I Sat on a Grape: A Collection of Short Stories, Essays and Poems

By Vivian Gray

In this collection of stories, essays and poems, find a wondrous world where armchairs fly and inanimate objects lead surprisingly animated lives. Add in realities of everyday life, and a profound respect for all of creation, even rutabagas. You will be gently challenged to examine opinions and assumptions. A grape will never again be just a grape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781503529410

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Vivian Gray.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5035-2942-7

                eBook          978-1-5035-2941-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 12/23/2014

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

And the Roses Grew Thorns

Ouch!

BFF

Best Birthdays

Bedeviled Birthday

Binder Twine Shoes

Turkeys

Blue Sky Biking

Blueberries and Prejudice

Caesar Pup

Chocolate Tears

Cordelia Cane

I Sat on a Grape

Dad’s New Friend

Death Without Dignity

The Owl and the Pussy Cat

Dreamation Levitation

Dr. Seuss - Another Version

Ken and Barbie

Entertainment?

Eye-opener

Faded Glory

A Mother’s Lament

Frenzy to Australia

Getting Nowhere

Escape

Grandma’s Quilt

Grandpa Gets a Casket

His and Hers

Homemade Fun With Nancy Drew Mysteries

Wasted Flakes

I’m Just a Dumb Little Kid

It Was a Stark and Dormy Night

Jabob, the Cat Who Owned a House

Laundering Acorns

Bubbles

Let’s Take the Back Road

Mountain Splendor

Mad Dog Christmas

Misconceptions

Nightmare in Spokane

Nova

(lies, lies, lies)

Farewell, Little Rabbit

On Being Six

One Small Cup

Pages of Gold

Rock Guy

Rutabaga Saga

Teacup Tango

Sisters by Chance

Some Kittens Can Fly

Spur School Memories

Squirrel Talk

Sweet Release

Peace

The Back Forty

The Beacon

The Bubble Gum House

Waiting

The Fun Factory

The Gentle Giant

Serenity

The Omnipotent River

The Ferry

I Wish…

Ultimate Challenge

Then and Now

Things Rich Kids Have That You Will Never Have

Thwack!

Social Obligations of Travel

What if?

Whatever Happened to Lucy?

Why Can’t Mr. Fork and Ms. Outlet Be Friends?

Wiping up the Griping

WOW!

Why?

You’re Different, Is That Bad?

Zip-Lining Through the Costa Rican Jungle

Acknowledgements

My deepest gratitude goes to my daughter, Karen for the cover artwork that brings my stories to life. Kudos also to my daughter Joni who spent hours and hours proofreading and helping me assemble the short stories, essays and bad poetry. With tongue in cheek I refer to my untamed efforts at writing poetry.

I will always be grateful to my dear husband, Dwight, who has graciously taken over kitchen duties, often as his only way of finding a square meal while I sat huddled over my computer. Thanks, too, to unnamed others who have answered questions and researched word usage. As a team we have reached our destination.

Introduction

Thank you for choosing this book. Unlike a book that must be read directly from beginning to end, this book is filled with short writings meant to be picked up and put down again and again.

The variety, including short stories, essays and poetry, is designed to reach readers who have five minutes or fifty minutes to devote to reading. There are a number of one and two page stories that I call storylets, and several stories written especially for children. Writing poetry is not my calling in life, but I also offer here my humble efforts at poetry.

As you delve into these pages, cherish the variety. I hope you will find something to enjoy today, and something to come back to later.

And the Roses Grew Thorns

Rick Dempsey’s life was an open book, honest and forthright. It was hardly the material to fill a best-selling novel, but nonetheless, it was fulfilling to him in its complacency. As the last of five siblings to leave the nest, he experienced days of loneliness after his mother died. He and his father taught themselves the basics of housecleaning, and turned out respectably stable meals in their big farm kitchen. When Rick graduated from high school, turned in his basketball uniform, and returned his tuba to the band room, his next goal was to graduate from State University and secure a teaching position.

His first teaching position was in a large metro school system. It was an older suburb bordering a blighted inner city school district, but still a respectable career step. In his first year he met and courted another teacher. Dinah Schendel soon became his bride. She was a vivacious bundle of enthusiasm in her second grade classroom. Aside from teaching, she loved nice clothes, shopping, and eating out. Dinah and Rick shared a love of animals and nature.

Together they worked, saved, and planned to build a house of their own. The house was four years in the making, with the busy couple doing much of the work themselves after school and on weekends. When the long awaited moving day finally arrived it was truly a rose garden experience. The house sat high on a bluff, overlooking a cool, clear lake untainted by pesticides and sewer run-off. Their large tree-filled lot showcased each season with its own palette of colors. In winter heavy snows on the evergreens painted a private showing of Currier and Ives Christmas cards.

Their second dream came true when they adopted twin baby girls, Kim and Lei. With the staggering cost of an international adoption, double for twins, it was imperative that they maintain two incomes. Dinah only allowed herself a one-semester leave of absence while they adjusted to bottles, diapers and interrupted sleep. Immersion into family living engulfed every aspect of their lives so completely that they scarcely recognized the accompanying hassles, always in doubles.

Kim and Lei adapted early in life to their parents’ loving doting. There were lessons, classes, outings, and every conceivable learning experience. The Dempseys soon became home to Shaggy-Rag, the dog, Pipsqueak, the parakeet, and a pair of beady-eyed, unnamed hamster twins. There were frequent weekend trips to Grandma Schendel’s, and each year a flight to California to spend Christmas with relatives. Transporting the two car seats on the plane and everywhere they went was a no-choice way of life.

While still in their toddler years, the twins were enrolled in acrobat and dance classes, their first recital coming at age five. Their matching pink tutus, overloaded with stars, sequins, and layers of scratchy nylon net, added volume to their tiny bodies. Their dance styles expressed their divergent personalities. Kim displayed an aggressive rock beat to her movements, while Lei moved like a butterfly in flight, both to the same music. The proud parents saw only the shiny black hair, their coal-black eyes, and perfect little bodies. To the Dempseys, life was truly a garden of roses.

Summers were spent catching up on all the things that were put off during the school year, but both Dinah and Rick reserved time enough to take classes at the university, eventually earning their Masters’ Degrees.

When a position opened at a nearby Technical College, Rick grabbed the brass ring and landed the job. The friendly staff, new buildings, and increased salary reinforced his decision to move from his teaching position at Lincoln High. Euphoria engulfed him.

This is the first rung on the success ladder, he boasted. When he realized that his high school teaching certificate was about to expire, he chose not to update it with summer school classes.

I’ll never take a step backward again, he said. When I see what I need, I’ll take classes appropriate to my new position.

Meanwhile, Dinah’s seniority escalated as she added years of experience at Bayfield Elementary School. Kim and Lei were enrolled in another elementary school. The after-school program in their school provided endless learning experiences for them.

One grey and rainy April day, Rick arrived home before Dinah and the girls. The wind blew raw and cold as it whistled through trees still waiting to don their spring wardrobes.

A fire in the fireplace would provide a cozy welcome for the family, Rick said to himself. There’s still some firewood left in the garage.

In almost no time, he had a crackling fire going and coffee perking. He walked down the long, steep driveway to his mailbox and picked up one lone piece of mail, an envelope bearing his tech school’s logo on the return address.

He poured a cup of coffee, sat down, and opened the letter, pulling out a pink sheet neatly folded in thirds.

What’s this? he asked. Not… oh no, not a pink slip as in ‘no job’! He had only to read the words position terminated effective July 1, to feel the dreadful impact of the message.

How could this be? he asked, his voice drowning out the crackling flames. His fingers trembled, his stomach retched, and thoughts buzzed in his head like a swarm of bees buzzing around a hive.

"How will I tell Dinah and the twins? How could eight-year-olds possibly understand? Maybe I should just run away quickly before they come home. No, that’s not rational. Think, think. Do something now!" he told himself.

He thought about the payments on the new RV, used only three times that first summer. He thought about the house mortgage, and the payments on Dinah’s new car. He thought about all the lumber he had purchased to build a deck, and he thought about the summer vacation they had planned. He thought about his expired high school teaching credentials as he stared into the fire, not really seeing it. He was aroused from his trance by the sound of footsteps and laughter as the female trio arrived home.

Oh goody, daddy built a fire! Can we eat our dinner on the hearth? the girls chimed in unison. It was not unusual for one girl to start a sentence and have the other one finish it. They were best friends and buddies.

The truth must come out, even if it means bursting their happy bubble. Rick launched a lengthy family discussion, explaining that without his income, they would have to cut back and scale down expenses. He promised to look for another job right away, but that promise did little to solve the immediate crisis. Later that evening Lei crept out of bed with her own little savings passport book clutched in her hand. She climbed onto her father’s lap and placed the passbook in his hands.

Will this be enough to pay for the camper? I don’t want you to sell it," she whispered as she patted her father’s bearded cheek.

The next morning Rick left for work earlier than usual. He tidied up and organized the hand-outs to be used as he guided incoming summer school students on a tour of the facility. There was just enough time left for a cup of vending machine coffee. He wiped yesterday’s coffee stains from his desk and with a fresh cup of coffee in hand to buoy up his nerve, he called Mr. Allen, the personnel director, hoping to make an appointment for a serious discussion. Anyone knew that this school couldn’t function without a media librarian. What had he done wrong? Why were they letting him go? He dialed. The phone rang  . . . four times… five times… and six.

I won’t back down, he muttered to himself. The answering voice was that ever so sweet Denise, Mr. Allen’s secretary. Better be nice to her, this isn’t her fault.

I’m sorry, Mr. Allen won’t be in the office until tomorrow, she said.

Damn! The bastard doesn’t dare face me. Another sleepless night. This whole mess has to be a mistake anyhow. Rick pounded his fist on the desk, spilling his coffee again.

Indeed, it did turn out to be a mistake, an honest mistake. Within two days, Rick’s position was reinstated. A computer glitch? An error in judgment? Juggling of funds? Misplaced priorities? A sudden windfall for the school?

He might never know the real reason. The logic of the explanation was flimsy, but all that really mattered was the sincere apology from Mr. Rodney Allen, along with the assurance that his position was secure.

Now I’ll call Dinah with the good news, he said. This is important enough to be considered an emergency phone call. When he heard Dinah’s voice, only the briefest message was necessary. Happy tears, as if merging within the telephone wires, brought the couple into a oneness of mind and spirit.

Two days later Rick ran lightheartedly up the steps and into their kitchen as he returned from work. Dinah stood at the sink peeling apples, with her back to him. Almost too roughly, he grabbed her and twirled her into his arms.

Let’s celebrate, he said. Where would you like to… Dinah’s tear-stained face froze him in mid-sentence. With her nose running and her shoulders jerking, she tried to curb her sobs as she blurted out her grief.

Rick, you aren’t going to believe this, but today I got asked to move to Valley View School next year. It was the newest school in the district, but being on the opposite part of the district would add another fifteen minutes of drive time each way, plus picking up the twins would be out of the way adding more drive time.

Rick’s mouth hung open in silence as he tried to comprehend this latest twist of fate. In the next days they learned that this time it was for real. With Dinah’s dedication to her job, the school was obviously sacrificing faithful experience for the proverbial thirty pieces of silver. The new principal should have been able to see that even if he was still wet behind the ears.

Together the Dempseys shed a few tears. If only they could wake up from this nightmare and realize it was a mistake like Rick’s was, but this time there was no second chance.

Surely there were other positions available in other suburbs, but it was a major disruption in their lives. Dinah had always been a dedicated teacher. The other staff members were like family to her and surrogate grandparents to Kim and Lei. Now Dinah would lose contact with those dear students who had started under her tutelage. It was always special when former students stopped in just to talk. Relationships were being torn asunder. Trust and security were waning. Their future might hold brighter days, but right now they couldn’t see tomorrow. Their garden of roses was tangled with thorns.

Ouch!

Against the tide she lives her pain.

Under her flesh the crackling bones

claw her body, maul her mind.

The path grows wider as she paddles

up the stream, against the tide.

BFF

Five year old Zach bounded up the steps of his best friend’s house. Without knocking he pressed his hands and face against the screen door and called out, Hey Ryan, do you wanna go over and see if the new boy can come out and play?

Ryan was sitting on his knees, his feet toed out behind him. He was watching TV and made no effort to move. Well what if he doesn’t want to play? he asked without turning his head.

I know he will. Come ON, let’s go.

Ryan got up, peeled off his socks, left the TV on, and yelled to his mother, Hey, Mom, I’m going out to play with Zach. As they jostled each other down the curving sidewalk, Zach said, I know his name.

I bet you don’t.

I do, too. My mom told me. It’s Nick.

I bet you don’t know how old he is!

You don’t either. I think he’s - - - - um - - - - I think he’s seven. And I heard barking over there. I think he has a dog.

I wonder if it’s a big dog, said Ryan. His steps slowed as he ran his finger across the scar on the side of his face. He hadn’t forgotten the dog bite even though he was only three years old when it happened. He liked little dogs, friendly ones, but not big scary ones. By this time they were up the steps of the new neighbors’ house.

You knock, pleaded Ryan.

Okay, but -

And you ask, too - okay?

There was no need to knock. Before they had a chance to knock a young boy opened the door and said, Hi. My name’s Nick and I have a new little puppy. Would you like to hold him? Zach reached for the tiny bundle as Ryan stepped back a step, then forward and petted its furry head ever so gently.

I have my own room and it has bunk beds built right into the wall and it has drawers under it. For my seventh birthday I’m gonna get a bike. My dad says some day he’s gonna take me to see the big factory where he works. Do you have a Nintendo game?

Nick hardly came up for air. In that instant a friendship had been launched.

Best Birthdays

Where we grew up on a farm in northern Minnesota we had a pleasant family tradition. On the day of our birthdays we had complete freedom from work and any responsibility - sleep late, leave our rooms messy, play all day, no dishes to do, no chores of any kind. My sister’s birthday and mine were just two days apart in June. We both chose the middle day as our free day, and spent it picking wild strawberries - sweet tasty little gems no bigger than the tip of a child’s pinky finger. If we could pick