Under That Cedar Tree

 


​




​


​

​One more spooky house, please!  Then we go home!

I knew if I begged enough, Mama would give in like she did earlier with my costume. I wanted to be Captain Hook for Halloween, but I have a zillion princess outfits. I told her Captain Hook wears an eye patch and has a fake hand. Princesses don’t wear eye patches- ever, so Mama gave in after a while.

Mama looked sad again. Plus, she always worries- even about a new car. Yesterday, I heard her tell her friend Miss Johnnie that no man will look twice at a woman in a ugly green minivan- no matter how young, blond, or divorced she might be. When Miss Johnnie laughed, I got scared; it was like ocean waves crashing down on me. At first, I didn’t know what hit me, but I soon started to laugh too -- like when those ocean waves flip me around tickling me to shore. Now that’s a real good laugh.

Tonight, Mama and me practice drove this little car with its top rolled back. Mama said she stands half a chance with this car, but I didn’t get it. A chance for what?

Ok, one more, she said pulling over. I saw my friend boy Dallas walking, so I scrambled out and ran across the street. I call him boy Dallas cause there’s a girl Dallas in my class, too.

Hey, boy Dallas. I like your cowboy hat. You got candy yet?  I pretended not to hear my mama’s panicky screams even though she had almost caught up with me.

Hey Elise. I’m bout to go to that spooky house. Where did you get that eye thing? It’s great!

I smiled big at that. I explained to Mama before she could fuss, This is Dallas. He sits beside me in PreK class. He’s a cowboy and loves animals. It’s all he talks ‘bout.

A really tall man with big boots and dark hair walked up to us.  Dallas said, Daddy, she’s Elise and that’s her mama. They moved here from Alabama, but we don’t hold that against them, do we? Come on, Elise, let’s get more candy.

Dallas ran like crazy to the house. I followed as fast as that eye patch would let me. I felt a little bad, so I sneaked a peak back at Mama. She wasn’t following me after all, and she was finally smiling.

His daddy was talking to her under that big cedar tree.

I published this story several years ago and thought I would share it as a follow up to Saturday's post. Some things don't get caught on film, so I don't have one of us under that big cedar tree. Actually, Bob and I didn't start dating then. That's another story involving a few special angels. The  picture above is from our first Thanksgiving together. 

---