Three Word Wednesday prompts: mention, affinity, fidget
a little back story…
“Grandma, why are we here?”
“Hush child. Wait and watch.”
Libbie fidgeted. She was cold and sleepy. Her coat was scratchy and she wanted to be home in her pajamas and bunny slippers If mama was home she would make her some hot chocolate. But Mama had to work. She wondered why Grandma was bringing her with her tonight, a school night. She knew Grandma always came to the graveyard after a funeral. She had done it ever since Libbie could remember. It made Mama mad and she couldn’t figure that out either. She knew they both loved her but they fought a lot.
Grandma spoke, never taking her eyes off the grave before them. “Soon, Libbie. Something will happen. You must keep watch.”
Libbie pulled on her grandmother’s sleeve. Will you tell me a story while you watch?
Grandma patted her leg and started to talk. “You know the stories about Jesus? From your picture bible? There are more stories in the big bible. You will learn them when you get older. The story I am going to tell you is about the night that Judas turned Jesus in to the authorities. My grandmother told me this story when I was about your age”
“Did your grandmother take you to graveyards? Why did Judas turn Jesus in, Grandma?”
“You ask a lot of questions Libbie Bee. Yes, my grandmother took me with her, just like her grandmother before her. We have always done this. Now let me tell you the story. Judas was a bad man and certain things had to happen. I want to tell you about an important part of the story. Judas was paid for turning Jesus in. Later, he felt bad about what he did. He went back to the people who paid him, and tried to give the money back. They wouldn’t take it and he threw the money away and went and killed himself.”
Libbie frowned. She didn’t like this story very much. “That’s a sad story Grandma. I’m sure he was sorry.”
Grandma smiled, “That may be so, but you will learn as you grow up, that there are some things that people do, that can’t be fixed. They can be sorry, but it doesn’t fix anything.”
Libbie frowned again. She couldn’t understand what Grandma wanted her to see from this story.
Grandma patted her leg again. “The thing you need to know is that the money was silver.”
Libbie thought about it for a minute. “Like your special dust?”
Grandma nodded. “Yes. Just like my special dust. This is a true story Libbie Bee, Ever since that time, silver has been special. There are other stories, but they will wait for another night. It’s almost time.”
“Time for what, Grandma? What are we waiting for?”
Grandma stood and started walking toward the fresh grave, “Stay behind me Libbie.”
A mist had drifted in and Libbie shivered. The mist seemed thickened like Mama’s gravy in front of the headstone and covered the drooping flowers. Libbie squinted her eyes in the darkness. There was a low keening sound coming from the grave, and something was moving. Libbie sat as still as she could, frightened now. Grandma wasn’t afraid of anything! She walked right up to the grave, holding her little bag of dust, muttering something quietly. She reached in the bag and scattered it all over the misty covered grave and the mist turned to sparkling glitter that floated away on the little bit of visible of moonlight. She came back and sat down next to Libbie.
“Do you understand what happened here tonight?”
Libbie slowly nodded her head, her face reflected pale in the rising moon. “I think so. The dead person wasn’t going to stay buried. You fixed them.”
Grandma hugged her. “I told your mama you had an affinity for this. She didn’t want to listen.” Grandma smiled down at her. “Don’t you worry though. It will be alright. You can come with me from now on and I will teach you. I think it might be a good idea if we didn’t mention this to your mama. I don’t mind getting in trouble, but I don’t want her to fuss at you.”
Libbie shook her head. She didn’t like sneaking behind her mama’s back but she didn’t want more fighting between her and Grandma either. “Can we go home now?”
Grandma got up, dusting off the seat of her pants and reached a hand down to pull Libbie up. “Let’s go home Libbie Bee. It’s been a long night for you.”
