed her head, embarrassed.
“But all grown up now. Isn’t she beautiful, Dad?” her mother asked, squeezing Sarah’s cheeks with one hand and making her lips pucker up.
“Aye for sure! I thought ya’ was Miss America.” Grandpa beamed. “I’ll hafta’ break out the fine china if ya’ fancy it.”
Sarah blushed and backed away, toying with her phone again. Her mother pulled Jon forward, lifting his chin so his grandparents could see his face. “Mom you remember Jon, isn’t he handsome.”
“Aye. The apple didn’t fall far from the orchard,” Grandma said with a wrinkled smile, stooping for a hug but wincing. “Your mum forgot your bib did she, bless your heart, ya’ poor filthy child.”
Jon looked down at his stained shirt and laughed. Grandma eased down and snatched him by the ears, planting a big kiss on his forehead. “Blimey I forgot ya’ got those eyes too, don’t ya’. I’ve only seen them once before…”
Grandpa swatted Jon on the backend with his walking stick. “So you’re the elder brother then?”
Jon tilted his head upwards, grinning. “By two minutes!”
“Aye an’ those two minutes’ll come in handy someday,” Grandpa said with a chuckle as he looked Jon up and down. “Ah fine collection of disgustin’ blotches ya’ got there lad. Since ya’ like gettin’ dirty, ya’ can help around the farm.”
Jon shrank away from them, his brow knit in horror.
“He’d love to,” their mother volunteered him. “He could use the fresh air and hard work.”
“A bit peefy in the muscles department, but he’ll do fine enough,” Grandpa said, squeezing Jon’s arm.
Percy pointed across the yard. “Grandpa, who’s that fella over there by the barn?”
Grandpa turned to see, bending at the waist and squinting slightly. He pulled a set of glasses from his pocket and put them on. “Oh! He be the handyman. Ah’ fine bloke he is. Fixes the disrepairs and such.”
“He looks a bit dodgy,” Sarah’s mom said.
“Oh don’t ya worry none,” Grandma said. “He’s as harmless as a wee kitten.”
Grandpa took Percy by the arm. “How was the motor over?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Percy answered, shooting Sarah’s mother a sideways glance.
Her mom waved a hand and scowled, but Grandma and Grandpa noticed her reluctance. She shook her head and let Percy talk. For the next few minutes, he gesticulated wildly in the air and recounted in great detail the entire crazy trip over. When he was finished, he pulled the claw he’d found from his pocket.
“Quite the prize ya’ got there,” Grandpa said, adjusting his glasses. “Would hate ta’ meet the beast that lost it.”
“An ya’ say he nicked ya’?” Grandma asked, eyeing the back of Percy’s neck.
“I didn’t say—” Percy started, craning his head in an attempt to see what she was looking at.
“She’s right, Percy. You have a gash on the back of your neck.” Sarah’s mother leaned in close to inspect it. “We need to get you to a doctor. It might have had rabies.”
“Mom, you’re a doctor,” Jon chimed in.
She turned around and frowned at Jon. “I’m not that kind of doctor.”
“I feel fine,” Percy said, feeling at his neck and wiping his bloodied hand on his trousers. “I’ve picked up far worse on a journey I took some years back searching for the source of the Nile River…”
“Nonsense child, let me fetch a scrubber,” Grandma said, leading him into the house. “I’ll patch ya’ up pronto.”
“Percy ya’ got ta’ be careful. Some of the mutts in these parts are a might savage,” Grandpa explained, following them to the door. “Had ta’ run some of them off me estate ya’ know.”
Grandma led Percy inside and when he returned, he had a large bandage on the nape of his neck. Dangling at his chest was a brown leather bag o
f some kind with a silver chain. It smelled terrible.
“Is Percy going to be all right?” Sarah whispered to her mother.
She shrugged. “He loves being the center of attention. Don’t let him fool you. He’ll play this up as far as it’ll take him.”
Percy sneezed into his hand and let Grandma continue tending him.
Grandpa shooed the three of them away from Percy. “No more time to dawdle. Pip-pip! There be three rooms. First come first served. Be on your way now. Unpack your things so ya’ can romp about.”
After unloading their luggage, Sarah’s mom took Percy on a tour of the farmyard, leaving Sarah and Jon with their grandparents. As they headed into the house, Grandma paused for a moment and reached into the basket on her walker, digging deep under several balls of colored yarn.
“I almost forgot! I made each of ya’ tots a present,” Grandma said, handing each of them a small gift wrapped box.
Sarah opened her box first, gently tearing back the wrapping paper to reveal a tiny tin. She popped the lid and gently removed a thin layer of scented tissue paper. Inside lay a beautiful handkerchief with her name and two angels embroidered on it, one green and one blue.
“It’s wonderful. You made this?”
“Aye. I did,” Grandma said. She waved her hands toward Jon. “Open yours now. Go on.”
Jon tore his tin open and dumped the contents into his upturned palm. His handkerchief tumbled draped over his wrist, embroidered with a two headed dragon—one breathing fire and the other ice.
“Awesome!” he said, flapping it in the air and rolling his eyes. “I love it!”
He pretended to blow his nose in it and Grandpa chuckled.
Across the farmyard, Sarah noticed the lanky handyman limping between the shed and barn. “What’s wrong with his leg?” she asked her grandmother.
“Lost his leg and his babes in a terrible fishin’ accident,” Grandma replied, gesturing to the man. “But he can still handle the repairin’ and the tendin’ of the animals.”
A large brown dog lumbered out from behind the barn to join the handyman as he leaned against a stone wall, smoking a cigar. Sweet cherry smoke wafted across the yard.
“What kind of dog is that?” Jon asked.
“A Mastiff,” Grandpa said. “And ya’ best stay away from it.”
Grandma grinned. “Don’t ya’ listen to him. Child, do ya’ need the loo?”
Sarah was shifting from one foot to the other, clutching her new handkerchief. She hadn’t gone to the bathroom since they’d landed at the airport.
“Right around the corner, next ta’ the electrical light switches,” Grandma said, pointing. She waved her away. “Go, hurry now before you make a mess of me porch!”
Sarah trotted through the front door and found the bathroom. Her fingers swept the doorknob for a lock, but found there wasn’t one. She poked her head out the door. “Excuse me! There’s no lock on the bathroom door!”
Grandma, Grandpa and Jon had followed her into the house and now stood in the den peering back at her. Grandma shook her head. “Pappy I told ya’ Clyde needs to fix the lock. The young lass needs her privacy.”
“Blimey,” Grandpa mumbled. “I don’t need a lock.”
“No one wants ta’ see your saggy old bits and baubles!” Grandma spat.
“Um, is anybody listening?” Sarah whined. “I really have to go!”
“Go on for now and do your business, lass,” Grandma sighed. She turned to Grandpa and shot him an icy glare. “Ya’ won’t be bothered by any of us. I promise.”
After finishing up in the bathroom, Sarah joined the rest of the family in the den. While Jon entertained her grandparents with his terrible attempt at a Welsh accent, she quietly examined the old photographs hanging on the wall. The photos were yellowed and dusty and of people she didn’t know. They were family, maybe—distant aunts and uncles and cousins.
She paused at a photograph of a bride and groom. “Grandma, who are the people in this photo? Is this you and Grandpa?”
“Just an old photo, lass. Hurry and unpack your things,” Grandma called from the kitchen. Sarah frowned and turned down the hall to find her room. Jon zoomed past with his suitcase, nearly knocking her over.
“I got dibbs on the best bed!” he shouted as he weaved down the hall.
Once Sarah was finished unpacking, Grandma popped her head into the bedroom. “Would ya’ fancy a look around the grounds?”
“Sure,” Sarah replied. “But it’s almost dark outside.”
“We’ll have a go of it anyhow. The moon will guide us, won’t it now?” Grandma said, leading Sarah through the front screen door. Her walker wheel squealed loudly as she made her way across the porch. She pointed to the walnut rocking chairs that her and Grandpa had been sitting in when they’d arrived. “Pappy carved these when your mother was just a wee thing.”
Sarah wandered past the rocking chairs to look at several plaster planters full of colorful wildflowers. She leaned against the porch railing, drinking in the fresh scent of the evening air and looking up at the exceptionally bright moon in the sky.
On the other side of the house was a modest vegetable garden with rows of plants protected by a crooked wire fence.
“Why the fence?” Sarah asked.
“Keeps hungry vermin out, ya’ know.”
A faint howl resounded across the foothills, low and distant. A shiver crept up Sarah’s spine. “I guess that makes sense.”
Several strange little statues with pointed caps were scattered throughout the rows of vegetables, each positioned as if tending to the work. Sarah leaned down to touch one. “Who are these cute little guys?”
“Gnomes, of course. They’re here ta’ tend and protect the garden.”
Sarah giggled. “From the vermin?”
Suddenly, one of the statues winked and smiled at her. She gasped and stepped back a few paces, pointing. “Did you see that Grandma?”
“See what child?”
“That Gnome thing just winked and smiled at me!”
“Don’t ya’ be silly,” Grandma said. “He’s just a stone.”
Sarah shook her head. “Grandma, I saw it. I swear!”
“Maybe you’re a wee bit worn from the road.”
“No. No, I’m fine, but—but I swear—” Sarah babbled, staring down at the little gnome statue.
“I fancy we finish the tour,” Grandma said, rolling on without her.
Sarah glanced back at the gnomes and saw that several of them now had their arms crossed. Others were making rude faces and gestures. “Grandma, look! They’ve changed again!”
Grandma kept scooting forward. “They’re crusty ol’ stone, lass! Forget it and come on!”
Sarah turned to argue, but when she looked back at the gnomes, they’d returned to their original poses.
“Off we go, lass!” Grandma called.
Growing alongside the garden were several apples trees, a pear tree and a couple of olive trees. Grandma went on and on about her local canning and jarring successes, but Sarah was still hung up on those gnomes. They’d moved. She was sure of it.
“What’s canning and jarring?” Sarah asked.
“It’s me way of beatin’ the grocer out of a few quid,” Grandma said with a chuckle.
They continued through the yard for a little while longer and Sarah did her best to keep out of sight whenever she saw the one legged handyman and his dog. She really didn’t like the look of him. As they rounded back around the house and onto the porch, Sarah helped her grandmother up the steps.
“How about we sneak a spot of tea and a biscuit or two?” Grandma wheezed as she climbed.
“Sounds delicious,” Sarah replied. She took one last look at the vegetable garden as they entered the house and caught what looked like a quick wave goodbye from one of the gnomes. She raised a hand and wiggled her fingers back at him.
This time she decided to keep it to herself. There was definitely something strange about this place
, but who would believe her?
For the rest of the evening, Sarah and her grandmother sat for hours chatting about life back home and how different it was. The rest of the family was nowhere to be found, but that was okay. She was having a good time drinking tea and learning about Wales. After a while, Grandma suggested Sarah freshen up and unpack her things.
Sarah went to her room and shut the door. Her phone chirped, signaling that a new text was coming in, but she ignored it. She was too intrigued by this odd and peculiar place to worry about her phone.
A faint tapping on her door startled her. She looked up from her suitcase. “Who’s there?”
“Grandpa,” came a low voice.
“Grandpa who?” Sarah asked.
“Aw Hell!” Grandpa muttered. “Do ya’ believe it? She asked Grandpa who!”
“Do ya’ blame the poor lass?” came Grandma’s voice. “I hardly know ya’ me self.”
There was another knock at the door. “Dinner will be served at the top of the hour.”
Sarah opened the door and poked her head out. “Thanks! I’m coming!” She followed Grandpa and Jon into the kitchen.
“Ya’ got some chores ta’ do tomorrow, old man,” Grandma said, brandishing a wooden spoon as she pointed at Grandpa.
“Can I help?” Jon leapt up from behind Grandpa, practically hugging him like a second shadow. “I’ve never done farm chores before.”
“I guess I could allow ya’ to do mine just this time, but only if ya’ promise to do them proper,” Grandpa said.
Jon stood at attention. “I promise to do my best!”
“Pappy he’s not your slave,” Grandma interjected.
Grandpa waved her off and wrapped an arm around Jon’s shoulders. “We’ll be best mates, lad. You and I.”
Jon smiled brightly.
CHAPTER 5
GRANDMA BEAMED WITH PRIDE as Sarah delivered the last platter of food. Grandpa was seated at the head of the table with Grandma on one side and Jon on the other. The smell of country fried cheese steak blended wonderfully with the sweet scent of onion glazed green beans and caramelized carrots. A large basket of fresh baked biscuits sat next to a glass bowl of melted honey butter. At the far edge of the table was a pitcher of iced lemonade and a warm cinnamon crusted apple pie with fresh whipped cream just begging to have a finger swished through it.
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