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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: End (02/13/06)
It Never Ends

Grandpa Edward’s house was down a long gravel driveway that seemed like it would never end, with birch trees and wild mint growing on each side. I had spent many an hour chewing on that mint while my brother and I would run through the woods and play along side the pond that was nestled right in the middle of Gramps property.
We begged to spend nearly every weekend there and every time we convinced Mom to call or we snuck and called on our own, Gramps would always say, “Sure, come on down. It’s been way to quite around here anyway.” Just last weekend we were here trying our hand at fishing in the pond. I wasn’t too good at it yet and I caught my brother, Sam right in the ear with the hook. I left him bleeding and bawling on the bank, holding my pole and his own as I ran down the path to Gramps. I hadn’t made it to far when I tripped on an exposed root, scuffed my knees, bloodied my nose and bent the rims on my glasses. I didn’t cry, I didn’t have time, Sam was in a far worse way and wouldn’t appreciate me fretting over a little blood and a tear in my pants.
I finally reached Gramps working in his vegetable garden. The second he saw me he scolded, “Child, what ever happened to you? You look a mess. Your Momma would have my hide if she saw you right now. Lets get you in and see what is what here.” He already had my hand and was leading me towards the house before I could tell him about Sam. When I did manage to spit it out he simply changed directions and said, “I tell ya, it never ends with you too.”
That wasn’t the first time I had heard him say that. Come to think on it, we was always getting into some fracas or another every time we came to Gramps. It wasn’t like we wanted to cause troubles, we just kept finding ourselves right in the middle of it. I think that’s why I overheard Momma sayin to Gramps on the phone, “Are you sure Dad? They are a lot to handle. You don’t have to have them over every single weekend.” I thought for sure, we had done it now and wouldn’t get to spend the weekend with Gramps ever again, but right after she hung up she told us to get out coats and get in the car.
When we got to the house, Gramps didn’t come out to greet us like he usually does. Momma said, “Your Grandpa said he’d be out in his garden. I told him I would just drop you off so I could go get my hair done. Now you go find him and let him know you’re here before you go and run off, and don’t go far. I’ll only be a couple of hours.”
Sam and I ran to the garden to beat all. At first I didn’t see him, he was bent way over just like he was weeding.. When I called, he looked over at me and I knew something was terrible wrong. His color wasn’t right and his face was all screwed up. I ran to him, Sam right behind me and we put our arms around him.
“Gramps your sick. What can we do?” I helped him lay down in between the beans and the spinach rows, his head on Sam’s lap.
“No, nothing,” he managed to say, “It’s my time to go.” We both started crying and then he raised his hands to hush us. “I love you both, that won’t stop. It never ends…it never ends with you two.”
His eyes were closed now and me and Sam just sat there looking at him. I was right after all, we wouldn’t get to spend another weekend with Gramps, ever again. Relatives and friends had now started to gather at Gramps house making plans. Momma still had tears in her eyes as she gave me a hug. “You okay, she asked, “Don’t worry, we’ll go home soon.”
I didn’t want to go. What I wanted was to walk through the garden and the woods and splash in the pond. But more than anything else, I wanted to smell the mint as I walked down Grandpa Edwards gravel driveway, wishing it would never end.
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This article has been read 780 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Patricia Charlton
02/23/06
Just a kind reminder that this would be a easier read, if you put a space between your paragraghs. Thanks for share your story.
Marilyn Schnepp 
02/24/06
Without separation of paragraphs, this is a daunting task for a Reader; so my suggestion would be to make it more Reader Friendly with shorter paragraphs and double spacing. Thank you.
Edy T Johnson
02/27/06
This is great writing, even though a bit of editing would help. You do know how to tell a story well, which is the main ingredient! Sometimes it is hard to rein in that creative flow. Do get it written down on paper without worrying about anything else. Just don't forget the final edit step. Keep up writing---I'd like to read more!
Edy T Johnson
02/27/06
p.s. And, I find it delightful how you worked in your title "It Never Ends" all the way through your story! Good job!