Across the Lake

Across the Lake

“You see that big hill across the lake, Tim? That’s where your grandmother and I would take your father when he was quite a bit bigger than you.” Ben Harper and his grandson were on a walk around the lake. They would soon be home and having a hot mug of cocoa with as many marshmallows on top as Tim wanted. “Tomorrow, we’ll get in the car and drive way up there……see those vans at the top.” Ben chuckled. “You’re too young and I’m too old to slide down there,  but you’ll be able to see the city and the prairies from the top. We can walk around there today. The path goes around in front of the bottom of the hill.”  

Tim listened to his grandfather. He didn’t really know what it was, but he knew his grandfather felt something like sadness. Even if he was smiling and tried to act happy. But Tim knew his grandfather was happy. He just shook his head - he had confused himself. “I’m getting cold, grandfather. Let’s go get that hot cocoa. We can come back to the hill tomorrow, and bring grandmother with us.”

“The past is a candle at great distance: too close to 

let you quit, too far to comfort you.”

~ Amy Bloom, Away