The Estate of Essie Grogan

by Kathy Vest Trimble

  “Thank you, Clyde. I just might take you up on that. I’ve been wanting to make wish boxes for the kids. My dad made one for me as a child. I would cut pictures out of the Sears catalogue of things I wished I could have. After Thanksgiving, my day would have me bring it to him and we would open it and see my wishes for the year. I never got everything but I almost always got at least three things from my box. Our kids never ask for anything. Not even when we are in the stores. I think if I gave each of them a wish box and told them how important it is to wish and hope for things they might feel more like letting us know what their interests are. We know that Ben likes to garden and Sarah likes to read but that is about it.”

  “Now, that is a great idea. I should do that, too. Gracie said she pinkie swore to Sarah that she wouldn’t wish too hard because it hurts when they don’t come true. It breaks my heart to think that these sweet little ones have hardened to the point that they won’t ask for a toy or a ribbon for their hair.”

  “The answer can sometimes be no but they need to know that it is okay to ask. And it is normal to hope and dream but if that hope isn’t voiced, the answer will always be no.”

  “What are you doing tomorrow? If you don’t have plans, then come over and we will build what might be the best think to unlock their little hearts.”

  “Would 10:00 a.m. be too early?”

  “No, that sounds like the perfect time to get started.”

  "By-the-way, we need to trade Julie’s car for a minivan.

  Do you have any on the lot right now? It was nice of Essie to get that car but we need something with a bit more room and comfort on road trips."

  “I have a whole row of them. I know that car has less than 100 miles on it, so with it as a trade she can choose any van on the lot for under $10,000. Dollars. That would be one with all of the bells and whistles.”

  “We will be there on Tuesday morning and Julie and the kids can choose whatever they want. She will be relieved to be rid of the Golden Monster. She hates driving a stick shift with all of our hills and stoplights at every intersection. Not to mention, that painted metal dash board that reflects the sun directly in her eyes.”

  “Look at this, Chance, this baby is sound asleep with ice cream all over her face. We should be going home and get our little ones to bed. It’s been nice visiting with you and the kids look like they enjoyed seeing each other. I will see you tomorrow. Gracie, come on, it’s time to go home. Your sister is fast asleep already so she wins the Sandman Prize for tonight. Better luck for you tomorrow night, sweet girly.”

  “Okay, Daddy. I’m sleepy, too. Bye-bye Sarah and Benjamin. I’m going home now.”

  Sarah and Benjamin both said Goodnight to her and Sarah gave her a big hug and told her to be a good girl.

  Chance and Julie walked Clyde and Peggy to their car as Benjamin and Sarah went inside to take showers and get ready for bed. Sarah was looking forward to propping up in her bed and reading more of Essie’s first novel. It was getting to a really good part last night when she kept falling asleep. She loved Essie’s way of telling a story.

  Benjamin, on the other hand, enjoyed looking at gardening books and seed catalogs. Essie’s library was well-stocked with magazines and books on every kind of plant he could think of and some he had never heard of. It was his favorite thing to do before falling asleep. He decided that next year he would have a wonderful garden and provide fresh vegetables and herbs for the whole family. Benjamin was so happy to be here with Chance and Julie and it was an added bonus to have Jolly following him to the garden every day. He had never had a pet before and Jolly had picked him to be his friend.

  Chance and Julie came into the house to hear both of the kid’s showers running. They smiled at each other. “We hit the jackpot with those two. It is so nice that they already had a routine before we got them,” said Julie.

  “I know. They are such good kids. I’m going over to Clyde’s tomorrow morning and we are going to make Wish Boxes for them.”

  “Yes, like the one you had, as a boy. That is a nice idea. I have no idea what their interests are, other than reading. We might need to open theirs more than once a year until they get used to asking for things. I don’t even know their favorite foods or colors. Sarah won’t even pick out an outfit when we shop. I finally held up two dresses and asked her to choose one. She just looked at them and told me either one would be fine. Ben is the same way.”

  “Oh yes, and speaking of making choices, we are going to trade the Gold Monster off for a new Mini Van on Tuesday. Clyde is giving us a great deal on the trade. We can’t go on Monday because I have court in the morning and a full appointment schedule the rest of the day. Maybe we can get the kids excited enough to help us decide which one suits the family best.”

  “Yes, a new set of wheels. It will be nice to have it before school starts.”

  Chance and Julie went upstairs and in to check on Sarah and say goodnight. They found her propped up on pillows, reading. She looked up smiling. “I’m at the part where I think I’m going to find out who the thief is. This is a really good mystery. I have been tricked three times already but I have only twenty pages left so I think I have it this time.”

  ’Okay, so finish the story and turn off your lamp and go to sleepy town. We love you. Sweet dreams, beautiful child."

  They went to Benjamin’s room to find him laying sideways on his bed with his seed catalog on the floor. He was looking at it but he had one hand on Jolly’s back, petting him. “Look who made it up the stairs to see me,” he said with a huge smile. I don’t know how he did it but when I came out of the bathroom he was laying outside the door. I almost tripped over him. I love him; can he stay in here with me, please?"

  “I don’t know how he did it either but after all of that effort, I don’t see why he can’t stay,” said Chance. “What are you looking at tonight?”

  “The Burpees Seed Catalog. It sure has some interesting plants and tools. I have never seen so many things that grow in our zone before.”

  “So, you know about growing zones?” asked Julie.

  “Yes, I learned all about them from Sister Elizabeth. I used to help her pick something new for our garden every year. We always had the usual stuff but we tried different things just to see if we could learn to like them. It’s fun to do that. Some things we tried didn’t taste so good so we prayed for a crop failure after the first picking.”

  They all laughed and Chance said, “Okay Ben, we just came in to tell you we love you. It’s time to put the catalog on your nightstand and get into bed. Jolly will still be here in the morning but if he wakes you up howling you will have to hope he makes it back downstairs and out the door in time. Otherwise, you will have a puddle to mop up. Good night and sweet dreams, our handsome boy. We love you.”

  “Good night, Mom and Dad. I love you, too. Good night, Jolly, I love your brave and gentle soul. And, please don’t pee on the floor.”

  The Wish Boxes were made of cedar with brass hinges. Each one had their name carved on the top and the word WISH. There was a slot for depositing their wishes. Chance brought them in and placed them on the coffee table. He could hear Julie and the kids splashing in the pool. He went upstairs and got his swimming trunks on and joined them. Jolly lay in the shade of the oak tree and ignored the squirrel chattering above him. Chance stood in the doorway and took in the sight of the family he loved before running and doing a full cannon ball dive into the deep end of the pool. They all squealed with delight and swam toward him.

  “Did anyone improve on their swimming skills today?” asked Chance.

  “As a matter of fact, they both did. Sarah can dive now and Ben can swim the length of the pool and back with an awesome backstroke. They have me beat and if Ben keeps this up, he will be like a regular Michael Phelps.”

  “Good, they can save me when I am too old to climb out on my own,” laughed Chance.

  “I’m ready to get out and start cooking dinner. Everyone should be hungry by now, s
aid Julie. It’s going to be burgers on the grill, oven-baked French fries, and salad.”

  “When everyone is out of the pool and dressed, I have a surprise to you kids. I made something for you today and can’t wait to give them to you, said Chance.”

  “I love surprises! Miss Essie used to bring us surprises when we lived in Arkansas,” said Sarah.

  “I loved it when she brought candy and one time she gave me Legos. She was a really nice lady,” said Benjamin.

  They entered the house to a blast of cold from the air conditioning. That made them run as fast as they could to get upstairs and change into dry clothes.

  They all gathered in the living room. Chance handed each child their box.

  “Let me tell you about the wish boxes. When I was a boy, my dad made one for me. I used it the entire time I was growing up. It is to put your wishes in. Both big wishes and small. At intervals, we will ask for your box to be brought to us. We will open them one at a time and discuss each wish. You may or may not have all of your wishes granted but some of them will be. It will depend on how badly you wish for an item and if we, as your parents, believe your wish is appropriate for your age. If your wish is not granted you might be able to return it to your box to be considered at a later time. That is how it worked for me and I believe it will work for you. How do you feel about the boxes?”

  Benjamin spoke first. “So, can I cut wishes from catalogs and put them in the box?”

  “Yes, you can. And you can clip them from a magazine or write a wish on a piece of paper.”

  Benjamin smiled as if he already knew a few wishes.

  Sarah spoke next. “What if all of my wishes are already here? I wished to read Mrs. Grogan’s books and they are all in the library and I can take one to my room and read any time I like. I wished to learn to swim and poof, there is a pool in the back yard and I can swim now. I wished for good parents and here you are. I have pretty clothes, a beautiful home, and even a pet dog. Those last three things I never wished for but I am thankful for them. Her eyes filled with tears as she said, I don’t know how to play this game.”

  Julie went to her and hugged her tight. “Listen, sweetie, think about this for a minute. School will be starting in nearly three months. You will be out-growing your clothes so, why don’t you look at some clothing catalogs in the library and choose some new clothes for school. Jeans, sweaters, socks, skirts, blouses, and a coat for winter. You will need a backpack, as well. Things like that for now. You don’t have to do it in one day or make quick choices. You can take your time and decide what you want to wear to school. You can choose some dress shoes, sneakers, and boots. Keep it simple and practical for now. One day you will see something that you really wish you had and you can add that to your wish box. We love you and don’t want to upset you, but, we want you to always have hopes and dreams and wishes. Like Daddy said, you may not get every one of your wishes granted, but you will always get some. This is not to teach you to want a bunch of material things but to teach you to make choices. It’s okay. Dry your tears and give Mommy that sweet smile of yours. I love you.”

  “Okay, that didn’t go as planned, said Chance, but you two take your boxes upstairs and Mom and I will start dinner.”

  Benjamin took the stairs two at a time. Sarah went to Chance and hugged him.

  “I’m sorry, I just never learned to ask for things. At Hope House, we were thankful for what we were given. We never picked out clothes or shoes. We relied on donations from the church or what the sisters made for us. They cooked and we ate what was in front of us. There were too many of us to be picky. We were treated with kindness and we knew we were loved, but, none of us asked for anything. I saw the struggle the sisters had to raise and care for us. I can’t erase eight years in just a few months but I promise, I will try very hard to choose my school clothes. Thank you, Daddy, for the box. It is beautiful.”

  “I’m sorry to upset you and make you feel pressured but you must learn to voice your choices now. Later on. In school, you will have to choose what classes to take and what activities to join. We can’t read your mind. So, if we put you in piano lessons and you detest playing the piano, how will we know? You are a very obedient child so I don’t think you would say that you detest piano. I think you would waste your time playing and instrument you aren’t interested in. That is why we are doing this. Not to be mean but to get to know what you like and don’t like. This wish Box is given out of love for you. It is a teaching tool and one day, I believe, you will find it fun and useful.”

  Sarah went up to her room and Chance went to the kitchen to help Julie with dinner.

  As the weeks wore on, Benjamin’s box grew full. His wishes were mostly garden tools, seeds, and plants. Then he moved on to wishing for a henhouse and chickens, a goat, and a greenhouse. To make Julie happy, he wished for a pair of jeans and a shirt for school.

  Sarah had finally come up with a wish for a yellow raincoat with matching boots and hat. She told Benjamin that he was selfish and he told her that she was dumb. “Ben, when Mom and Dad open your box they are going to make you pray for your greedy little soul.”

  “Well, maybe, but they will probably wonder why you find it acceptable to go to school in nothing but a raincoat, boots, and a hat. I think you should ask Grandma Karla for help with your wishes. She loves shopping online.”

  “That is a good idea. She might help me figure out what I like and then I can print pictures for my box. I love having a grandma. Thanks, I’m glad you are my brother even if you are a greedy one.”

  “I am not greedy. I just have lots of wishes and my wishes will be food and flowers for the whole family. And eggs, too, if I get some chickens. I do miss my garden and fresh eggs.”

  “I know you do. You were a great gardener in Arkansas but our pool took up a big part of the yard. Where are you going to grow all of this food?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I will have to walk around out there and figure it out.”

  “I believe I will go downstairs and ask if I can call Grandma.”

  “Are you going to tell Mom why?”

  “Yes, silly boy. Never, ever lie or hide anything from our parents. God gave them to us and let us stay together as real brother and sister. Let’s not mess this up.”

  “I won’t, Sarah. I love them and I love our new life.”

  “Mom, would you mind if I call Grandma and ask if she will help me look at clothes online? I just haven’t figured out what my style is yet. Ben says she shops online so I think she might be able to help me.”

  “I think she would love to help you. Just don’t let her do all of the choosing.”

  “Grandma is coming over later. She wants to go for a quick swim then help me look at clothes. Can I get my suit on and swim with her?”

  “Sure, honey. I think I will too. Will you go and find Ben and see if he wants to swim?”

  “Yes, I know where he is. He’s in his room looking at his wishes. He has lots of them and his box is stuffed full. I will ask him when I go up and get into my swimsuit.”

  Sarah went up the stairs slowly because Jolly had decided to go and check on Benjamin and was navigating the stairs in an awkward position as to cover most of the stair surface. “Oh, Jolly, if you weren’t so heavy I would carry you up.” He finally got to the top and flopped down for a nap just outside of Benjamin’s door.

  “We are going swimming and Mom wants to know if you want to, as well. Grandma is coming over to swim with us.”

  “No, I want to do a survey of the yard and try to figure out where I could possibly plant my garden. I’m thinking I might have to make planter boxes and put them in different areas.”

  “I’m sure you will come up with a plan. You have until next spring so that gives you plenty of time. Daddy will probably like helping you get things going.”

  “Yoo hoo, I’m here,” yelled Karla, as she burst through the front door. She had a tray full of fresh baked cookies that were still warm from the oven. “I brought sna
cks for after our swim.”

  Sarah went to meet her. Karla put the tray on the kitchen counter and hugged her. “How’s my favorite girl in the whole wide world?”

  “I’m just fine and how is my favorite Grandma? Thank you for saying you will help me figure out this crazy world of fashion. I just don’t really understand why people care about what they wear as long as they aren’t naked.”

  “That may be because you could wear a burlap bag and still look beautiful. But, sadly, society says we shouldn’t. Besides, burlap itches. With your pretty red hair and freckles to match, you would look great in pink, green, and yellow. Red, not so much. It kind of clashes with the red in your hair. But we can figure it all out. By the time we look at a few websites you will be a pro. Now, let’s go swim like little fishes.”

  Julie came downstairs in her swimsuit and had three beach towels draped over her arm. “I brought towels because you two almost always forget yours. Mom, I hope you have a suit under those shorts and tee shirt.”

  “I do and I’m losing the outer layer right now because, last one in is a rotten egg.”

  After the swim and everyone got into dry clothes, Karla and Sarah sat down at the kitchen table with Julie’s laptop. “Okay, Sarah,” said Karla, “first thing we are going to do is type in the words: girl’s clothes. Then we are going to type in Clothes for girls with red hair. Look, there are at least a hundred sites to look at. Or we could just type in JC Penny or Zulilly and look at clothes there.”

  “Let’s just go to JC Penny website, since we have that store here. Maybe I can find some things I really like and put them in my wish box. So, here goes.” She went to the website and then typed in ‘girls’ clothes.’ She found the different categories and decided to look for shirts first.

  Julie listened intently at the conversation between Karla and Sarah. She didn’t interrupt for fear she would break the spell of Sarah actually telling Karla what she liked or didn’t like about certain articles of clothing. Before dinnertime, the two of them had chosen an entire wardrobe and printed the pictures out. Sarah was thrilled to be able to put them in her wish box. Then, she did something completely unexpected by Googling for a new harness and a ball for Jolly. She put that in her wish box, too.