Grandma Annie and The Dresser - Chapter 2, written by Sandie May Joyce. Please scroll down to read my story.
Chapter 2
Annie found herself sitting on a field of green, looking up to a bright blue sky. The sun was shining brightly. Someone leaned over, casting a shadow over her face.
"Hey, Annie! You want to go into the boat?" She looked up. It was young Tommy's face.
What's going on? What in the world is this place? Why is Tommy so young? He's been already dead for almost 15 years! He was in his 70s when he died.
"Tommy, is that you?" she asked.
"Of course, Annie! What's wrong? Are you alright?"
Grandma Annie looked down at herself and found she was now a 10-year-old version of herself. She was not an old woman anymore. She seemed to have gone back to when she was a child when she and Tommy were best friends. She looked down toward the dock and found George was there, ready to go into a rowboat, but she remembered her parents had told her not to go in any boats to go out into the water. They told her she must only play along the shoreline.
Tommy was now calling her over, beckoning her to join him on the boat.
"No, Ma and Pa will kill me if I do," she answered. She was now aware that she was at a place where she would often go when she was a child. She had come to this lakefront many times before with Tommy. Tommy was 12, two years her senior. The two of them were best friends and they would often go everywhere together - they especially liked to explore the unknown. On some occasions, they would sneak out to make their own childish adventures without their parents' knowledge. They would even get lost and their families and friends have to form a search team to look for them.
Sometimes, the two would climb steep mountains, with only the grass to hold on to while climbing up. Luckily, they were so tiny and light and the grass would hold them well in place. They would climb up to the top of a mountain from one side and descend on the other side, getting lost in another town when trying to get home. Police would call their parents from another city for them to come to pick up their children.
George was now waving at them from the boat, motioning them to come down to the water. George was 15 and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, who lived next door to Tommy.
"Hey, are you guys coming too? I'm about to row this thing out now."
"No, George! We'll just stay along the shoreline and use our fishing nets," said Tommy.
"Okay then. It's up to you guys. There are much bigger fish out there. I'll see you when I get back." George was ready to go out further into the water.
"I hope he's alright to go by himself," Annie said thoughtfully as she and Tommy watched George row the boat out.
Annie and Tommy went down to the shoreline with their fishing nets. They found a lot of little fish swimming in the shallow water. They caught a few small ones with their fishing nets and put them into their fishing baskets. This had been a fun afternoon. Annie was always fascinated by the different types of little fishes. She screamed loudly in delight every time she caught a bigger fish than Tommy. She thought of going home with some of the larger ones so Ma could cook them for dinner. Sometimes Ma would steam them, and sometimes she would fry them. Annie loved it whenever Ma fried the fish, it would always give out such a wonderful aroma that would penetrate her nose and makes her feel extra hungry for the upcoming dinner.
They spent the afternoon in the water. When Annie caught an Angelfish, she cried out in delight. It was so beautiful, she couldn't wait to put it into the fishbowl when she got home.
George came back with some rainbow trouts and white fishes. The three split up their harvests and divided them equally among themselves so each would get some big ones to go home with.
Before long it was time to go home. They went back up to the shore, and Tommy was ready to pack it in. He loaded up his fish and fishing net, but when he turned around he could not find Annie anywhere - she was nowhere in sight.
Somehow, unbeknownst to Tommy, Annie had travelled back into her own bedroom. Now the Annie in the mirror that gazed back at her was the 89-year-old great-grandma, looking back at herself.
What was that? Thought Annie. Was that a hallucination? Or had I just fallen asleep for a moment and had a wild, very vivid dream?
Now the mirror looked clear once again, and she took a long sigh of relief. There! It looks just like new now!
Suddenly, she felt very tired, so she went straight to bed after that.
The following morning Annie woke up bright and early. She was refreshed and felt a sudden burst of energy within her which she had not felt for a long time. She looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly noticed that the crowsfeet that were normally around her eyes were less noticeable now. She seemed to be looking much younger. She looked closely and thought to herself, Wow! That face cream that Susan bought for me really works! I only started using it last night and now my wrinkles are almost gone! What a difference!
Annie was startled by a sudden knock on the door. It was Melissa. She had come to wake her great-grandma up as she would do every morning.
"Good morning, Grandma! How are you this morning?" Melissa's eyes were wide with wonderment as she gazed upon her fresh, well-rested looking great-grandma.
"Wow! You sure are looking beautiful this morning, Grandma! You must have slept really well last night."
"Thanks, sugar! I feel really well too! I feel like I have so much energy!" Annie responded, smiling.
"Oh, that's great! Would you like to come down for breakfast this morning? Mom and I will be going out shopping today, so if you need anything just make out a list so we'll pick them up for you too."
"Nonsense, I'm feeling so great! I'll just tag along," Annie insisted. She felt so good she just wanted to go out rather than to just being cooped up inside the house.
"Are you sure, Grandma? That will be nice!" Melissa was pleasantly surprised by Grandma Annie's sudden burst of energy and enthusiasm.
They spent the morning shopping, and then later stopped at a Chinese restaurant for some lunch. The place was an all-you-can-eat restaurant. It served Chinese; Japanese and Thai food. They ordered the food from the menu, and the waiters and waitresses would bring freshly-made food from the kitchen to their table. The owner, Mr. Chan, spoke fluent English. Susan was happy to have Annie with her and Melissa today to do the shopping, it was a rare treat. Together they dined on escargots, shrimp and pork dumplings, some Thai noodles, chicken wings, and other small dim sums. There were so many choices on the menu they hardly could taste them all, even when they would order over and over again. How pleasing it was to see Grandma Annie still enjoying her birthday even the day after!
End of Chapter 2
Copyright (c) Sandie May Joyce
All Rights Reserved
Fantastic! Somehow, I feel her husband's spirit looming somewhere in this lovely story. I'm waiting for him or not? You keep the reader wanting to find out more for sure, Sandie!!
Love ya!
Jane
Reviewed by Danny Underwood
6/19/2018
This offers a cute twist to the story that will lead us to Grandma Annie's childhood. I'm assuming there's more to come. Enjoyed this very much!
Continuing your delightful story. Much enjoying it. You have a vivid imagination, Sandie; and your muse is with you it seems to me. I have always loved this concept:
Grandma Annie looked down at herself and found she was now a 10-year-old version of herself. She was not an old woman anymore. She seemed to have gone back to when she was a child when she and Tommy were best friends.
I loved my childhood even though we were very poor. I felt safe in my home and family. Hence why I never want to leave my inner child. I never have. As I have said many times, I take it as a compliment when others say that I never grew up.
Well done and continued inspiration to you. Love and best wishes,
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