Well, you want it and now you got it. We're gonna lose a character in this chapter. Please get your blankets, tissue boxes, and your favorite snack cause this is gonna hit close to home for everyone, not just myself. What you're gonna read is what I dreamed about when I lost my grandfather.
Chapter 16
Age 9. Grandpa wasn't doing good. He was getting worst. Already he's hooked up to machines that are trying very hard to keep him alive. Family and friends are visiting him to keep up their spirits but…it's not enough. In the hospital room, Omi was there. The rest of the family was already home in bed and asleep. It was midnight and the hospital allowed Omi to see him. Omi was holding her husband's hand. "You're leaving me tonight are you?" she asked.
"Seem so…and I don't want to." He replied.
Omi had tears in her eyes. "I always thought we would die together so we wouldn't leave the other one alone. Another stupid wish I had." She said.
Grandpa put his hand on her cheek. "Not every wish is stupid. Look what we have. We have a son, a daughter-in-law, wonder grandchildren, ok in-laws from the wife's side that needs a good whacking." Omi laughed. "I feel we have everything we need. I just want one thing."
Omi asked, "What is it?"
Grandpa said, "Your forgiveness. I'm sorry that I'll leave you alone. Please forgive me."
Omi smiled and hugged him. "There's nothing to forgive. I love you Alexander and I'll always will."
Grandpa hugged her back. Soon she fell asleep and as he looks up and saw tree branches all over his room. Then he saw a giant tree man looking at him. "Here's the end of the tale."
Grandpa sniffed. "I'm afraid."
The monster said, "Of course you are afraid. It will be hard. It will be more than hard. But you will make it through, Alexander."
Grandpa asked, "My granddaughter?"
The monster said, "All the other cryptids will mourn for you and all agreed to leave your family alone due to your promise to him. They will be safe until the promise is broken again."
"You'll stay? You'll stay until..." he tried to ask.
"I will be right here to bring you home. That is my role as the grim reaper." The Grim Reaper said. Then he spoke again. "When your grandfather died, you asked me why the Grim Reaper looks like me and not a hooded man." Grandpa nodded as he answered. "As a descendant of a Druid-Celt, when he died he asked me to appear to him and to you as a kind yew tree giant. For didn't want me to bring you home with fear but to bring you home in warmth."
Grandpa asked, "What do I do?"
The Grim Reaper answered, "Now all that is left is for you to sleep."
Grandpa asked, "Before I go. I wanna go one trip please." The Grim Reaper nodded.
Back at the house, Mary was sleeping in her bed and started to dream. First, she was in the hospital hallways where the clerk's desk and the room doors were. All of them were closed and in front of her was her grandfather's hospital room. She put her hand on the handle and wanted to turn it but someone put his arms around her preventing her from turning the handle let alone walking in. She turned around and it was the holy rabbi, Jesus. He was holding her tight preventing her from doing what she wanted to. She struggled to get out of his embrace trying to get to her grandfather's room. Every time she moved the grasp would be tight. "Let me go! Please let me go! I need to be with him!" She felt him let go and ran to the door and opened it. After a bright light, she was at the corner away from her house and she was 18 months old again and started to talk to her house. Once she turned the corner, she saw her grandfather outside waiting for her. He turned his head, saw her, and smiled. Mary smiled and started to walk fast close to running to him. Once closed enough, Grandpa knelt down as she ran to his arms. He picked her up and tossed her into the air a few times before hugging each other. "I love you, Grandpa." Mary said.
Grandpa said, "I love you too." Then he put her down. Soon the background turned white and grandpa turned around and started to walk away from her with Jesus again.
Mary walk calling out to him and tried to move but her feet were stuck. "Wait! Don't go! Come back! Grandpa! Grandpa!" Then she woke up yelling, "Grandpa!" She opened her eyes and looked at her clock. It read 12:07. Just then the phone rang and heard her parents pick it up.
A couple of days later, the family got back from a funeral. Everyone was dressed in black and was in a depression. Tom and Sarah came in with red puffy eyes, then Beth came in holding a tissue in her hands, then the twins with their heads down, and finally Omi with an urn jar in her arms with her husband's ashes. It was his wish to be cremated and it was both grandparents' wish that when they die, to spread their ashes in Austria at Zell am See near Lake Zell to Hoher Tenn massif. The ones that also came through the door were Sarah's family. Though political and moral views are on the opposite end of the spectrum, both sides stopped for the sake of the kids to attend the funeral and were on their best behavior, not because of blackmail but because it was right. The only ones that couldn't come were Abby's family. Not because they didn't invite them, and because they did including the company workers as well, it was because Abby had to go to a previous engagement for her family. As for the workers, while they did help chip in for the funeral everyone agreed that it was best if it was just family and didn't want to make a big spectacle out of it that would take away of why there was a funeral. Aunt Dorothy walked into the kitchen and started to make coffee. Sarah walked in and said, "Thanks for coming Aunt Dorothy. I don't think the kids were going to last if you weren't there."
Aunt Dorothy said, "Anytime kid. I may not be the best relative you like to talk about, but I'm here whenever you need me."
Sarah said, "I'm surprised that my sister's family was good today."
Aunt Dorothy said, "Death is nothing to joke about and it's best to keep your mouth shut when it comes to grief." Then she asked, "How are the kids anyway?"
Sarah replied, "Beth is crying her eyes out, Max is attached to Omi at the hip, and Mary is being a rock and I'm worried for her." She sighed a bit. "But Tom and I aren't crying."
Aunt Dorothy said, "That's because you were already grieving when you got the news years ago. You better brace yourself for Mary. She's gonna cry soon and it's not gonna be easy for her to stop." Sarah nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Mary was in the backyard on the big swinging bench that was hanging from a tree. As she sat there swinging gently back and forth, she was looking down. In her arms was the rapped present she got from him. She was keeping his promise. Soon enough she saw feet walking up to her. She looked up and saw a man in Native American regalia with a few feathers in his hair. Mary couldn't tell which tribe he was in, but there was something in the air. The 2 looked at each other and then they heard the door open. "Can I help you?" They turned their heads and saw Tom.
The man smiled and said, "I'm a family member of your neighbors. We heard about your father's death and came to send our condolences. Unfortunately, the members of the house are out for the day so I'm house-sitting for them."
Tom nodded. "Well, thanks." Then his phone rang and looked at it. After that he asked, "Mary, will you be alright?" Mary nodded as Tom went inside.
The man walked up a bit more to Mary. "Is there room for me?" Mary scoots over so he can sit next to her. He sat down and the 2 swung in silence. Mary then heard a bit of thunder and looked up at the sky. There were a few clouds but not enough to make rain, but enough to make noise. "Sorry about that." The man looked up and said. "Where ever I go, they follow me." Mary looked at him as he looked at her. "Wanna take a guess?"
Mary said, "You're the Thunderbird aren't you?" He nodded. "You defiantly don't look like the bird from Lost Tapes or the Monster Hunting-like show."
Thunderbird laughed. "You can't knock them for trying to figure it out." He looked at her. "All the others are crying for him…at least those that don't involve a certain fallen angel in the Christian religion. But we don't talk about them."
After some silence, Mary said, "I had a dream, that grandpa's gone. That he went to heaven." Thunderbird nodded. "My grandfather's dead." Thunderbird gently put his arm around her. "What did the others say?"
Thunderbird said, "So far, Mothman is sending his condolences. Your grandfather was the only one of the few that believes the bridge wasn't his fault. We also agreed to leave your family be."
Mary asked, "Even the holiday ones?"
Thunderbird said, "As long as you don't piss them off." Soon tears were falling and leaving streaks on her cheeks. She was trying hard to hold them in. He started to rub her back. "He's no longer in pain Mary. He's free. He's home. Please try and remember that. It's ok to let them fall."
Mary said, "I will but it's hard."
Thunderbird said, "I know."
Mary started to rub her eyes as she started to cry. As she cry, Thunderbird hugged her in an embrace and did his best to comfort her. After a while, she started to get tired. "Mind if I rest on your lap please?"
Thunderbird smiled and nodded. "Sure thing." Mary fixed herself and lay her head on his lap as she closed her eyes as she felt his hand brushing her head in a calm loving way. He continue to move the swing back and forth for a while longer as Mary rested her head on his lap.
After a while, the thunder got a bit louder and a few raindrops started to fall. Sarah looked outside. Tom was next to her. "It's starting to rain." She said.
"Yeah." Said Tom.
"Is Mary still outside?" she asked.
Tom replied, "Seem so." He saw a few flashes. "Better get her inside." He got his coat on and walked outside into the backyard. Soon he found her asleep on the swing with a big bird sitting on the frame of the bench. The bird looked at him and then flew away into the sky until it disappeared. Then the thunder and the flashes were getting louder and more frequent. He walked up to Mary and picked up his sleeping daughter. Then he walked inside and put her in bed. He tried to get the present out of her arms but she held it tighter so he just gave up, and put the covers over her after he removed her shoes. Then he sat on the bed and gently moved her hair out of her face. "I'm so sorry Mary." He kissed her forehead and left the room. Soon enough the rain appeared and started to fall. He looked outside the window and look up. "Even the heavens are crying." He sighs and walked away. As for the bird, the bird continues to fly into the sky and soon transformed into his true form and continue to fly in the clouds spreading the rainwater everywhere showing that it's not just humans that grieve after a loss.
