5

 

        JANICE

 

   See?  I told you everybody would be here before us.  There's Susie and Wes's car.  I told you.

    Uh huh.  You told me.

    He looks straight ahead, totally wrapped up in whether we'll make it around the corner or not, not caring if the family sees us come in late or not.  That is mine to worry about.  Derek pulls at my collar and scratches me with his tiny little fingernails, pressing his face against me.  No, I tell him, none of that now.  I have a bottle here, and your mammaw'll have something for you to eat.  Yes, yes, she will.  I run my fingers over the little bit of softness on his head.  Yes.

    The wind has stopped hitting my face.  The feeling of rolling I get in my stomach stops, and I know, without looking, that we've come to a halt.  Jim opens his door and reaches around behind the seat, swinging Jimmy over and into his arms.  He puts him on the ground.

    Jimmy, now you stay close.  Don't go near the street.  Jim, can you get the baby bag and my jello salad?  I hold Derek against my shoulder and step down to the driveway.  He fidgets and squirms, and I realize that I've been holding him too tight.  I'm sorry sweetie.

    Mama is talking to Wes.  When she sees me, she touches his arm and comes to help me.  She takes the bottle from my hand and says hello to Jim.  Jimmy wraps his arms around her leg, and she laughs, walking like that, him holding on and dragging behind her.  Is there something on my leg?  Boy, my leg feels heavy!  Art, do you see anything--a bug maybe--on my leg?  She hobbles over to Uncle Art.  Jimmy is giggling so hard he has to gulp for air.

    No Elvira, I don't see anything.

    The trees stand not more than twenty feet off; only their leaves move in the breeze.  They are so much alone there, not caring that we're here.  The leaves are new and pale green.  My mouth waters at the color.  There is something about spring.  I feel the air come and go in my body like it was not mine and I am over there, in the trees, apart from the coming and going.  There are two families here, the people and the trees.  The feel the air coming from both but it is a different air.  The smell is different.

    I'm sorry we're late.

    Oh, you're not late, Mom says.  Art's just now getting the fire started and we don't even have the table all set up.  Go over and see your grandfather.  He's over on the porch.

    His eyes are in the orchard, watching for deer.  Even if there was a herd of deer he wouldn't see them; his glasses are filthy.  I don't think he can see that far anyway.  He sits there, his feet spread out on the cement, watching us out of the corners of his eyes.  He sees everything.  I've watched him too long not to know that.  Watch him and know when he is watching you.  I hear something, a voice--telling me that like I hear the hum in my own body; I hear it like it comes from within me, and it makes me stay near him, afraid to not listen.

    The cement is still damp.  I prop Derek on my thigh and look into that faraway face.  Grandpa?

    He lifts his teeth free and squints harder into the trees.  The teeth settle again with a clicking sound.

    Grandpa, I say louder.

    Eh?  Janice?

    Yeah, Grandpa, it's me.  I brought the baby over to see you.  For you to see.

    His face seems to come apart, twisting one way and then the other.  Jimmy boy, come over here.  He clicks his teeth.  Come here.  He waggles his finger in Derek's face.

    This is Derek, Grandpa.

    Sure it is.

    Jimmy is over with Mom.

    Eh?

    Jimmy.  He's over there with Mom.  See, over by the tables?  See?

    Uh huh.

    I don't think he knows what I said.  He just agrees to get the explaining over with, to stop the fuss.

    Susan here?

    Yeah. Grandpa, she got here just before we did.  She's over with her mother and father.  He nods and looks away.  I'm dismissed.  She'll be over to see you later.  He takes no notice of our leaving.

    I wander in amongst them, leaving him there.  I hitch Derek higher on my shoulder and say, to no one in particular, Don't you just love it when the whole family gets together?  I just love it!