The Summer We Met

I rummaged through another stack of papers shoved in a corner of the room my granddad spent all his time in. Music scores, receipts, hotel confirmations, and more littered the sanctuary he created before passing. As the eldest grandson, I offered my help to my grandma to go through these things and keep only the important and necessary documents. So far, I had three solid trash bags of just pure junk. I was tempted to toss the whole stack, feeling an ache forming in my lower back. But, I continued on and told myself I would take a break after I finished this stack.

As I continued sorting trash from actual papers we needed to keep, I noticed a small black and white photo slide out between two sheets of paper. I drop what I’m looking at to pick it up and see that it’s a photo of Grandma, Granddad, and some other man with his arm around Grandma posing in front of a big, stoic bull. I flip it over and see “Marty, Reese and me, Bull Fighting Tournament, March 1956” in grandma’s curly cursive.

I turn it back over and study the faces, recognizing Grandpa Marty but not the man--Reese-- with his arm around Grandma. Intrigued by the glitz and glamour and mystery, I forget my pile sorting task and wander into the kitchen where Grandma is making sandwiches and lemonade for lunch.

“Hey, Grandma?” I shift a little as I wait for her to turn around.

“Yes, sweetie?”

“Hey, yeah. Uh, I have a question about something I found.”

She takes a step forward once she sees the photo in my hand. “Ah, I was wondering if that had been thrown away or not, but I guess I have my answer now.”

Not the reaction I expected, but I roll with the punches anyway. “Oh, it was in a pile of sheet music. Who’s Reese?”

She motions for me to sit down with her at the table as she sets down the sandwiches and lemonade. She goes to grab a bag of Cheetos as she speaks, “Reese was your grandpa’s best friend.”

She says it so matter of factly that it takes me a moment to process the information.

“But… but it looks like you two are together in this so what happened?”

“Hush, child. I’m getting to that.”

I slump down a bit and reach for my lemonade as I see her eyes light up as she remembers the details of the moment frozen in time in the photograph.

____________________________________________________

The sweet smell of fresh cut grass and anticipated rainfall consume me and I lean back and listen to Marty and Reese arguing over something. They were always arguing about something so I found it easy to tune them out as I relaxed under the large tree. I close my eyes and breathe in the smell of early spring until I hear a loud clatter and swearing. I peek over at the boys, wondering what childish antics they were up to now.

This was how I first met them, too. Arguing, I mean. It was last summer and they were arguing over which ice cream flavor was the best at the small soda shoppe on the corner across from my Daddy’s barber shop. I loved running across the street to grab a sweet treat, and that day, these two boys stopped in their tracks when I boldly interrupted their conversation.

“Everybody knows it’s vanilla, boys. A true classic that can be manipulated with toppings. A versatile flavor that is by far superior to your chocolate and strawberry argument.”

With that, I shoved myself between them to reach the counter and ordered a single scoop of vanilla in a bowl. I could feel their eyes watching me carefully, so I made a point to not look at them. As I turned back to exit with my ice cream in hand, I made sure to pointedly look back and say, “Good day, gentlemen.” I then giddily skipped back across the street. It was at this moment I realized that one of the boys was running up behind me.

“Wait!”

I paused but didn’t turn around just yet.

“Yes?” I smiled coyly.

Finally caught up, he stood in front of me and held his hand straight out.

“My name is Reese, ma’am, and I’d really like to get to know you if you’d allow me.”

My heart fluttered because this man was quite handsome and I was beyond excited at the prospect of a boy wanting to talk to me. Not wanting to seem too eager, I took a bite of ice cream and posed a thoughtful look on my face.

“Hmmm,” I started. “I suppose that’d be alright with me, but you’ll have to come meet Daddy before I can go anywhere with you. And my name is Grace.”

A quick flash of fear gleamed in his eyes and then vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

“Sounds reasonable,” he said, puffing his chest out a little.

I laughed and motioned for him to follow me back to the barber shop. I could feel his hesitation, so I turned slightly and egged him on.

“What, you afraid he’ll bite ya or something?”

That seemed to work because next thing I knew, he marched on in in front of me bellowed, “Good afternoon, sir. My name is Reese and I’d like to take your daughter on a date tonight if you’d allow me such an honor.”

Daddy stopped the shave he was working on to turn to look between Reese and me with a raised brow. His gaze lands on me and I smile in return with a slight nod, sending him our agreed signal that I’d very much like to talk to this boy more.

“You bring her back in one piece or you won’t make it home in one piece.”

He turned back to the man in the chair and I eased out the door and back onto the street. Reese followed me and promptly introduced Marty to me. Which then started our summer of fun together, the three of us always getting into something. We swam in the creek, watched movies, ate entirely too much ice cream, and somehow always ended up having the best time of our lives.

The summer came and went, but the fun continued on into the fall and the holidays. We had become inseparable and the whole town knew that when the three of us were around innocent trouble and fun were surely to follow. It wasn’t until just after Christmas and into the early parts of the new year that things slowed down. Momma was sick again, and I feared it would be her last. Instead of going out all the time, Reese would come over and we’d read “Little Women” out loud to Momma or play card games with my little brother Tony. Tony loved playing with Reese, which I felt grateful for him for helping distract Tony from Momma’s deteriorating illness. Even Daddy was a big fan of Reese and would clap him on the shoulder and call him son when he’d come over.

During this time, I didn’t see much of Marty or anyone else really. We stayed home from school to be with Momma and help Daddy with the chores. Then, toward the end of February, Momma lost her battle against her illness. Reese came over that day but I was such a mess I could tell he was uncomfortable. He said he’d come check on us later, but he kept his distance until the funeral a few days later. Even then, I could tell he was uncomfortable, like he was afraid if he said the wrong thing I would shatter into a million pieces like a china doll. He looked at me with pity and sadness, like he wasn’t sure if I would just burst into tears at any moment or not. This made me so angry. I felt justified in my feelings and thought that my boyfriend of all people would understand and support me by being there.

Reese kept his distance for the next week after the funeral. I had reached out to Marty for friendship, knowing he’d understand since his Momma had gotten sick when he was a small child. We would chat about loss and healing and I found comfort in our friendship. I’d complain about how distant Reese had been since they were friends and Marty assured me all was fine and would talk to him about it. I smiled, knowing he would keep this promise.

At the end of the week, flyers were posted everywhere about a new Spanish-themed Rodeo coming through town. They’d have bullfighting shows and barrel racing and more. Marty was dying to go.

“C’mon, Gracie! This would be perfect for you and me and Reese to go back out on the town together,” he begged and begged until I caved in and agreed to go if Reese was going, too.

At the end of the week, I stepped out onto my porch into the crisp March weather, jacket wrapped around my waist for when the sun went down that evening. Daddy stood with me, staring with watchful eyes like he was afraid I was going to go and not come back. I smile reassuringly at him to remind him that I need this break out of the house, or I’d lose the battle of finding my will to do anything again. He seemed to understand, cleared his throat, and went back inside to tend to Tony when he saw Marty and Reese pull up the driveway.

“Have fun,” he said as the door closed behind him.

I skipped toward the car and whistled at the boys, “Well, my my, what a fine looking pair of young men! Mind if I join ya on your adventure?”

I winked at them as they laughed and then climbed into the backseat. However, once I was in the back, I realized there was a tense air lingering and noticed the boys wouldn’t look at each other or really even speak. I leaned forward, my head between their shoulders, to confront them.

“Y’all okay?”

Marty nodded and kept his eyes on the road. Reese turned to me as he spoke, before landing a quick peck on the tip of my nose. “Of course, baby. Just anxious to get to the rodeo.”

I eyed them both once more before settling back into my seat and watched the town whiz by until we reached the dirt road leading to the parking lot of the rodeo. It was bright and full of people and I was eager to get a big ball of cotton candy.

The boys kept their distance from each other, so I made an effort to stand between them as I slid my hand into Reese’s. We walked around, tempted by the scents of food and fascinated by the bravado of the whole arena. Green and red spotlights danced around the stadium of activities and a green light almost blinded us as we stared in awe for too long. We all laughed and looked away. As we passed by the pen of bulls, I begged Marty and Reese for a photo of the three of us, the three once inseparable friends. I wanted to have a memento of the first moment after Momma’s passing where I felt joy and love and happiness. I made them take a picture with me, taken by some stranger who graciously offered. When Reese draped his arm around me, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I felt so lucky to be loved that any anger I had melted. But even as the anger I held onto dissipated, it did not alleviate the tension between the boys.

Even as the evening came to an end, even as we continued to hang out through the spring, I could feel their negative energy, and I knew then that they kept up a friendly façade for me and me alone.

Which is then how I ended up laying on the picnic blanket in the fresh cut grass and listening to their arguing harsh words toward each other. What I didn’t expect was that the topic of their heated arguments was me. I sat up a little straighter, straining to hear what they were saying, but other than a few words here and there, I didn’t hear much. But I did hear enough to know that Reese said he was leaving, whether he meant me or the town, I couldn’t be sure. I just knew my heart was going to be broken for the second time that spring.

____________________________________________________

Grandma sat staring at her lemonade for a long time before she spoke up again.

“He didn’t mean to break my heart. He had an opportunity to leave, to live with his grandparents where he’d had a better life. I couldn’t stay mad.”

She has pain behind her eyes as she says it, and I can’t help but wonder why he chose to leave when he had her. I opened my mouth to ask but I guess she already knew what I wanted to know.

“He was looking for a way out long before he chose to leave town. He just didn’t know how to end it once Momma got sick, but he wasn’t happy anymore. He and Marty were constantly arguing over me and he gave up, told Granddad he could have me if he wanted. And when he was there for me after Reese left, it was easy. It was easy and comforting and familiar. So I made it work and Granddad and I lived a very happy life together.”

I watch Grandma as she gets up to clear my plate, shocked by the revelation that Granddad was just the rebound. But they always seemed so in love, so comforted by each other’s presence you couldn’t ever tell. It was a love that bloomed from friendship, hardship, and circumstance, but it was their love and it worked.

So when I tear up at the story and Grandma pulls me into a hug, I let her. I cry for the young love Grandma lost and for Granddad and for never knowing any of this before. Love is beautiful and scary and comforting and overwhelming. I only hope to find it myself one day and have a love story as sweet and honest as Grandma.

When I walk back into the room to finish cleaning, I look around again. Instead of seeing piles of junk and trash, I see memories and cherished moments. I make sure to take extra care of going through the piles after this, filling my soul with love and respect for the man who picked up the pieces of Grandma’s fragile heart and gave her the world.