Letters to Papa
2
Fiddler on the Roof Fan-Fiction
I do not own the rights to Fiddler on the Roof
Only to the character Dianna
I'm back Papa. Before we left Oregon I went and put flowers on Ruth's grave like You and Momma always did. As I stood there I remember in the summer evenings when your chores were done we'd wonder the hill picking flowers and you'd help me making Momma a bouquet to put in her white vase.
The white vase was not an expensive item. In fact I think you bought it off a neighbor who was moving, but Momma treated it as if you'd spent a thousand dollars on it. Those flowers were just one of many small things you'd bring in for Momma. A lot of times she'd be at the kitchen sink washing dishes when you'd wrap your arms around her and whisper ' surprise'. She'd always smile as she wiped her hands off to hold what ever you'd brought in. I guess that's why I started bringing her things because I saw you doing it.
Remember the sheep Papa? I mean Lady and Ed? You thought it silly to name them, but you only said that once. When I insisted on keeping their names you just shook your head. Anyhow those two sheep were the smartest animals I ever saw. I know people say sheep are stupid , and in some ways I suppose they are, but Lady knew how to get out no matter what you did. One time she got out while Momma was gone and I got her back in with grain, but you said you weren't going to put up with it anymore and hunted down the spot where she was getting out and had me stand in front of the hole until you got back with tools in which to fix it.
I don't think Lady like the tools for when you were done Lady chewed you out for fixing the hole. Remember that? You had even let me help, so I guess she was giving both of us a piece of her mind.
Anyhow, do you recall when that old sheep poked around and found her escape route gone? She looked straight at you and let out a very loud baa baaaa and shot a glare our way? We couldn't help it Papa, we started laughing which only made that sheep baa louder. And Ed? He was a jumper from birth.
Guess you didn't like jumpers either; especially ones that only jumped the gate and only when you were gone. So, one time before you left for town you had me help you string barbed wire across the gate just as Ed was getting ready to jump. You said you needed help because your arms weren't as strong as they used to be. It was so funny when he saw the wire we were putting up. That crazy sheep's eyes bulged and when we were done? He stuck his tongue in and out of his mouth straight at us! That was another fit of laughter for us to have.
Papa, the sheep is how I first met Fredrick. When you passed on, and after I'd told Joshua to take a hike, we sat down and decided to sell the sheep. Fredrick was still married at the time and he and his wife came and picked them up. They told Momma if she ever needed anything to give them a call. We thought that a nice offer on their part, but we moved and never expected to see him again.
Moving to Washington seemed like a good idea, but the house we bought had no porch swing, or tree one either. That was another memory I'd kept and wanted to hand to your granddaughter, so , we had a porch swing made and hung a tire one in the front yard. I push her like you used to push me. I even sing as I do it. Mostly songs you sang, so I guess another tradition you handed me was handing down music to the next generation.
Fredrick showed back up in our lives when his wife was killed in a car accident. He had business with a neighbor and our children started hanging around together. There's not near the age difference between us like you and Momma, but there's still a gap. I don't think you'd mind - it was one thing that never seemed to bother you. I always heard growing up that age was just a number.
What is it about us and girls? Do we ever have any sons? Fredrick's three children are girls! We already decided if we have a boy he is not being handed everything simply on the sole basis he's the only son. These four girls give me sympathy for you and Goldie. Trying to raise the girls I think will be just as hard for us as for you when you lived in Russia. Our faith is not -normally- in the majority, and many strangers are throwing their ideas out our way. Truth be told we have some wolves with very sharp teeth among us too.
My mind keeps going back to that rooftop you talked about. Papa, seems to me we all have our own to walk and I don't think you are the only one to have ever fallen. I just hope if I fall, I can climb back up without being too hurt like the time you saved me from serious injury -possible death when I fell -literally - from our own housetop. Remember that?
Why I'd gotten it into my head to climb out my bedroom window and walk that ledge I have the foggiest, but I did. The idea of walking a rooftop fascinated me. Even though I didn't know you saw me I count my blessings over and over that you did. And that you followed the impression to drop everything and get down to the house. I was doing fine walking the thing but then my foot slipped and I fell. I thought for sure I was a goner as there was piping below and other things. One would have seriously hurt me and one been the death of me, but you caught me! Okay, it wasn't a perfect catch, my shoulder did get dislocated, but you catch me nonetheless. First, you took care of the shoulder and then you tanned my hide royal.
Papa, thank-you for all the times you caught me. Dianna set the pen down -she'd write more after Tevanne went to bed.
