Last Day

Posted on 08/02/2015 by Andrew Reynolds

4:30 am and the alarm sounds.
My hand finds the clock and the bed room falls into silence.
I sit up as the cat complains about the hour.
In the darkness my hand finds my bathrobe as I make my way to the shower.

In the dim blue light of the stove clock,
I see three suitcases standing with their handles up,
looking like toddlers reaching up for mother’s arms.

The quiet of the house is slightly disturbed as I switch on the lights and fan.
I wonder who hears the water as the shower begins to heat the room.

At the mirror I put a new blade in the razor.
It’s Sunday and I always start the week with a new blade.
I don’t need to shave, the kids won’t care,
but despite the early hour, it’s Sunday and time for a clean shave.

When I emerge the house is quietly alive.
Children dressed, looking for socks and shoes.
Gran making breakfast burritos for the road.
Uncle is enlisted to find the missing socks,
the ones there were right there, “I swear.”

I am the driver.
I run the check list, time, keys, phone, bags in car…

The air outside is damp,
scent of fog descending
through the yellow glow of the street light.
Silence is on the driveway.
No cars zoom by, no dogs bark in the night.
Even the air is still as I drag the cases along.

The stillness is punctuated as I slam doors,
wrestle baggage and double-check the gas tank.

In the house,
the socks are found,
the burritos wrapped in foil
and kids are wrapped in coats with backpacks on.

Final hugs, good byes and “see you soons” from sleepy eyes.

My three passengers settle into the restrain of seat belts and early morning quiet.
Quiet questions waft over the seat back.
How long till we’re there?
Did we bring water?
Are we going a different way?
Why can’t we stay?
Just a little longer.

Pointing the car north and setting the cruise control,
silence finally takes hold,
until a hungry voice asks, “When do we eat the burritos?”

Riding shotgun, Uncle opens the bag and eager hands take.

“Tell Gran these are great.”

Silence again until the airport comes into view and the questions start anew.
“Why are we going to the domestic terminal?”
“How do you get a passport?”
“What airline are we on?”

Grandpa misses the sign for terminal one and we get a free ride past all the airlines.

The scene at the curb is orderly, no mad dash for place to stop.
Uncle and kids file out as I lift the cases to the ground.
Hugs, more goodbyes and many safe travels
before the three travelers disappear from view into the depths of the sky.

Bringing the car back to life,
the check list runs through my head,
text gran,
seat belt secure,
lights on as I swing gently into the sparse traffic of an early Sunday at SFO.

Heading south, the fog engulfs the road as I turn up the heater against the cold and quiet.

Quiet.
Too quiet.
No more joyous shouts.
No more arguments about bed time.
No more “What time are we leaving.”

7:00 am. The car stops.
I walk past the pile of sticks that was going to be bow and arrows.
I open the door with the child’s poster
announcing there are kittens here,
but they’re not for sale.

No pile of shoes greats me.
No one is in trouble.
No one has a story to tell.

Such is the last day.

Till next week,
Andrew

About Andrew Reynolds

Born in California Did the school thing studying electronics, computers, release engineering and literary criticism. I worked in the high tech world doing software release engineering and am now retired. Then I got prostate cancer. Now I am a blogger and work in my wood shop doing scroll saw work and marquetry.
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37 Responses to Last Day

  1. ParentingIsFunny says:
    08/11/2015 at 11:02 am

    Awh. So sweet and sad at the same time. I hope it was a great visit!

    Like

  2. artseafartsea says:
    08/07/2015 at 11:35 am

    Great post! I felt I was with you all the way.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. nimi naren says:
    08/06/2015 at 12:07 am

    What a lovely post Andrew. My throat caught at the last part. I am sure you have loads of great memories from Camp Gran…

    Like

  4. Janice Wald says:
    08/05/2015 at 8:38 pm

    You’re a great writer with amazing details & structure.

    Like

  5. ruth ann scanzillo says:
    08/04/2015 at 11:57 am

    We can all tell, at least I can, that you are a wonderful father. The children will always know this, no matter how many minutes, hours, or days you are apart. Your words speak volumes. May I share them?

    Like

  6. kritsayvonne says:
    08/04/2015 at 6:37 am

    Mmmmm, I dont ‘do’ sentimental so I wonder why I’ve a lump in my throat. Off for a tissue, um I mean lozenge. 😢 x

    Like

  7. George says:
    08/04/2015 at 5:35 am

    Beautifully expressed, Andrew. I know the feeling.

    Like

  8. dorannrule says:
    08/03/2015 at 6:12 pm

    You have said it all and you have said it well. A wonderful post!

    Like

  9. Susanne says:
    08/03/2015 at 9:30 am

    Damn goodbyes. Damn the shoeless entrance way and damn the quiet. Give me whoops of disagreement and the shod feet running to greet any day. Good luck with the adjustment period. They’ll be back.

    Like

  10. lscotthoughts says:
    08/03/2015 at 8:34 am

    I feel the sadness in your rendition of “good-byes” Andrew. That’s always the hard part but I’m sure once some time passes things will back to normal again…love the poem!

    Like

  11. JoHanna Massey says:
    08/03/2015 at 8:26 am

    You summed it up so well Andrew. It is always a sad/glad surprise at how quiet the house can get after the Grands have gone. They are one of the best joys. Nice of you to share your visit with everyone! All my best to you.

    Like

  12. Jacqui Murray says:
    08/03/2015 at 8:00 am

    I can feel your sadness, and joy at a fun week. By 10am, I bet you’ll feel the relief of life returning to normal!

    Like

  13. Ron says:
    08/03/2015 at 7:40 am

    You’re a good man Andrew….thanks for sharing. Just now read your post to Gramma. We know that feeling.

    Like

  14. jfwknifton says:
    08/03/2015 at 5:10 am

    Grandparents are an amazing resource, going way back into history. I used to be a teacher, and on many occasions I got the class to go home and over the week to find out from each of their grandparents what was the most interesting thing they ever did. The results were really amazing and seemed to emphasise how boring life seems to have become nowadays!

    Like

  15. lifelessons says:
    08/02/2015 at 7:47 pm

    This is just so well done and effective without being overly sentimental. I love “I see three suitcases standing with their handles up,
    looking like toddlers reaching up for mother’s arms.” and the sticks that were meant to be bows and arrows.. that sense of there being so many more things that could have been done if the time were longer. I like everything about this piece, Andrew.

    Like

  16. Susan says:
    08/02/2015 at 7:04 pm

    Andrew, I LOVED IT! Oh my, it made me smile, it made me feel a little sadness, it made me feel so fortunate to have our grands so close. And that lovely poem made me feel how much you and gran love those little ones!
    Thank you

    Like

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