Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan

Author:Patricia MacLachlan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2013-03-25T04:00:00+00:00

Jack was content to listen to Grandfather’s songs while he was sick. He was happy to sleep next to Grandfather at night. He loved to watch Grandfather eat. The evening William came, Jack asked for coffee with his dessert after supper.

Mama laughed.

“No coffee for you, Jack. That is for grown-ups.”

Jack frowned at Mama.

“Coffee?” Jack said to William.

William smiled.

“Coffee?” he asked Grandfather.

Grandfather shook his head.

“No coffee, pal,” he said.

Jack fell off his chair onto the floor, crying.

“I’d say Jack’s unhappy,” said Aunt Mattie with a half smile.

“Coffee won’t make him any happier,” said Grandfather.

That made Jack cry louder. He kicked his feet against the wood floor. Lottie and Nick came over to sniff him, then moved away to safety.

“Oh, Jack,” said Mama. “Come. I’ll read you a story.”

Jack cried.

“Let’s go paint a picture, Jack,” said Aunt Lou. “You can use my paint box.”

Jack cried louder.

Grandfather got up quickly, so quickly that his chair fell over backward.

“Jack!” he shouted, his voice louder than I had ever heard it. “Stop that right now.”

Jack stopped and stared at Grandfather. We all stared. I had never heard Grandfather lose his temper. I had seen Jack lose his temper many times. He was a little boy. But not Grandfather.

Silence filled the room. Grandfather walked out the kitchen door, slamming it behind him. Jack got up and walked to the window to look out. Caleb and I looked out, too. Outside, moonlight touched the grass and spilled over the flowers in Mama’s garden. Grandfather walked toward the barn. Then, suddenly, he stopped, lifted his shoulders, and turned around as if he knew Jack was at the window. And there, in the moonlight, Grandfather did a little dance, turning around and around, his hands in the air.

Jack smiled. Grandfather smiled back at him.

“That’s the best apology I’ve ever seen,” said Caleb softly.

“I’ll say,” said Mama. “Grandfather’s sorry, Jack.”

“Dance,” said Jack. He put his thumb in his mouth, then took it out. “Sorry,” he said, so softly that it was almost a whisper.

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