Never Forgotten

by Kelly Risser

  ***

  I found Grandpa Jamie alone in the kitchen, reading his paper at the table. He didn’t look up as I came into the room, opening the refrigerator to find a drink. He must have realized I was there, however, because when I sat across from him, he cracked the paper and wished me a good morning.

  “Morning,” I said. “Where are Grandma Mary and Mom?”

  “They’re in the garage,” he answered from behind his wall of newspaper. “I think they’re bartering on the rest of your things. What stays and what goes.”

  “Where would it go?” I asked.

  “Donated, I s’pose,” he said, unconcerned. “We certainly can’t keep it all here. I can barely walk through the house right now.”

  I didn’t have plans for the day. Taking a long drag from my Diet Coke, I stood up. “I’m going out to help them.”

  Grandpa Jamie peered at me over the top of the paper, raising one bushy, white eyebrow. “Suit yourself,” he said. “But I’m staying far away.”

  “Why?”

  “You didn’t live in the same house with those two women for nineteen years.” He shook his head and went back to reading his paper. I sat back down and watched him read. It was my first real opportunity to sit with him since the night we arrived. He worked long hours, leaving before sunrise and returning late at night. Though his skin was tan and weathered, smile lines softened his face. Today, he wore a pair of silver-rimmed reading glasses. At some point, they must have slipped to the bridge of his nose. He hadn’t bothered to push them back up.

  “What are you doing today?” I asked.

  He folded the paper, set it to the side, and took off his glasses. “Why? Aren’t you going outside now? Did I change your mind?” His eyes twinkled, so I knew he was teasing. I shrugged and he laughed, adding, “I’m going to the docks.”

  “On your day off?” Didn’t he want a break?

  “I’m a fisherman,” he explained. “I don’t get a day off. At any rate, the DFO was questioning my team yesterday, and we didn’t get a lot done.”

  “DFO?”

  “Department of Fisheries and Oceans…uh, I think maybe you call it the Department of Natural Resources?”

  “Okay,” I said. “Why was the DFO questioning you?”

  “Some drunken tourists were playing around near the boats late Thursday night. They managed to make a mess of the nets and traps. They also tormented some poor seal with a harpoon.”

  “Is it okay?”

  “Don’t know.” When I just looked at him, confused, he explained. “There was a lot of blood, but when we tried to get close to it, it dove into the water.”

  “Does this happen a lot?”

  “No, but it’s not the first time,” he grumbled. “Damn tourists. Think they own the town. At least the DFO nailed them. Found ‘em passed out in their car a little ways down the beach. Stupid fools.”

  “If the DFO found them, why did they talk to you?”

  “They asked if we were going to press charges, too.”

  “Will you?” I asked.

  “No.” He rubbed his forehead. “Nothing was damaged beyond repair. Those boys will be in enough trouble without me adding to it.”

  I liked my grandfather. He worked hard, and he was fair minded. “Can I come with you?” I asked. I realized I wanted to get to know him better.

  He looked at me thoughtfully. “If you want to, you can. I’ll put you to work. Ask my team, I put anyone to work who has a pulse and is standing on my pier.” I thought of Evan, and my heart skipped. It was Saturday, so he might not be there, but I was betting he was. “You’ll want to change,” Grandpa Jamie continued. “Put on something you don’t mind getting dirty. And tennis shoes. No sandals.”

  “When are we leaving?”

  “Can you be ready in fifteen minutes?”

  I grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter and ran from the room, calling back, “You bet!”

  I changed in about ten minutes, but Grandpa Jamie was already waiting in his pickup truck with the engine running when I came out. My mom and grandmother were standing in the front yard, our old vacuum between them. Mom turned and looked at me. Her hair was mussed from running her fingers through it, something she did when she was irritated. Grandma Mary was counting off on one hand all the reasons why our vacuum, which was clearly more modern that hers, was not worth keeping. Stupid as it sounded, Mom loved that vacuum. She spent months researching the perfect model to buy. Grandpa Jamie was right. It was time to get going.

  I kissed my mom on the cheek. “Bye, Mom. I’m going to help Grandpa Jamie for a few hours today.”

  “Dad?” my mom called, ignoring me for a moment. “Is it safe?”

  “It’ll be fine, Sharon,” he called. “You worry too much.”

  “Hmph.” Grandpa Jamie’s response did not help her irritation level. She managed a smile for me. “Have fun. Be safe.”

  “I will.” I hugged her. She looked like she needed it. “See you later.”

  I walked over and started climbing in the cab when mom called my name. “Yes?” I said, half turning.

  “I want to hear about your new friends later,” she said. “I tried to stay up and wait for you, but I was just too tired.”

  “We’ll talk tonight,” I said. Mom and I talked about everything. The few times I did go on dates, I always came home and talked to her about it. For some reason, I wanted to keep Evan to myself. I smiled at her in reassurance.

  “I’ll hold you to it,” she teased and waved me off before turning back to Grandma Mary. I climbed in the truck, and we drove away.