Neither Ardath nor Arthur knew exactly what Grandfather looked like. They knew he was actually their Great Grandfather , but everyone called him, just Grandfather from Bucks County.
Father had told them that Grandfather was "camera shy". That meant he never allowed anyone to take his picture with a camera. That is why they did not know what he really looked like. They had been told that he was "very old and very, very wise." This made them think he may look like the old people they knew in Phoenix. They thought he may even walk with a cane as many old people needed to do so they could steady themselves.
Will trotted past an old brick school house o the left, where children no longer went to school. Then he turned right, into a driveway, through a garden. There were brownstone garden walls with hundreds of roses peeping over the edges of the wall.
A man was working in the garden with a long handled tool, but they could not see what he was doing. On his head was a pale straw hat. When he saw them coming, he carefully placed his tool on the garden wall and came toward the drive to meet them, as he waved his hand.
Father and Mother waved back and smiled. The children waved and smiled, too. They were too far away to see the man's face, but both Ardath and Arthur felt that he was smiling at them.
"That is Grandfather," Mother whispered. "He has been hoeing his roses while he was waiting for us." Mother's voice was hushed and happy. This made the children feel happy, too, because their Mother felt happy.
Will slowed his pace to a walk as he stopped at the exact spot where Father's and Great Grandfather's outstretched hand could meet. Arthur had a fleeting wonder of how Will knew to stop at the right place.
Father got out of the surrey. Grandfather placed a firm left hand on his shoulder. As the two men gripped right hands, they gazed for a moment into each other's eyes. The children knew they were glad to see each other even if they did not say so. Grandfather then turned to ardath and took both her hands to help her out of the surrey. She watched the iron step of the carriage so she would not miss it, then stepped onto the drive.
"What a lovely young lady," Grandfather admired.
Arthur didn't wait to be helped, but jumped to the ground alone.
"Well, well, what a brisk young man we have here." Grandfather said as he shook hands with Arthur and patted his head, approvingly.
As the children were meeting Grandfather, for the first time, they could remember of, Father helped Mother out of the surrey. Mother was the grand-daughter of great grandfather, they had been told. So, Grandfather was especially glad to see her. He put his arm around her, protectively and Mother kissed Grandfather, affectionately, on the cheek.
Everyone seemed to be talking at once as Grandfather led
the way to the steps of the big stone house with deep woodland
back of it. Questions were being asked of one another. Father
said the trees had grown tall since he had seen them three years
before and Mother said the gardens had never been more beautiful.
Will, the big white horse, waited patiently in the drive while
Adam took the luggage from the back of the surrey. He switched
his tail and moved his head up and down every few minutes to chase
off flies.
|Top|