The Dragon Stood in Front of the Woman so that it Might Devour Her Child

The old woman sat in her wheelchair, alone. She smiled up at the warmth that gently touched her face. She loved the spring time. She shifted in her chair and smoothed the wrinkles out of the quilt that lay on her lap.

                So peaceful.

                Jenny, the lovely young lady that took care of her now, had let out her hair and brushed it smooth for her. Just like Mama used to. It was nice to let one’s hair down every once in a while. The bun was functional, not comfortable. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. It was so wispy now, she sighed. When she was a girl the older ladies would always complement her on her thick hair. Now she knew why; it was a gift that was meant to be lost.

                Her granddaughter had such lovely hair.

                What a sweet girl.

                The old woman loved to brag about her little one going off to college with the bingo girls. Although they probably hated to listen, she didn’t care. After her son and his wife died in that terrible crash several years ago, she didn’t know if the little one would be able to heal and amount to anything. But with God’s grace and strength she had pulled through it all and came out as a strong, beautiful woman. Inside and out.

                “I think biochemical engineering is like when they create new livers for drunks,” she would laugh as she tried to explain her granddaughter’s career path. Such a smart girl. That one’s going to be doctor.

                She could just see her cute face. She still had the baby fat on her cheeks, and she loved to wear those cute dresses with the pig tails in her hair.

                “Grammy!” she would explain. “If I keep my hair like this, then people wont want to brush it all the time! I hate that!”

                The old lady would always smile. Funny how such a pretty girl hated having her hair brushed for her. When she was her age, she just loved having Mama brush her hair. She was always so gentle.

                She died, you know. Twenty years ago. Leukemia took that sweet woman out of this world. But it was all ok, you see. Right now she’s up in heaven taking care of that son of mine and his beautiful wife. They’re waiting on me.

                “Excuse me,” came the soft voice of Jenny from behind, who had also reached out and placed her hand on the old woman’s shoulder. The old woman reached up and placed her soft, wrinkled hand on top and squeezed the young woman’s fingers. “What is it, dear?”

                “There is a man here wanting to speak with you,” she said, rubbing her hand over the old woman’s tired shoulder.

                “What does he want?” she inquired.

                “He wants to speak with you about your granddaughter,” was the reply.

                The old woman felt her heart skip a beat, praise the Lord, he’s come back to see me!

                Her memory jumped back to two weeks prior.

~..~..~..~..~..~..~..~..~

                The air had just warmed up enough for the old woman to finally sit out in the sun again. It had been a rough winter. Praise the Lord, the spring was almost here.

                “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Bring that young gentleman right over here.”

                Jenny had removed her hand and walked back across the grass and the old woman could hear off behind her, “She has agreed to speak with you.”

                “Thank you so much,” said a soft, deep voice. It was very warming.

                The man walked over to the old woman and sat down in a chair opposite of the woman.

                “Good afternoon, ma’am,” he said in a very upbeat, confident voice.

                The old woman smiled and said, “Yes it is. Jenny, my nurse, has told me that you bring me news of my granddaughter?” She held out her frail hands to the young man, who took them politely. 

                He hands were rather large, and very warm, just like his voice. They were strong hands. She ran her fingers along his palms, and he let her. They were callused in several places, just like her late husband. He must have been a blue collar worker. Maybe a construction man or a farmer perhaps.

                “Yes,” he cleared his throat. “I actually go to school with your granddaughter.”

                “Do you now?” exclaimed the woman. “She is a smart one that she is. People have told me she gets it from me.” The woman chuckled.

                “That’s not the only thing she gets from you,” said the man in a knowing voice. “She is very beautiful.”

                “Ha!” said the woman. “It seems like you need to get your glasses checked. My granddaughter’s beauty is all her own.”

                “That’s why she is so fantastic,” said the man, almost to himself.

                “Well,” said the old woman. “Instead of treating my granddaughter like the goddess Aphrodite, why don’t you tell me why you are here. I doubt it’s just to keep an old woman company.”

                “Yes,” said the man. “Well, I have known your granddaughter for a good two years now, and I am very, very fond of her. Like everyone is, of course. But, I have been given the privilege of being able to see her romantically, sort of speak, for the past year and a half. And we are both graduating this spring, and as a sort of graduation present, I would really like to purpose to her.”

                The old woman couldn’t have been happier. She was in euphoria. She moved his hands around in hers, studying all of the nooks and crannies. She folded his hands together and placed her hands on the outside. “I think that would be a marvelous idea,” she smiled. “Is she here?” she then asked.

                “Unfortunately, no,” was the reply. “I couldn’t risk her finding out. With that sort of excitement, I didn’t want to risk her getting distracted, especially with her midterm and finals.”

                The old woman was a little disappointed. “I understand,” she said. “You are very thoughtful.”

                “I try to be,” said the man.

                “Well,” said the woman, who removed her hands and smoothed out the quilt that was folded up on her lap. “Can I interest you in going inside for some hot chocolate? This old bones of mine just ‘bout frozen, sittin out here. I would love to hear more about you.”

                The man stood up, “I would love to push you back inside, but I’m afraid that I have some more homework to do before work tonight. Otherwise I would love to.”

                The old woman then said, “Don’t worry about me, sweetie. I will just get Jenny to push this dead weight back inside. I’ll let you get back to the real world.”

                She reached out with her hands again, and he took them. She used what strength she had to pull the man closed to her face, where she planted a kiss on his cheek.

              “You are a sweet thing,” she said, patting his other cheek. “You just brought some life back into my spirit. Bless you.”

                “Trust me,” said the man. “It’s my pleasure.”

                The man let go and began to walk back to the old folk’s home. The old woman was about to call Jenny when she realized, she didn’t get the young man’s name!

                “Hey!” she called behind her. “Young man!”

                “Yes ma’am!” came the reply, and she could hear him run back across the yard.

                “I didn’t get your name!” she said, as he neared. No reason for him to come all the way back.

                “Oh! I’m so, very sorry!” said he. “My name is Brooks!”