Date:         Thu, 23 Jan 1997 18:11:04 -0800
Subject:      SUB: Valentine's Contest: "Roses and Weeds": Short Story

There's still time to send your entry! Check out
http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/val97/val.html for details.

Please reserve all critiques on contest entries until after Valentine's
Day!
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Roses and Weeds

It's been sixteen years since I left Silver Creek.  The remainder of my
family left two years later  each going  their separate way. I have no
reason to return there. Except, for the past three months I keep feeling
as though I should go back. I try to ignore the feelings, but they just
won't go away. The more I try the stronger they get. Last night I dreamt
I was in Silver Creek playing baseball with all my childhood buddies. The
next morning while eating breakfast with Cindy, I told her about the
feelings and about my dream. I had decided I was going to Silver Creek
even though I didn't have the vaguest  idea why.
"Why do you want to go back? You hate the place, at least that's what you
have always told me."
"That's true, but I just can't shake these feelings."
"As far as I'm concerned it's a waste of time and money. A town of eight
hundred people and you want to go for a visit," shouted Cindy. Chances
are you don't know a single person there."
"I know, but I am going anyway," I replied in a loud compelling voice,
"it will only be a few days."
"Ok," replied Cindy as she glared at me. Deep down she knew there had to
be a good reason for returning.
"So it's settled I leave in the morning."
To get to Silver Creek I flew to Nashville, rented a car and drove 132
miles.
It was early afternoon when I arrived.  I went directly to the hotel and
checked in. What else could I do? I didn't know why I was there.
After checking in I decided to walk around town. As I was leaving the
hotel I heard a voice from behind hollering for me to stop. I turned
around to look and there stood Bobby Fischer.
With excitement in our voices we both roared "I can't believe it what a
coincidence."
"What are you doing here?" Fred asked.
"That's kind of hard to explain? Have time for a cup of coffee?"  I asked
as I mentally tried to picture what Fred looked like when we were kids..
"I have about an hour before I have to leave. Why don't we go to Frank's
Place?"
"Frank's Place is still here?"
"Sure is but it's not owned by Frank anymore."
"I just can't believe this," Fred remarked while situating his luggage
near the table. "Running into each other after so many years."
"This place brings back fond  memories."
"Sure does," replied Fred taking a sip of coffee.
"Do you still live here?" I asked.
"Nope left about a year after you did"
"Why are you here?"
"Every year I spend a couple days with my Grandfather. He refuses to
leave. His exact words are 'five generations of Fischer's have lived in
this house and this is where I'm going to stay until the day I die.' So I
visit to make sure he's doing all right. During my visits he fills me in
on all the latest gossip."
"How about you?"
"I don't know. All I can say is that for the past three months a little
voice in the back of my head has kept telling me I had to come back. So
here I am."
"Most of the people living here when we were kids have long since gone.
About the only ones left you would know are the Lunds'. Do you remember
them? Their ranch is just outside of town."
"Yea," I remember them. Why?
"Did you know Mrs. Lund passed away about a year ago?"
"No I didn't know. I haven't kept in contact with anyone since I left."

"Yea," Fred said, "dropped dead from a heart attack. Kind of makes you
wonder when your time is going to be up."
"Sure does. How's Mr. Lund taking all of this?"
"Not too well I'm afraid."
"Yea that has to be rough."
"My Grandfather told me Mr. Lund doesn't come to town anymore. He has
everything he needs delivered to his ranch."
"I remember when we were kids he would let us play ball in his best
pasture. Mrs. Lund would  bring us drinks and tease us by putting freshly
baked pies on the windowsill to cool knowing the aroma would drive us
nuts. They treated us pretty good. Think I'll go see him tomorrow."
"Better think twice about that, he has made it very clear that he doesn't
want to be bothered by anybody."
"That so," I said, "we'll see about that."
"I have to leave, but here is my business card in case you want to call
and talk about the good old days."
"May just do that," I replied as I finished the last of my coffee.
"Great seeing you again Ken."
"Like wise," I responded as I paid the check.
After Fred left, I decided to continue my walk. Looking around it was as
though time had stood still; nothing had changed. Childhood memories
began rushing into my head.
Feeling tired I returned to my room intending to take a short nap. When I
awoke it was morning. Peeking through the curtain the sun was just above
the horizon. I felt relaxed and rested.
I ate breakfast then headed for the Lund Ranch. The ranch was about three
miles south of town. Even though I hated growing up in such a small town
I had forgotten how beautiful the area was.  The scent of freshly cut hay
filled the air. I could hear the sounds of tractors in the distance.
Farmers were busy harvesting crops anxious to get them to market. Several
tractors were hauling bales of hay to the barn for winter storage.
I stopped at the southern edge of the Lund Ranch to look around. I
couldn't believe my eyes. The once lush green meadows filled with grazing
cattle were now fields devoured by weeds, barren of any life. When I
arrived at the ranch I turned into the drive but had to make a sudden
stop. Blocking the drive was a  padlocked wooden gate with a large sign
attached to it. I got out of the car hoping to find another gate but the
only one I found was wired shut. I was returning to the car when I
spotted the silhouette of a person carrying what appeared to be a shot
gun walking toward me. I  began to perspire and my knees began to shake.
"Who the hell is there?" Hollered Mr. Lund sternly, Can't you read? The
sign says 'No Trespassing or Solicitors' and that's exactly what it
means. So get back in your car and get the hell out of here."
"Ok," I replied while trying to conceal my fear. "If I could just talk
with you a minute I sure would appreciate it." I couldn't believe what I
was saying. The man had a loaded shot gun  I've got to be crazy. I got
into the car and began to close the door when he asked "What's your
name?"
"Ken Frazier," I said in a very low voice; by now my palms were sweating,
my heart beat had doubled and my stomach was in a knot.
"Frazier, seems to me I do remember a Frazier family that lived here a
long time ago. You were the runt of the bunch."
"That's me, "I said. When I was a kid I use to come out here with my
friends and play baseball."
"Now I remember," said Mr. Lund looking me directly in the eyes. "You
were the kid that use to help me out with chores from time to time."
"Sure did, felt like I needed to repay you for allowing us to play ball
on your property. Especially since no one else would do that for us." I
began to feel a little more at ease. "Guess there's no harm talking for a
few minutes. I'll unlock the gate." I was still a bit nervous as I drove
to the house and even more confused considering what Fred had told me the
day before.
After a brief  tour of the ranch we sat on the porch and reminisced about
the past. I commented on how good the well water tasted. I wanted to ask
about Mrs. Lund  but didn't know how to begin nor did I know why I should
want too. We talked about baseball and the history of Silver Creek. As we
talked I looked Mr. Lund directly in the eyes and saw a lonely and
heartbroken man.
I was getting bored with the small talk. Before I knew it I began talking
about how kind it was of Mrs. Lund to bring cold lemonade down to the
playing field on hot summer days.
"Don't want to talk about Martha," said Mr. Lund with anger in his voice.
"You got that?"
"Sure do." I glanced in his direction noticing one lonely tear drop
running down the right side of his cheek. I could sense the ocean of
tears this man was holding back and felt powerless to help.
"I remember when Mrs. Lu...."
"Stop," yelled Mr. Lund sharply, "I told you once and I'm not  going to
tell you again. I don't want to discuss Martha."
"Ok," I replied.  Sensing  the anger in his voice I began to shiver.
Mr. Lund turned his head away so I wasn't able to see his face. I knew he
was crying.  The tone of his voice was soft and gentle as he began to
talk as best he could through the tears and the pain.  On occasion his
voice would breakup and he would stop talking to regain his composure.
"Oh Martha I miss you so. At night I reach for you wanting to hold you in
my arms but you're not there; feeling  lonely and cold I cry myself  to
sleep. In our youth we had passion and as the years went by passion gave
way to wisdom; and with wisdom we became one love. I am no longer whole.
I feel empty as though part of me is missing. I am half a person
constantly searching for my angel.  I'm angry that God would take the
most precious gift I ever received. But the worst of all is I never told
you this when I had the chance. I pray you can hear me now, because
Martha  the most precious part of my life was you and now you are gone.
You provided the light and laughter in my life. I love you now and
forever. Even though you are gone we are still one love." He finally
looked back at me his eyes were bloodshot red and his shirt was soaked
with tears. We were a matching set.
"Are you all right? I'll be fine," he said as he wiped the tears from his
eyes  We sat and talked for another hour or so. Feeling he was calmed
down I decided it was time to go. As we walked toward the car I noticed a
single rose bush among all the weeds. It was in full bloom with beautiful
deep red roses. Before I could ask, Mr. Lund looked at me and said, "It
was Martha's favorite rose."
While driving back to town I had a lot to think about. I finally realized
why I came to Silver Creek. I packed my bags and headed home the next
morning.
As I pulled into the drive Cindy and my two daughters were waiting, I
leaped from the car running to Cindy hugging her as hard as I could.
Without hesitation I whispered in her ear, "You are the most precious
gift I have ever received. My love for you is eternal." I was hugging her
so hard she could hardly breathe. I then picked up Linda and Colleen and
held them as close to my heart as possible; expressing my love for them
as best I could while I still had the chance.


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