Flying With Angles

“Take it away, I don’t want to see it!” He said as he turned away from the wooden box his sister held. “I said take it away!” But Shelly continued to hold the box to him; “but Jacob you have to put your item in”, “I can’t. I just can’t, alright Shell!” Jacob pushed her aside and raced over the sunroom where he sat in the armchair contemplating. The sunroom was made of wood with green carpet for flooring. It had a tan cushioned bench to one wall with two armchairs nearby. The room had windows all around incept on the wall of the house. A picture of a lake scene hung on that wall over an old trunk with costumes inside. He could hear Shelly speaking with his mother in hushed tones, but what’s the point Jacob didn’t have the heart to do it. For as long as he can remember his family would make a treasure box of memorable items when someone passed on. The items were always important, they brought meaning and good memories of that person. Jacob didn’t despise the tradition or something, he just couldn’t bear to do this one. Of all the ones they did, Uncle Tuck, Great aunt Ed, his mother’s cousin Sherman, even their old dog Marlin were easy in comparison. But this was hard for him even too hard.

“What are you doing in here?” It was Eliot his older brother. “I was thinking. Why do you care?” “I was just curious really, seemed like Ma and Shell were distressed. You didn’t put something in did you?” Jacob looked out the window at the backyard and graying sky, perfect weather for such a day. “Look, so what if I didn’t, why does it matter anyway it’s just a box with stuff in it.” Eliot probably glared at him, but he wouldn’t know, “you know it’s important to Ma Jake. You should put something in the box, I know it’s hard though… It was hard for me as well you know.” He turned to face him; Eliot had his dark brown hair combed down and wore a gray sweater and beige cargo pants. His grey eyes looked at Jacob with concern and empathy. Jacob was too upset to let it bother him though, “it was hard for you of all people, give me a break.” “Sure, it was, I felt the same way you felt about her. I knew how close you two were so I can’t blame you for not wanting to put something in. You’re forgetting that it means a lot to Ma that you do, you know how she’s like.” “Wow did you practice that? I’m not putting my item in the box…oaky!” Eliot looked appalled but quickly dismissed it like it was nothing. “You definitely feel very strongly about this…” “I do,” Jacob said as he folded his arms. “So, why don’t you tell me the reason, tell me why Jacob, you don’t want to contribute to the family tradition, hey?” Jacob was stunned to know that someone was willing to hear him out, so he told Eliot the reason. “It’s because I feel that if I do it that she’ll be gone. As I still remember baking cookies on Sunday afternoons. I remember going on walks to the park where she’d push me on the swing. On the rainy days that we played scrabble and Chinese checkers. Her delicious homemade biscuits and hot chocolate. I remember her laugh and her smile when I would tell her a joke. And I remember her singing to me as I fell asleep. How can I let her go so easily, Eliot? How can I be okay with moving away from her warm hugs? How, how can I…” that’s when Jacob began to cry. In over the twenty-one years he’s been on Earth, he cried. Jacob cried a well of tears and soon he felt his brother’s arm holding him. “Jacob it’s alright to feel sad. Those memories will always be with you, that is something that will never go away, just like your love for Nan. She’s flying with the angels now, and she will always be with you in spirit. So, why don’t we get up and help Ma with dinner, hey.” Jacob brushed off his brother’s hand and got up from the seat, “no you don’t understand. None of you do. Nan’s dead, don’t you get it she’s gone, not here. She’ll never be here again!” And with that Jacob ran through the living room and out the front door; his sister yelling behind him, “Jake where you go…” but he was long gone.

Jacob hailed a taxi and sat in the backseat, he could see Eliot and Shelly outside the house, yelling for him to come back. Yet he stayed, and honestly, he felt relief. All the pressure of upholding the family tradition flew off him, it was as if he dropped a heavy crate he was previously holding. Why couldn’t they well leave him alone; “where to? The taxi driver said as he looked at Jacob through his mirror. “Oh yeah, how about Jozi’s, “Jozi’s Pizzeria?” “That’s the one,” “right then.” The gruff middle-aged man drove in silence as Jacob starred out the window. At what, nothing, but it was as if he was searching for something maybe a clue to what he should do. Yeah, that’s it, he thought, God, give me a clue as to what I should be doing. “It’s a mighty dreary day, isn’t it?” “Huh”, Jacob said to the cab driver. “I said it’s a mighty dreary day, isn’t it?” Jacob nodded, “you can say that.” It’s then that the cab driver picked up on Jacob’s tone and came to the conclusion that something was bothering the lad. “I know it’s not my place to be asking but are you alright. It seems to me that you’re burned out about something.” Jacob turned to face the front of the car as he answered the man. “I guess you could say that. Let’s just say it’s been a tough week at my house and the situation is getting the better of me.” They hit a red light and the driver looked back for a moment. He had a ruff black beard, tan skin, and a bald head. His green jacket was open to his plain white shirt as if he was hot. He looked straight at Jacob and said in a calm voice, “I’m sorry then, I hope your fears fly away from you then.” “Thanks…um,” “oh Michael, but call me Mike,” he said as he turned to continue driving to the pizzeria. “Thanks, then Mike, it’s nice to hear things like that especially during a time like this.” The rest of the drive was otherwise silent, and it wasn’t until they stopped once more did Jacob speak up. “Hey, why did we stop there are no lights and we’re certainly not there yet.” Mike smiled an awkward smile through the front mirror, “oh sorry there, the traffic you know how it is.” “I know,” Jacob said as he looked out his window, and he couldn’t believe what he saw. “It’s alright I’ll get out here, keep the change. Oh, and thanks again, Mike.” “Don’t mention it,” Mike said as Jacob began opening the door and stepped out.

He rushed past the slowed cars and onto the sidewalk where he stood at the entrance to a park. Jacob threw himself down the hill to the humble sandpit and wooden play structure with a yellow slide, that he passed on his way to the swings. There sat an old lady watching a young child playing in the sand nearby. The old lady had a purple raincoat on, brown pants, and white running shoes. Her gray hair was tied in a bun, and she had a bag and cane sitting on the opposite swing, she didn’t notice Jacob quite yet as she paid close attention to the young boy. Although once Jacob got near, she looked up, her face had a warm glow to it, she stated, “I could move these for you if you’d like” Jacob put his hands in his pockets, “no need ma’am, just enjoying the weather.” “Yes, it’s nice that it stopped raining finally, thank the Lord for that.” She wiggled in the swing as if she was trying to move more, yet it only gently swayed from side to side. She seemed to huff and muttered something along the lines of “I certainly can’t pump like I used to,” then she had an idea. “Excuse me you’re a big strong man, you won’t mind helping an old lady out and giving me a push, do you?” Jacob surged “I guess I can,” and he walked over until he was standing behind her. Jacob pulled his arms back, pushed the swing and stepped out of the way. As he did so he then saw the old lady as not just any strander but as his Nan instead. She smiled and held on tight as she went back and forth, swinging like she hadn’t done in years. Her grandson looked up at her and giggled saying “yay!” The sight was so sweating and brought a sense of warmth and happiness to Jacob that he began to tear up, not sad tears as before; no, Jacob was crying tears of happiness, as the memory of his grandma pushing him on the swing came flooding back. “Thank you for helping me fly today kind sir, thank you.” The old lady said as the swing came to a slowing stop. She looked at Jacob and noticed him crying, “young man what seems to be the problem. Did you want to swing instead?” Jacob came out of his mind and smiled at her, “no I’m fine. I’m great. Although, I need to go… thanks for the help.” He called out as he began to walk off to the road.

Mike was still there so he got back in and told him, “may you take me back to where we came from if that’s okay, I could pay you extra,” “no need my friend. We shall go back then.” As Jacob sat in the cab again, he pondered the experience he had, he felt good and knew that Eliot was right Nan was watching over him and will be there in spirit. He smiled at the empty seat beside him; he was ready to put his item in the box. Eliot patted his brother on the back as Jacob got out, “see I knew he’ll be back. Didn’t I tell you, Shell, that he’d be back?” Shelly just shook her head either way a smile formed on her face, “you did, I was just worried I guess.” “Well, no need to be he’s back, he just needed time to himself. But I bet he’s ready to put his item in aren’t you, Jake?” Jacob looked at them both and saw his mom waiting at the door and said, “let’s fill that box.” Everyone went in and stood in the living room that was adorned with green chairs and couch, a bookshelf, and a china cabinet. It had a small fireplace on the back wall and a window on the other, the entry to the kitchen was on the right wall with a fish aquarium beside it. Shelly picked up the small brown box that sat on the coffee table, and yet again held it in front of her brother. They all seemed like they were waiting for him to say that he can’t do it and reject the notion again. Instead, they were all surprised when Jacob pulled out of his pocket a wooden poorly painted angle. He held the box and placed it nicely beside the other trinkets that his siblings already put inside. Jacob could almost feel the wind blow past him, not a cold wind but a warm and inviting wind that felt like a hug. Shelly closed the box and said a prayer before their mother said dinner was ready. And as everyone else went to eat Jacob touched the box and quietly said, “have fun flying with the angels, Nan.”

The End.