Grandfather's Dance Read Online Free PDF

close my eyes to keep everything there.
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11
    T he photographer Joshua came to take a family picture. He waited for the aunts to comb their hair and put red on their cheeks. He grinned at Mama.
    “I remember years ago when you first came here. I took a picture of you and Jacob and Caleb—he was little then. And Anna. And the dogs.” He looked at Lottie and Nick.
    “They’re a little older now.”
    “We all are,” said Mama. “Anna married Justin this past week.”
    “So I heard,” said Joshua.
    Joshua shook Grandfather’s hand.
    “Hello, John,” he said.
    “I’m older, too,” said Grandfather with a smile.
    The aunts came out onto the porch. Aunt Harriet and Aunt Mattie wore their traveling dresses and fancy shoes. Aunt Lou wore her overalls.
    “I want to be remembered in my overalls,” said Aunt Lou.
    “You will,” said Grandfather. “Believe me, you will.”
    Mama and William laughed.
    “That’s how we think of you,” said William.
    “You see me every day,” Aunt Lou said to William. “You don’t have to remember me. But I probably won’t get back here anytime soon.”
    Suddenly my chest felt tight.
    “You could stay longer,” I said.
    “Oh, Cassie,” said Aunt Harriet. “We have gardens to get back to. Things to take care of. Meg has been taking care of Lou’s dog.”
    My eyes filled up with tears.
    “Cassie, dear . . . ,” said Aunt Mattie, putting her arms around me. “We’d love to stay. We’ll come back again.”
    This made me cry harder.
    “Cassie, next year you can come visit us in Maine,” said William. “Would you like that?”
    I nodded.
    “But that’s next year,” I said sadly.
    “I’m ready!” called Joshua. “Gather up, everyone. Wipe those tears away, Cassie.”
    The aunts arranged themselves next to Mama and Papa. William patted the dogs. Grandfather stood next to me, Jack in his arms.
    “Wait,” said Papa. “Someone’s coming.”
    Dust rose as a car drove up the road. Mama shaded her eyes from the sun. Joshua turned to watch.
    “It’s Anna and Justin!” I said.
    “We couldn’t miss the family picture,” Anna called out the car window.
    “My first,” said Justin.
    “Not your last,” said Grandfather. “You can stand behind Cassie.”
    Anna smoothed my hair back. Justin poked me.
    “All looking here now,” called Joshua.
    “You’re not much to look at,” said Grandfather softly. “I’d rather look at Zeke in the meadow.”
    “Zeke in the meadow,” said Jack.
    We laughed, and just as I looked up at Grandfather, Joshua took a picture. Joshua took many more as the aunts laughed and the sun rose high in the sky. A wind came up and Aunt Harriet’s hat flew away. Papa ran and brought it back to her. And soon, Jack fell asleep. Grandfather handed him to Mama and put his arm around me.
    Far off, the cattle moved to the slough for water. Zeke ran with Molly along the fence. Lottie and Nick stood between Grandfather and me, their fur warm.
    “Beautiful,” said Joshua.
    “Yes,” said Grandfather, looking out at the prairie.
    “Oh, yes,” said Aunt Harriet.
    “Oh, yes,” said Jack, half awake, half asleep.
    Yes.
     
    Joshua began packing up. Grandfather walked to the barn, Jack following him. Joshua turned.
    “John! Stop for a moment. I want to take a picture of you in front of the barn. Where’s your hat?”
    “Here,” I said.
    I ran over and handed Grandfather his big black hat. Jack reached up and took his hand.
    “Cassie,” said Grandfather. “I want you in this picture.”
    Joshua nodded at me.
    “Go on,” he said.
    I took Grandfather’s other hand. Little swirls of wind made circles in the dirt in the yard. I could smell the roses on the fence.
    “Smile,” called Joshua.
    “You don’t have to smile if you don’t want to,” said Grandfather.
    I grinned.
    The camera shutter clicked.
    “That’s it,” called Joshua. “The end.”
    Later, all of my life, I would hear the echo of Joshua’s words.
    All of my