by Jana Zinser
The birds were Grandma’s sign that another world existed after this one and everything was all right. Wherever it was, Grandma waited there in peace. It was proof of the power of love and the indestructibility of the spirit.
The bushes rustled, and footsteps sounded up the back path. It was Nick.
He stopped and stood in awe when he saw the birds resting on Ivy. She looked over at him. “Nick! It’s Grandma’s sign. They’re back. The birds have come back to the woods.”
He smiled. “The birds know that if you’re here, this is home.”
“You’re back?”
“This is my home.”
“Are you staying?”
Nick slowly reached out and held Ivy’s hand. The birds didn’t move. “Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be. You can visit other places, but Iowa is where you can live.”
“Grandma brought you home, too.”
The swirling snow danced around them and covered them with the soft white blanket of winter. But Ivy and Nick didn’t notice. They had finally come home, together.
“I’m sorry about Grandma V. I should have come to the funeral.”
“It’s okay. She was already gone.”
“I should have come for you.”
A goldfinch landed on Ivy.
“Look, Nick.”
Then the birds took to the sky and circled the house in the triumph of returning home and the joy of new beginnings. They flew together in the celebration of the continuity of life and death, and the assurance of a home in the Great Hereafter. And the squirrels watched from the trees.
The End
RECIPE FOR ANGEL PIE
Ingredients:
6 egg whites
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon vinegar
For the topping:
½ pint of stiffly whipped cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
2-3 tablespoons sugar
3-4 drops food coloring
2 refrigerated Heath candy bars
1. Mix together six egg whites and ¼ teaspoon of salt with an electric mixer until fluffy.
2. Measure one cup of sugar and add one tablespoon at a time, beating with an electric mixer until well mixed.
3. Add one teaspoon of vanilla and mix.
4. Beating continually, add one cup of sugar and one tablespoon of vinegar.
5. Grease and flour one large pie tin. Heap mixture in center of pan and bake for 30 minutes at 275 degrees. Then bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees. Cool completely to room temperature. The pie will fall a little bit on top.
6. To prepare pie topping, mix together ½ pint of stiffly whipped cream with ½ teaspoon vanilla, 2-3 tablespoons sugar and 3-4 drops food coloring to get desired color. Spread topping over pie.
7. Crush two refrigerated Heath candy bars and sprinkle on top. (Tip: Put Heath bars inside two baggies and crush.) You can also replace the Heath candy bars with strawberries or raspberries.
8. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Better if left longer. Serves 8.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jana Zinser writes stories about people fighting against all odds. Versed in TV, features, and books, her background is in politics, public policy, and the media. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire School of Law, received her Masters in Journalism from the University of Iowa, and her undergraduate degree in political science and history from Graceland University.
Jana is the author of the award-winning book, The Children’s Train: Escape on the Kindertransport.
OTHER BOOKS BY JANA ZINSER
The Children’s Train explodes with a tale of the ultimate fight against the vilest hatred known to mankind as Hitler seeks the total annihilation of the Jewish People. It is a story of sacrifice, violence, determination, betrayal, revenge, love, and hope. The goals of the children in this story are to stay alive, to live each day with the hope that they will see their families again, and to fight hatred with every ounce of their dwindling strength.
Violin-playing Peter escapes Nazi Germany on a train to England filled with just children, but after his Coventry farm is bombed, Peter returns to Germany to try to save his family and childhood friend Eva and with the help of underground rebels, sabotage the Nazis.