Dandelion Summer

by Mary Ellen Bramwell

  I’ve put it in a safe place. The alcohol may have been making me a little paranoid, but I think someone was after it. Before all this happened with George, I was being followed, and my house may have been bugged. Writing this down, sober as I am, it sounds nuts. Maybe I am, but I still need to make this right, regardless.

  Please come visit me and I’ll explain. (The only one visiting me now is my family lawyer, and he’s not as charming as you are.)

  Love,

  Pop

  Madelyn stopped reading and was met with stunned silence. Aunt Dory got up and locked the front door. The others shifted in their seats, moving closer to one another.

  “You were right, Madelyn. All of this traces back to Pop,” Mom finally said.

  “What he mentioned—that’s got to be what he showed George. What do you think it is?” Zane said.

  “I don’t know, but I’m hoping Pop will tell us tomorrow.”

  Friday

  Madelyn was up early the next morning, eager to visit Grandpa and hopefully get some answers to their questions. When she sat up, she noticed the other side of the sofa bed was already empty. She found Mom in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal, the cardboard kind an older widow might have around her house.

  “Any good?” Madelyn asked, nodding toward the cereal.

  “It’s okay. I like it, but you probably won’t. Don’t worry. There’s leftover pizza in the fridge.”

  As she helped herself to a slice of pizza, Madelyn started to formulate a plan in her head. What would they ask Grandpa, and how would they go about it? She glanced over at her mom, ready to ask for her opinion, when it dawned on her it was unnecessary. Mom had a far-off look and her eyes were dancing. This was about more than getting answers—it was about a father and daughter seeing each other for the first time since he was sent away. The questions would come, and the answers would flow, but the reunion was more important.

  Breaking out of her reverie, Mom said, “What do you think we should tell Jilly and Daniel?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. Can we tell them we’re trying to figure things out—with the break-in?” Madelyn appreciated knowing the truth, but it carried a weight with it as well.

  “I think that sounds like a great idea. I’m afraid we’re going to need to tell them sooner rather than later, but maybe we can ease our way into it.”

  Aunt Dory poked her head into the kitchen. “Good luck today. I hope you find some answers.”

  “Me too,” Mom said, “and if it’s all right with you, could we work on some reading this afternoon? I don’t want to neglect that, but I’ve got to do this first.”

  “Of course,” Aunt Dory replied.

  Madelyn hadn’t even considered that, but she was glad her mother had.

  . . .

  “Do you realize it’s August? Today is August 1st,” Mom said as she drove the two of them to the prison.

  “I didn’t. I kind of lost track of time.” She regarded her mom, a woman she had come to know more in the last month than in the first 14 years of her life. “You know, I broke the summer down into ten weeks. I figured I could mark off the weeks that Dad was gone and count it down. But I’ve been forgetting about my countdown. This must be week eight, which means he’ll be home in just over two weeks.” Mom nodded. “I don’t think about Dad as much as I used to. Is that bad? Does it mean I don’t love him as much as I thought I did?”

  Mom reached over and patted Madelyn’s leg. “Not at all. It just means you’re growing up. You’re learning that you have to be patient and wait for some things. And, I suppose it also means that you’re learning that little setbacks aren’t the end of the world.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Madelyn. And I’m proud of you.”

  They settled into a comfortable silence after that, only broken by Madelyn’s exclamation, “There it is! That’s the sign for the prison.” She was excited to see her grandpa after all this time, but not just a little scared about the thought of all the other criminals living within those walls.

  It turned out none of their expectations were met that day—all of them negated by the bureaucratic policies of the prison system. Visiting day, it turns out, was Monday.

  “But you can fill out this paperwork ahead of time if you like,” the clerk told Mom. “It will save you time come Monday morning.” Mom nodded, staring at all the lines that needed to be filled in. “Is there a problem?” the clerk asked.

  “No, not really. Is it all right if my daughter fills this out? I’m just now learning to read.” Madelyn was shocked at her mother’s admission but incredibly pleased as well.

  The clerk, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be fazed at all. “No problem. I’m glad you’re learning. Too many never do.”

  When Mom turned to hand the paperwork to Madelyn, she was beaming.

  . . .

  Back in the car, Madelyn said, “That was great, Mom. I’m so proud of you.” Mom just grinned in response. “I mean, other than not being able to see Grandpa.”

  The smile faded but only a little. “Yes, well, I guess we know what we’ll be doing on Monday. And now we know the way and what to do, so no more reason to be nervous.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know you were nervous. Because it’s a prison?”

  Mom shook her head. “Not really. Madelyn, every time I go somewhere new, I’m nervous. I never know when not being able to read is going to rear its ugly head and make something harder than it ought to be.” Focused on the road ahead, she added, “But I’m happy to say, I actually was able to read quite a bit of that form.”

  “What? Then why did I have to fill it out?”

  “Well, I couldn’t be sure,” Mom said while suppressing a grin.

  “Okay, you got me.” Madelyn grew thoughtful for a minute. “Is it getting better?”

  Without looking in her direction, Mom said, “It is, but I have a lot of work ahead of me, and I know it. Even as I learn, it’s going to be a while before I’m confident in what I know. I’ve been making excuses for so long, it’s hard to think that I don’t still need them.”

  Madelyn nodded. “I can’t say I know what that’s like completely, but I understand what you’re saying. In a way, it’s how I feel about high school. I’m afraid of what I don’t know—what will my classes and my teachers be like, will I have friends. I wonder if people will like me once they get to know me. Maybe it’s not the same thing, though.”

  “It’s not a bad comparison. The biggest difference is that with a little time, you should be able to answer those questions. And I’m pretty sure you’ll find your place. Lori may have moved away, but there are other kids you know, even if there are a lot you don’t, at least not yet. And of course, you’ll have Zane to hang out with.” Madelyn colored at the suggestion, but it wasn’t an unpleasant thought.

  “What I don’t think you realize, Madelyn, is that until this summer, the concerns I had always hung over me. They followed me wherever I went, without any chance of being resolved.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  “Don’t be. I’m not sorry for myself. I’m realizing that I dealt with life the best way I knew how. And now, I have a different option, thanks to you. For the first time, I can do something about those nagging questions. It makes for some scary and wobbly first steps, but it’s nice to have some control, even if I know it’ll take time.”

  “That’s good. I never knew it was like that for you,” Madelyn said, then added, “Thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “For telling me. For trusting me.” It was still new territory for the two of them, and they grew quiet cont
emplating it.

  “Mom, can I ask you more about Grandpa?” Madelyn finally ventured. Mom nodded. “What was his trial like? You said you were there.”

  “Yes. It was awful. Do you remember all those days we ate out or Dad brought home pizza or chicken?”

  “I’d forgotten about that, but now that you mention it ... I just figured Dad had gotten a raise or something.”

  “Nope. Thankfully it wasn’t very long. The two witnesses testified against him. Your grandfather only testified briefly in his own defense. Saying you were so stupid drunk that you don’t remember anything isn’t something that’s bound to help your case. His lawyer actually stopped the trial part way through Pop’s testimony and convinced him to take a plea deal. It wasn’t a hard sell. I don’t know what they would have said if they’d continued with a defense anyway.” She was shaking her head, trying to wipe the past from her mind, but it was clear the memory was there to stay.

  “I remember right before the judge was going to sentence him, Pop’s defense attorney was handed a note. It passed right in front of me, and I stared at it, so hopeful that it might be about some key piece of evidence they’d just found that would clear his name. But I couldn’t read it, and it didn’t matter anyway. The only thing left to do was figure out the terms of where he would carry out his sentence.” The defeat of not having a last-minute reprieve washed across her.

  “I’m sorry,” Madelyn whispered.

  “Thanks. It’s okay. At least it’s over. But I am looking forward to seeing the transcript. It’s not such a shock anymore. And it’s easy to imagine I missed things.”

  . . .

  Much as they wanted to know what the transcript contained, it also was going to have to wait. As soon as they returned to Aunt Dory’s, Madelyn called Zane.

  “I have good news and bad news,” she reported to Mom and Aunt Dory after hanging up. “Zane’s dad found someone that can help us. But the first he can get to it is Monday.”

  Mom nodded, and then said what they were all thinking. “This is going to be a long weekend.”

  “Well, then why don’t we read a good book or two?” Aunt Dory cheerfully replied.

  Saturday

  The next day thankfully came and went without much fanfare and also without much turmoil either. Mom woke up determined to go about the day as normally as possible. “Why don’t we grab a few groceries.” It was a statement, not a question, and they were all happy for the distraction.

  They went without a list, instead wandering up and down the aisles, adding anything that sounded good to the cart. Mom couldn’t deny them these simple requests after the week they’d had, and to be honest, she was glad they were finding comfort in something. A tentative peace was settling over them.

  It lasted until they pulled into their own driveway. No one moved to get out of the car. It felt safe, where their home did not. With a sigh, Mom said, “Well, the phone lines have been fixed. So, our phone service is back on. We’re good to go. Everyone grab a bag, and let’s take it inside.”

  With as little talking as possible, they carried the groceries in to the kitchen counter. Anything that needed refrigeration immediately went into the fridge, still in the brown grocery bags from the store. Everything else remained on the counter.

  The four of them stood still, not sure what to do next. Mechanically, following Madelyn’s lead, they opened some bread and slapped peanut butter and jelly down, eating the resulting sandwiches quickly and with little to no conversation. Without bothering to return the peanut butter to the cupboard or even wash the knife, Mom said, “Madelyn, why don’t we go work on the yard. Jilly, you and Daniel can go play out back if you want.”

  There were chores that needed to be done—the typical vacuuming and dusting, and it was time to mow the lawn again—but no one minded that they weren’t getting done. Silently, Mom and Madelyn gathered some tools for weeding and made their way to the side yard. They dug up one dandelion after another, but their work was slow and haphazard at best.

  “Do you still want to tell Dad about your reading?” Madelyn said as she sat up from where she’d been bent over her work.

  Mom sat down on the grass and wiped her brow. “I think so. He’s waited a long time for this. He shouldn’t be made to wait anymore. But I don’t know if I want to tell him about the other stuff.” Madelyn nodded in understanding. Mom got a twinkle in her eye. “And besides, I want him to be happy about my reading. News about the break-in would ruin that surprise.” She laughed a genuine laugh. “No one should steal my thunder.”

  Madelyn was relieved that her mother could still joke around given the circumstances. She picked up her weeding tools again, but then said, “Can we quit for now?”

  “That’s the best idea you’ve had all day,” Mom said. They stood up, gathering their supplies, but stopped once they turned to view the house. It was still theirs, still looked the same, yet everything was different.

  Standing frozen to the spot, a warm voice enveloped them. “What are you two doing? It’s time you came back inside. Your sheets are all washed, and I’ve got a pot of stew on for dinner.”

  Mom and Madelyn turned into the welcome embrace of Aunt Dory. “Thank you,” they said in unison.

  “Despite your intentions, you didn’t think I was going to let you sleep back in your house just yet, did you?”

  “Well, I thought –,” Mom said.

  “I’m sorry, but you thought wrong in this case. Come along. And grab whatever cookies you bought at the store. I just hope you bought some chocolate chip,” Aunt Dory said as she retreated to her house.

  With a lightness to their steps, they returned their tools to the garage and collected Daniel and Jillian along with their indulgent purchases. The remainder of the day was spent putting together a jigsaw puzzle while chowing down on homemade stew and store-bought cookies.

  Week Nine – Summer 1975

  Sunday

  The trouble with discovering Mom’s illiteracy followed so closely by all the mess with Grandpa was that Madelyn’s favorite thing to do got lost in the mix—reading. She simply forgot to do it. Sunday morning rolled around and with it the startling realization that she hadn’t read anything at all in The Hobbit during the past week, even though she’d remembered to grab it from home and bring it over to Aunt Dory’s.

  Madelyn hurriedly dressed for church then started reading the allotted two chapters while downing a bowl of cereal—thankfully a sugary cereal they’d bought at the store the day before. In so many ways things were going well for Madelyn’s literary friend Bilbo. The dragon guarding the treasure was dead, and he had found the desired Arkenstone, but it was clear all was not well. She continued to read in the car on the way to church about the alarming battle of the five armies that ensued. Mom had to nearly pry the book from her hands as they entered the chapel.

  With a sigh, she not only realized she wanted to find out what would happen to Bilbo and the others, but she’d also enjoyed the escape reading gave her from the troubles around her. Dad had been right to send her the book, even if the concerns she’d started the summer with no longer followed her.

  Daniel interrupted Madelyn’s thoughts when out of the corner of her eye she caught him aiming a paper airplane at the back of the head of a cute girl in front of him. When she grabbed and crumpled his would-be weapon, Mom gave Madelyn a dirty look with a shush.

  Daniel’s stifled laughter at Madelyn being the one in trouble was meant to further goad her, but she surprised him by putting her arm around him and pulling him in for a hug instead. Not unexpectedly, he initially resisted before settling peacefully into her embrace.

  Madelyn turned and whispered, “Jilly,” while motioning with her head for her litt
le sister to come closer. Jillian was on the other side of Mom but snuck over her to sit beside Madelyn. With an arm around each of her siblings, all felt right with the world.

  . . .

  When they got home, they still had a little time before their weekly phone call to Dad. With the excitement of The Hobbit still on her mind, Madelyn had a stroke of inspiration. There was no reason Mom couldn’t enjoy a book just because she couldn’t read it yet.

  “Jilly, tell Mom I’ll be right back, okay?” she said as she headed out on her bike, not even waiting for a reply.

  Zane, it turns out, had been spending more time reading than Madelyn had. He’d long since finished reading Watership Down and was more than willing to lend it to her.

  Until it was time for their phone call, Madelyn gathered all of them—Mom, Daniel, Jillian, even Aunt Dory—and read aloud the story of the rabbit brothers, Fiver and Hazel. It was an escape for all of them except Mom, who was watching the clock.

  As Madelyn finished a chapter, Mom broke in with, “Well, it’s just about time to call Dad. Dory,” she said, acknowledging her with a nod, “has kindly offered to let us make that long-distance phone call from her house. But I don’t want us to dawdle when it’s on her nickel. So, we need to decide what we’re going to tell him.”

  She took a breath before continuing. “I talked to Madelyn about telling him I’m learning to read. Is that okay with everyone? We’d decided together to make it a surprise. So, what do you all think?”

  “Tell him! Tell him!” they all said together, including Aunt Dory.

  “All right then,” she said, smiling. “But what about the break-in? I think we should tell him, but I don’t want to scare him.”

  “Why?” said Jillian.