Memory Tree by Pittman Joseph

Author:Pittman, Joseph [Pittman, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2014-08-18T04:00:00+00:00

“Mom, grab hold of my hand; the footing gets a little unsteady at times, and with all this snow on the ground it’s even worse,” Brian said.

“Which means I better take your hand, little lady,” Kevin said to Janey, following behind.

“Oh, I know this path like the back of my hand,” Janey announced.

“Well, then, I suppose you better hold on to mine,” he said. “Because I don’t.”

Janey gazed up at the imposing man, trying to assess his motives before locking her small hand into his, hers nearly being swallowed up by his large fist. Then she started leading them along the snow-covered field, the two of them making fast progress, quickly overtaking Brian and a cautiously stepping Didi. Brian had to admire the sneaky way his father handled Janey, turning the tables so that she thought it was she helping him.

At just after eleven that same morning, Brian had suggested they take a quick visit to the windmill before leaving for Green’s Tree Farm, and so they were now clomping through snow eight inches deep. It was slow going for the four of them. Kevin remarked on the breadth of land Brian owned and asked how much an acre in this region cost. Brian had to laugh inwardly, his concerns about his father’s seeming change in priorities taking to the wind. He was the same old businessman he always was.

“Dad, I’m not selling if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Sectioning it, maybe tilling the land or building or . . . I don’t know, something.”

“I like it as it is,” Brian said.

“Me too,” Janey said, “because then I can run as far and as fast as I can.”

As if on cue, she broke free of Kevin’s hold, her feet fighting against the sinking depths of the snowdrifts. She forged her way to the crest of the field, turning back as though to prepare herself for liftoff. Here the land and horizon produced an illusion that made it appear the edge dropped into an endless void, but then upon approach you saw the land reappear, and with it rose the windmill, its sails stretching high into the bright blue sky as though they could paint patterns on the clouds.

He watched in delight as Janey ran for those same clouds. Oftentimes during the long, cold winter, when he and Janey craved precious Annie time, he plopped her on the toboggan and sent her on a thrilling ride down the steep hill, the sound of her joy filling the countryside all around them, and sometimes, as the sled exponentially picked up more speed, he zeroed in on the giant sails of the windmill, imagining them spinning faster and faster, as though the power of her descent won out over the wind and fueled their growing speed. Today she needed no such sled; her natural enthusiasm to show off the windmill was all she required.

“Jane, be careful . . . ,” Didi said, calling out.

“Mom, she’s fine. Just watch her go.”

The three of them did, reaching the crest of the hill.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.