Read Online Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan - Free Book Online Page A

brother.”
    Mama grinned.
    “The aunts and William! I invited them to Anna’s wedding.”
    Quickly, Mama opened the letter.
    “Old women in the house. That’s all we need,” grumped Grandfather.
    “That from an old man, of course,” said Papa.
    “They’re coming! All of them!” said Mama. “Except for Meg. Meg can’t come.”
    Meg was William’s wife.
    Mama’s eyes filled with tears.
    Papa got up and put his arms around her.
    “I know,” he said softly. “It’s been a long, long time.”
    “Where will they stay?” I asked.
    “In the barn,” whispered Grandfather. “We’ll throw down some blankets.”
    “We’ll make room,” said Papa. “Harriet and Mattie and Lou can stay in Caleb’s room. That’s something to think about.”
    “ I’ll stay in the barn,” said Grandfather in a strong voice.
    “Doggie stay in barn,” said Jack.
    Grandfather reached over and took Jack’s hand.
    “You bet,” he said.
     
    It was dark outside. Mama was sewing, the light of the lamp falling across a white dress. The dogs sat nearby, Lottie at her feet, Nick by the wood stove.
    “What are you doing?”
    Mama looked up.
    “I’m sewing my old wedding dress. For Anna.”
    I nodded.
    “Why do people get married?” I asked.
    “They love each other. They want to spend their lives together.”
    “I don’t love anyone for marrying,” I said. “Except for Lottie and Nick. Do you think I could marry a dog?”
    Mama smiled.
    “That would be nice,” she said. “They are always glad to see you. Always forgiving if you speak sharply to them. They love you no matter what.”
    She bit off a piece of thread.
    “I think marrying a dog would be splendid.”
    “Me, too.”
    Mama and I smiled at each other.
    “You’re happy that the aunts are coming?”
    “And my brother, William.”
    “I don’t remember him,” I said.
    Mama shook her head.
    “You weren’t born, Cassie. But you’ll like him, Cass. He’s wonderful.” She stood and held up the white satin dress. “Wonderful.” She looked at me and grinned.
    “Like a dog.”
     
----
    It is my wedding, and I am in my long white dress. There are many, many people there. The sun is overhead and a breeze blows my veil. I am beautiful.
    Everyone turns to watch Papa walk me down through the garden. Everyone smiles. Mama is there, and Jack, who is quite tall. And Caleb, home from school. And Anna. I can’t see Grandfather. Where is he?
    At the end of our walk is my wonderful, tall husband-to-be. He is black and white, with a long feathered tail. He wags it. He is beautiful. We will live happily ever after.
----
     
    It bothered me that Grandfather was not at my wedding.
    “ Where were you?” I asked him when I read my journal to him.
    Grandfather looked a little sad, but he smiled.
    “I was in the barn,” he whispered.

3
    T he days grew warmer and now it was light long into the evening. Mama and Papa and Anna planned the wedding. Anna had come from her room in town with pictures and lists.
    And Jack began to talk and act like Grandfather. He called Grandfather “Boppa,” his own private name for Grandfather. He tried to walk like him, with his hands behind his back. Once
Anna and I saw them both walking to
the barn this way, Jack just behind Grandfather.
    “Peas in a pod,” said Anna.
    Jack began to say everything Grandfather said.
    “Yep,” said Grandfather.
    “Yep,” said Jack.
    “You bet.”
    “You bet!”
    When Grandfather slept on the daybed, Jack lay down beside him, watching him closely. Jack lay back with his hands across his chest and tried to snore.
    Papa came in from the barn and smiled at them.
    “Jack is a very small Grandfather,” I said to Papa.
    “He sounds like John more and more every day,” Mama said. “Pretty soon he’ll start being stubborn and cranky.”
    And he did.
    Anna and Justin came to dinner. They would be married soon, and there was talk of flowers and food and music.
    “Eat your beans, Jack,” said Mama,