The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Short Editor's Note: I suggest you have Kleenex at hand, for this one.

Chapter 32 

The Feast

Timmy was like a cat on a hot tin roof.  He was constantly checking the clock and the agenda.  At ten minutes until one he went to get Ben and Grant to tell them it was time to go get Grandmother. “I told her you would be at her house by one o’clock.”

At 1:45, I sent Timmy to get Dad so he could carve the turkey, since neither Tanner nor I knew how to do it.  While Dad was carving the turkey, Morgan was putting the drinks on the table and Timmy was putting a small dish of lemon sherbet at each place.  Timmy went to tell Lauren that dinner was ready.  Timmy escorted Grandmother and Mother to the table while Tanner, Morgan, Ben, Grant and I put the food on the table.

When everyone was seated Dad said a prayer,

 “Dear Lord, bless this food.  It is the first real Thanksgiving celebration for some of us, and a special meal for all of us.  We thank you for our bounty.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.”

Lauren asked, “Why are we starting the meal with sherbet?  We’ve never done that before.”

Timmy grinned, “We read an article that said it was a good idea to start off a special meal with either lemon or lime sherbet so that the taste buds would be cleaned and the food would taste better,”

Ben laughed, “I guess we need to check to see if what the article said was true.”

After everyone had finished their sherbet, Tanner and I took away the compotes and rejoined the others in the dining room.”

I watched as people loaded their plates with the turkey and the trimmings.  I noticed that Mother and Timmy were making sure that Grandmother had everything she wanted.  I suddenly had a panicky thought, ‘Timmy isn’t going to enjoy his meal, because he’s worried more about Grandmother than eating.’

Timmy finally started to eat and I could tell that he was having a difficult time finishing everything on his plate, “Timmy, eat only as much as you want.  We can always save the rest for a snack.”

Timmy looked up at me with tears in his eyes, “I guess my eyes were bigger than my tummy.”

Dad grinned, “Timmy, I don’t think you’re the only person who needs to have their eyes checked.  I guess there will be a lot of leftover meals in the refrigerator.”

Timmy looked at Grandmother, “Grandmother, is this like the Thanksgiving dinner you remembered when you were little like me?”

“Timmy, this meal was even better than what I remembered when I was growing up.  I can hardly wait to taste the pies.”

Timmy nodded, “We’re going to take care of the cleanup before we have our dessert, since we’re all pretty full.  Why don’t you go talk to Daddy and Mother while we make things disappear?”

Grandmother shook her head no, “I’d rather sit in the kitchen and boss you young people around and make sure you’re doing things right.”

Lauren had disappeared as soon as she ate, Timmy asked, “Daddy and Mother, has Lauren had her medicine?”

Mother shook her head no, “The pill that she needs to take now needs to be taken with food.  I’ll go make sure she takes it.”

When Mother returned to the kitchen, she was shaking her head, “Lauren feels that you’re ignoring her.  She doesn’t think you want her around, because you didn’t ask her to do anything.”

Timmy shook his head, “Mother, that makes no sense.  If she would like to help us, then why didn’t she come and ask what she could do, like Ben and Grant did?”

Grandmother shook her finger, “Becca, Lauren hasn’t accepted that she isn’t the queen pin of the family.  She needs to understand that it takes everyone working together to make a family.”

When we had Grandmother settled at the table for dessert, Timmy announced, “I’ll go tell Lauren that we’re getting ready to eat dessert.”

Grandmother grabbed Timmy’s arm, “Timmy, she knew we were going to have dessert.  Don’t call her.  If she misses dessert, so be it.  If you go tell her, then she will think that she’s controlling what’s happening.”

Tanner looked at me with a look that said ‘What’s going on?’

Grandmother loved both the chocolate angle pie and the pumpkin pie with real whipped cream.  After she finished her pie, she asked, “Could I have a turkey sandwich, some of both kinds of stuffing's, some of the cranberry fruit salad and a piece of each kind of pie to take home?”

Timmy stood, “You got it, lady.  It will take us a couple of minutes to package such a big order.”

Everyone was laughing when Lauren came into the dining room.  “How come no one told me that dessert was being served?  I suppose that you ate all the pies?”

Timmy went and stood in front of Lauren, “We aren’t your servants.  If you want to be part of the family, then act like it.  We’re tired of you acting as if you’re better than the rest of us.  You have not helped with anything since you got home.  For your information, there is lots of pie left.  If you want some, get it for yourself.  We aren’t going to wait on you.  Grandmother, Morgan and I will fix your snack and then we’ll take you home.”

I was waiting for an explosion, but there was none, even though Lauren was shoveling in two pieces of pie while Timmy and Morgan were fixing the food to take to Grandmother’s house.”

When Tanner, Timmy, Morgan and I had Grandmother settled, Timmy reminded her, “Grandmother, make sure you call us if you need anything.  We don’t have anything to do for the next three days.”

After we had a snack about seven o’clock, Timmy announced, “I’m going to get ready for bed, I’m kinda tired.”

When Tanner and I went to get ready for bed, Timmy was lightly sawing logs.  Tanner and I got ready for bed and I don’t think either of us lasted long.  We were awakened by Timmy crying, “Brian, something’s wrong with Grandmother.  I gotta go tell Daddy and Mother.  We gotta go help her.”

Tanner and I were getting dressed when Timmy returned, “We’re going to go check on Grandmother.”

When we arrived at Grandmother’s condo, the lights were on and I looked at the clock on the dash board and it said it was 11:07.  When we entered, Timmy led us to the kitchen.  Grandmother was lying with her head on table with a smile on her face.  In front of her were the containers we had sent the food home in for her.

Dad felt the veins in her neck and her pulse and turned to me, “Brian, call 911 and tell them that there has been a death at this location.”

When I returned from making the call, Timmy threw his arms around me, “Brian, please say that Grandmother isn’t dead.”

There was a clap of thunder even though it was the end of November and a voice was saying, “Timmy, your Grandmother is standing here beside me.  She wants to talk to all of you who are at her old house.  This will be the last time that she will be able to talk to you, so listen and listen well.”

Grandmother’s voice started to speak, “Beau and Becca, I want to thank you for all that you have done for me.  I have lived a far better life because of you than would have been otherwise possible.  Make sure that you follow the instructions in my will, as I meant it to be done.  Timmy, Tanner and especially you, Timmy, made it possible to live beyond my intended time.  It’s too bad that everyone can’t be as caring as the three of you.  Timmy, I know you’re young, but I would like for you to give the eulogy at my funeral service.  I know that whatever you say will be from the heart, and not what you think people want to hear.”

Grandpa Nappy’s voice announced, “Grandmother Gleason will not be able to talk to you again.  It’s too bad that she wasn’t a little younger or she could have been one of us.  We found her too late, but she leaves a good legacy behind.”

The paramedics arrived and announced that Grandmother Gleason was dead.  The lead paramedic asked, “Who will be handling the funeral?”

Dad answered, “The Kahler Funeral Home will be taking care of the funeral arrangements.”

We watched as the paramedics took Grandmother’s body to their van.  Timmy was clinging to me, “Brian, I don’t understand what's happening.  I think I’m going to be sick.”

When we got back to the house, I gave Timmy a Tylenol tablet because I didn’t know how else to get him to relax.  I figured that Dad and Mother had enough on their plates already.   Timmy went out like a light, but Tanner and I sat and talked about what was happening, before we went to sleep.

Timmy woke us in the morning, “Brian and Tanner, don’t we need to do something to help Daddy and Mother.”

I hugged Timmy, “Timmy, I’m sure that Grandmother left explicit directions as to what she wanted done.  Let’s wait and see what Dad and Mother have to say.  We probably should stay out of their way, so they can get everything done.  Why don’t we go for a run to help us relax?”

 

When Tanner, Timmy and I returned from our run, there were two cars parked in front of the house.  As we were walking up the sidewalk, two ladies came out of the house.  I knew both of them from church.  Mrs. Boatwright grinned, “We brought you some food to keep you going.  Brian, I don’t think I know the other two gentlemen.”

Mrs. Boatwright and Mrs. Vik, “These are my two brothers whom my parents have adopted, Timmy and Tanner.”

After the introductions were completed and the ladies had departed, we went into the house.  Mother was complaining, “How did everyone find out what happened so fast?” 

Friday and Saturday had to be the longest days in history.  People kept stopping by the house and leaving food.  When we were eating dinner on Saturday night, Timmy looked at Dad and Mother, “Daddy and Mother, you need to get some rest.  We can’t have you getting sick.  If visitors come to see you, we’ll tell them that you’re busy.”

The viewing was scheduled for Sunday evening with the family to be available from seven until eight.  I had Tanner take me to the funeral home Sunday afternoon, so I could do an oil painting of Grandmother in her coffin, when no one else was around.  At six o’clock, the funeral director tapped me on the shoulder, “Brian, people will be arriving soon.  They always come early for the viewings.”

He looked at the painting that I had done.  He looked at Grandmother in the coffin and my painting again and muttered, “Brian, you are a remarkable talent.”

I called the house and asked that someone come pick me up, so I could get changed to meet the people who would be at the funeral home.  I figured that Timmy, Tanner and I would be out of there by seven thirty at the latest.

Tanner picked me up and he chewed my butt, “Brian, Timmy has been beside himself worrying about why you disappeared.  Your friends have been calling to talk to you, all afternoon.”

I grabbed a meal from a casserole that someone had brought and went to take a shower.

When we arrived at the funeral home, just before seven, the parking lot was full.  We had to park in the auxiliary lot of the church across the street.  Mother and Dad were greeting people and Lauren was standing right beside them.  The rest of us stood off to the side.  I was thinking that if people wanted to talk to us, then they would come and talk to us.

It was about seven fifteen when the football team, Coach Henderson and the staff arrived.  They went by the coffin and came to where Tanner, Timmy and I were standing.  John spoke for the team, “Brian, Tanner and Timmy we know how important your Grandmother was to you, We wanted to come tonight to pay our respects, since we have classes tomorrow.”

I lost it and started to shed tears even though I had vowed that I wouldn’t.  I excused myself and went to the restroom to regain my composure.

It was nearly 8:30 when people stopped arriving and we could finally go home.  I was emotionally drained.  There was absolutely no talking in Tanner’s car, as we rode home.”

When we entered the house, I looked at Tanner and Timmy. None of us said a word but went to get ready for bed.  The next morning when I woke up, Timmy was sitting by the window looking out.  When he saw that I was awake, he asked, “Brian what’s a eulogy and what am I suppose to say?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Timmy, a eulogy means to talk about good things that someone has done.  Timmy, just say what you are feeling when it is time for you to talk, today.  You’ll do fine.  Wake your lazy brothers and see if they want to go running with us.  It will help us forget what’s going to happen today.”

I was surprised when Ben and Grant went running with us.  It was a good thing that they did because they were able to keep Timmy from thinking about what was going to happen the rest of the day.

I guess I forgot to mention that in addition to everything else. Grandmother had specified that her five great grandsons and Chris Jameson were to be the pall bearers.  We had to be at the church ahead of time, to receive instructions.  When the six of us walked into the church, Grandmother’s coffin was open and she looked as if she was at peace.  She was wearing the pin that Timmy, Tanner and I had given her.  It was sparkling in the sunlight coming through the window. 

Timmy went to the funeral director, “Mister, you aren’t going to bury Grandmother like that are you?”

The gentleman shook his head no, “Timmy, we’ll close the casket just before we take it into the sanctuary.  It won’t be opened again after that.”

Father Wanamaker came to where the family was gathered and said a prayer before he, the parents, Lauren and Morgan went into the sanctuary.  When Dad, Mother and the sisters were in place.  The organist started to play a different song and the funeral director motioned for us to follow the casket into the sanctuary. I was surprised to see how full the sanctuary was.  It was difficult to tell who anyone was, since all we could see was the back of their heads. 

When the casket was in place, Ben led us to our seats; Timmy was seated on the aisle across from Dad and Mother, next to me.  The service was proceeding as scheduled when Father Wanamaker looked at Timmy.  “Ladies and Gentlemen, Mrs. Gleason specifically asked that Timothy Benson give some remarks during the service.  Timmy, please come forward.”

Timmy went to the lectern which had a platform so he could see the people.  Dad looked at me and I just shrugged my shoulders.  Timmy began, “I am honored that Grandmother Gleason wanted me to say a few words, today.  Most of you knew her much longer than I did.  I’ve been listening to what people have said when they were visiting with the parents and what people said at the viewing last evening.  I did not hear anyone say anything bad about Grandmother.”

“I also get the feeling that Grandmother had some very bad times in her life.  She didn’t let those bad times make her angry and bitter.  During the last part of her life, she devoted most of her time to making this a better world for people.  That’s why she requested that any memorials be designated for the church’s food pantry.”

“Before I stop, I need to tell you that the person you saw in the casket was just the body that Grandmother used while she was alive.  She is no longer in that body, but is already in heaven.” 

As Timmy was walking back to the seat, there was an eerie silence.  When Timmy sat down, he tapped my arm.  I leaned over, so he could whisper something to me, “Brian, I think Grandmother and Nappy were here and took Grandmother’s angel pin.”

I thought to myself, ‘Surely, Timmy’s wrong.  Isn’t he?’

To be continued...

Editor's Note: I am so sorry that Grandmother Gleason passed away.

She did have a long life. I did have a feeling that she wasn't going to live much longer, but I was hoping that with Timmy's encouragement, she might have been able to live a bit longer.  A very sad chapter.  I am glad that Grandmother Gleason was able to enjoy her Thanksgiving, with her family.

I wonder if Lauren has learned any lessons, from her encounter with Timmy. 

I am ready for the next chapter

Darryl AKA the Radio Rancher

Posted: 07/30/10