Always

By

Rob Astor

Word Count: 895 Words

“Look, Sara!” Grandpa pointed at a glittering trail bisecting the starry sky. “A shooting star!”
Sara’s mouth gaped. “It’s so pretty!”
“Quick. Make a wish.”
“I wish you can stay with me forever.”
Grandpa planted a kiss on her forehead. “I will always be around to protect you, Sara. Always.”
***
Sara stared at the candy dish full of chocolates. Her mouth watered. Cautiously, she glanced over her shoulders. The grown-ups sat around the dining room table playing cards. Gingerly, she plucked up an oblong piece.
“I would like to trade you this piece of candy for that one, Sara,” Grandpa said at her side.
Gasping, Sara turned. Hunched over, Grandpa towed his oxygen tank. Transparent tubes ran up to his nose, giving him a plastic mustache smile. Grandpa withdrew a square chocolate from a pocket in his coveralls.
Sara looked at Grandpa’s offering. “Why?”
“You see, that one has a peanut inside. You’re allergic to peanuts. Pretty little girls shouldn’t be puffed up like big blow fishes.” Giggling, Sara made the trade.
***
“Bye-bye, Grandpa,” Sara sobbed at the side of the casket. “I love you.” Grandpa was motionless, asleep in his favorite coveralls. But, something about his face was different. His skin was pale. Like a doll.
***
Sara’s mother stood in the bedroom doorway. “Are you playing with your imaginary friend?” she asked.
“I don’t have one anymore, Mommy,” Sara said.
“Who were you talking to?”
“Grandpa.”
Sighing, Mommy squatted to her knees. “Honey, you know Grandpa’s in Heaven.”
“He was here. You never believe me.”
***
“Sara,” a whisper said.
“Yes, Grandpa?”
“Go outside and play on your swing.”
“Okay.”
Sitting in her tree swing across the field, Sara saw the brilliant ball of fire blossom from the propane tank. The side of the house shattered like puzzle pieces.
***
Mommy held Sara tight, crying. “Oh, thank God. I thought you were still inside.”
“Grandpa told me to come outside.”
***
“Grandpa!” Sara ran up to the doll in the toy department, hugging him close. He was dressed in coveralls. The porcelain face had sparkling blue eyes and peach colored lips under a shock of fuzzy white hair.
“Wow, he really does look like your dad,” Sara’s father said.
“Don’t encourage her.”
“I want Grandpa, Mommy!”
***
There were so many rooms to explore. Secret hallways behind walls. Sara carried Grandpa through a door in the kitchen into a new passage. Dust coated the floor. She stopped at a dumb waiter. “Daddy said these are like elevators. It’s not big enough for us both, Grandpa. You ride on top.” Sara set Grandpa next to the frayed rope. She climbed into the box.
In an instant, Sara was weightless, falling in the darkness. She screamed. With a jolt, the fall was halted.
***
“Sara, I told you not to get into these,” Daddy said.
“I’m sorry,” she blubbered, wiping her cheeks. “I won’t do it again. Where’s Grandpa?”
Daddy climbed into the chute. Grandpa was wrapped under rope that had coiled itself around a four-by-four.
***
Sara smiled at Grandpa sitting on her lap. “Aren’t you a little old to take him to show and tell?” Mom asked.
“No.” Sara fixed Grandpa’s white hair. She pulled her backpack up, accidentally unlatching the seatbelt.
“Oh my God!” A bicycle darted out between cars. Mom swerved. Sara screamed. The car jumped the curb. Grandpa was airborne. Sara heard a loud crunch as she was pushed into Grandpa’s soft body.
***
The front of the car was buckled in, the windshield a web of cracked glass. Sara sat on the gurney next to Mom. Paramedics checked them over. “The airbags weren’t installed,” one of the Paramedics said. He looked at Sara. “You’re lucky you had your doll. You could have gotten a concussion. Or worse.”
***
“This is my first weekend,” Sara said. She pulled money from her purse. Grandpa sat on the table, leaning against the wall.
“You know campus is on alert because of the rapist, right?” the delivery guy asked.
“No.” Sara handed him a twenty. She took the foam box. “I’ve been hungry for shrimp stir-fry all day.”
“Someone else wanted the shrimp and peanut variety.”
Sara took her change. “I’m allergic to peanuts.” Sara set the box on the table. Grandpa fell over, knocking the box to the floor. The lid popped open, spilling hot food across linoleum.
Sara paused. “Good thing I didn’t eat any.” She looked at the delivery guy. “It was the one with peanuts.”
***
Grandpa’s lips pressed to Sara’s ear. “Sara,” he said. “Time to wake up.”
Sara jumped. Her window opened. A figure in black crawled through, brandishing a knife. Sara’s breath caught in her throat.
The intruder lunged forward, falling. Sara jumped up, sprinting into the corridor. “Help! Somebody, help me!”
***
“He’s dead,” the police officer said. “The klutz fell on his own knife.”
“How?” Sara asked.
“He fell over your doll.”
Grandpa was on the floor. Under the rapist’s feet.
***
Sara mended a tear in Grandpa’s coveralls with a needle and thread. “You saved me again,” she said.
Grandpa smiled, eyes twinkling. “I promised to protect you, Sara,” Grandpa said. “Always.”

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 07.07.2011

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