THE MAN DIDN’T GET GRANDDADDY
BY: VIOLETTE L. REID

“I never thought I would live to tell this story. The events I went through these past few weeks were a lot more than I could handle,” said the old man as he pulled the hospital sheet across his chest. He pointed to the cup of water on the table. A young brown hand handed it to him. “Thanks. Well, you really want to know the reason for my heart attack boy?”
“Yes granddaddy.”
“What did your mother tell you?” The old man focused his wrinkled eyes on the boy.
“She said that you were just old and people get sick sometimes.”
“Well that’s true but that’s not the reason why my heart played a trick on me. I was frightened. I was scared so bad that my heart couldn’t take it.”

“Scared of what grandpa?”

“Scared of Death.”
“I don’t understand,” the boy said with a look of confusion on his handsome chocolate face. “How could death scare you to death?” His eyes spread wide.
The old man laughed a hearty laugh. He laughed so hard that he hurt himself. He grabbed his chest and tried to refrain from laughing. “Ha-ha boy, you are something else. Well I saw... Okay, I’ll tell you the whole story.”
The old man pushed a button so he could raise the bed into a sitting position. He ran his brown wrinkled fingers through his silver hair. The old man’s eyes stared deeply into his grandson’s and he took a deep breath.
“Two Mondays ago, I was walking home from Joe’s Barber shop. That Joe is a mess,” the old man laughed. “He was talking about how Mike Tyson was the best fighter ever. What a nut! Ali was the best by far!” The old man shook his head. “Anyway I left the shop. I walked through the old cotton field and got to my house in about ten minutes. When I opened the door, I walked to my favorite chair, sat down, and lit a sweet maple cigar. I sat there about half an hour sipping sugar water when I put out the cigar and I fell into a deep sleep. After a while, I opened my eyes and Ruby was standing in front of me.”
“But grandma’s dead granddaddy!” the little boy interrupted. ”How could you see her?”
“Well, I don’t know but I did. Sometimes logic just can’t explain everything”

“What is logic?”

“Things that is supposed to make sense. And, me seeing your grandma wasn’t logical.”
“It sure wasn’t. That didn’t make sense at all!” the boy agreed.

“You are a smart young’un.” The old man smiled and rubbed the boys head.

“Grandpa you are going to mess up my fade!” the boy squealed.
“An arrogant little son of a gun too,” the old man laughed. “But back to my story. Ruby walked over to me and ran her fingers through that pretty hair she had. I just sat there in shock staring into her big black eyes. Her skin was still as pretty and smooth as black satin. My God, she was the most beautiful woman in the universe. Her skin was the product of rich African blood. My God, she was pretty. She wore her favorite apron with the yellow chicken on the front of it. She smelled of rose water.” The old man had tears in his eyes.
“I miss grandma too. She was pretty.”
“Was! Still is! That woman made every man weep with frustration. When she was young, she won every beauty pageant at the country fair. She was truly a southern belle. A matter of fact, I think that term referred to her,” he yelled.
“What’s a southern belle?”
“It is woman from the south who is beautiful and sweet.”
“Okay. Mama must be a southern belle then.”
“She sure is boy. Anyhow, Ruby spoke to me with that sweet slow Georgia drawl of her’s. You remember her voice don’t you. She spoke like she was singing a song. Like every word lasted a minute long. She told me that I would be with her soon if I don’t watch out. I asked her what to watch out for but she just disappeared. I was worried all day and for the next couple of days. That was the last time I saw Ruby. When Wednesday rolled around, I went on my regular evening walk. You know I have to keep these old bones in shape. It was about six o’clock. I had to wait until the day cooled a little. The sun gets too hot when age is on you. Anyway,” he paused. “I was walking down the cotton field path and heading to the street when I saw this big crowd around Joe’s Barber Shop. Well, I went ahead to see what was going on. Joe had just been robbed. Could you believe that? What happened to the way things use to be? It ain’t but a hand full of people in this tiny town and one of these fools around here stealing like a fox in a hen house.” Anger was in his eyes. “That just pisses me off!” he yelled.
“Granddaddy you said a bad word.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s okay,” the boy forgave him and rubbed his grandfather’s big hand.

“Thanks boy.” He smiled. “Anyway, as I walked away, I looked into the alley between June’s sewing machine shop and June Bug’s rib shack. I saw this man. He was wearing all black and his skin was as black as tar too. I tell you, if it was night, all you could see would be eyes and teeth. The man looked at me and tipped his hat. He had the weirdest eyes!”
“What was wrong with his eyes?”
“They were yellow.”

“Yellow!”
“Yes yellow.”
“How can eyes be yellow?” the boy asked in disbelief.
“His was. And when I looked in them, I just felt a chill go down my spine and the man just disappeared. A second later, I heard someone call my name. I turned around and old Tom told me that Joe was dead. Old Joe dead! I couldn’t believe it. The robber made him have another stroke. I just stood there in awe!”
“What does awe mean?”
“It means that I was surprised. God, I was hurt. That old nut was one of my closest friends. We were sharecroppers when we were young. We worked the same land. I helped him build his barbershop with these two old hands. He helped me pay for school. I was the only colored doctor in this little town for almost twenty years. I loved that old fool.”
“That’s a bad word grandpa.”
“Sorry. I went to the funeral on Saturday. It was beautiful. That night I sat in my favorite chair and Joe appeared to me. I almost wet my britches! Joe told me not to let Him get me. I asked who Him was but old Joe just disappeared like one watermelon at a family reunion.”
“Wow. This story is weird.”
“I’m not finished!” the old man raised his voice slightly. “Sorry.” “Forgiven. Two days later I went to visit Rose. Now that is a crazy gal. She tickled me. Everyday she made me laugh.”
“Wasn’t that your girlfriend grandpa?”
“Heck naw boy! You crazy. She’s a Nawlins, New Orleans in case you didn’t know, Creole gal. You mess around with one of those Creole gals and they’ll bury your drawers in the yard and you will never be able to leave their house. I tell you the truth. She was pretty as a peach but as crazy as a loon.”
“What’s a loon?”
“A lunatic.” “What’s that?” “A crazy person.”
“She was pretty when she was young. I saw some of her pictures when she came over to your house the last time,” said the boy.
“When she was young? Hell! She’s a fox now!”

“Grandpa you said a....”
“Sorry. Anyway, as I walked up to her door, I saw the same dark fellow sitting on her porch. As I walked up the steps, he lifted his hat and disappeared. I walked into Rose’s house and there she was laying on the floor dead. I cried like a baby. The doctor said that she had an asthma attack. I miss the old goose. I went to her funeral on that Tuesday. She was as beautiful in death as she was in life.”
“Did you love her grandpa?”
“I guess I did.”
“More than grandma?”
“Never more than grandma.”
“I loved your girlfriend too grandpa. She was nice.”

“Yes she was.” He paused in reflection. “Anyway, on that Thursday I went to see the doctor. I wanted to know that I was okay. I realize that I am getting up in age and time is winding down.”
“What do you mean about time is winding down?”
“I’m getting older and I don’t have a lot of time.”
“You are only ninety-one. You have plenty of time.”

“Thanks! I need to hear that.” The old man laughed aloud. “The doc told me that I was as healthy as a horse so I felt a little better. The next day, I was sitting in my chair when I heard the young woman across the street yelling like a banshee!”
“What’s a......” the boy was cut off.

“A ghost that screams real loud.”
“You’ve heard one?”
“No but your grandma used to sound like one when she yelled at me. God, I miss her loud mouth. It used to sound like a train whistle or a pig squealing cause it was so loud.”
“How long has she been gone?”
“Five years, six months, and seven days.”
“You do miss her.”
“Yes I do.” The old man’s eyes watered a tiny bit. He wiped his eyes quickly and continued. “Anyhow, the lady was yelling and carrying on so much that I walked out onto my porch and looked out across the street. The ambulance came screaming down the street and the paramedics went into the house. They came out with her little boy on a stretcher. They were carrying him to the ambulance when I saw the man in the black come and touch the boy’s hand. The boy died that second and the man looked at me, tipped his hat and disappeared.”
“Are you talking about Rico?” the boy’s voice was shaking.
“Yes boy. He choked to death on a piece of peppermint.” The old man put his arms around his grandson as the boy cried aloud.
“He was my friend. I will never eat peppermint again.”
“It could kill ya!” the old man added. “I decided to go to church that Sunday ‘cause I had to make sure I was right with God. I can’t be getting tortured by some half jackass with horns for eternity. It’s too hot down there and you know how I feel about the heat. I been done put a whipping on the old Devil with a sugarcane pole for trying to stick me with a pitchfork.”
“Grandpa you said a........”
“A bad word. I’m sorry your mother sure taught you well. Anyhow.....”
“What does eternity mean?” the boy asked.
“It means forever.”
“Oh. Yeah forever is a long time to be hot.”
“Anyway, I put on my brown suit with my hat and newly shined shoes. I was as sharp as a tack. I looked like I should have been singing at a juke joint. I went to church and had a good-o-time. The spirit was moving and the preacher was preaching. If my knees weren’t so bad, I might have done the holy dance.”
“Ha-ha. I couldn’t see you dancing grandpa. You too old.”
“Too old! I can still cut the rug!” the old man laughed. “I felt good that day and I went to Burt and Sadie’s house for dinner. My, that food of hers can put hair on your chest. It is as good as gold! Woo-wee! That food was good. We had some collard greens, candy yams, corn bread, fried chicken, potato salad, homemade biscuits, lemonade, and some good old rice pudding. That woman still cooks like she cooking for the whole chain gang. She still gets around well for a eighty-six year old. Still a pretty gal too. Burt is a lucky nut. I stayed over there ‘til about eight and I made my way home. Of course I had to kiss Sadie’s sweet cheek and talk about Burt’s bad knees before I left. That is a good man. You here me? A good man. We served in the army together. My dearest friend on this earth. We are two of a kind. I am just a year younger than him. We met Sadie and Ruby at the same time. They were two of the most beautiful creatures God made. My God, I loved Ruby.
Anyway, on my way home I noticed that dark fellow was following me. I walked a little faster and got to my door. I looked behind me and the man tipped his hat and disappeared. I then began to realize who this fellow was.”
“Who was he?”
“The Grim Reaper himself,” the old man said.

“Who?” the boy asked.

“Death.”
“Death ain’t no man.”

“How do you know?” the old man asked, raising his eyebrow.

“I don’t.” The little boy lifted and dropped his shoulders. He crossed his arms and shook is head.
“Well hush up!” The old man waved the boy away. “Come Monday morning, more bad news. I was watching the evening news when I saw a shooting on TV. I be damned if that wasn’t that dark man on the scene of the crime. He seemed to see me through the TV and tipped his hat at me. I almost crapped in my britches.”
“Grandpa if you don’t stop saying bad words I’m gonna tell mama.

“And what is mama gonna do?”
“I don’t know. I’m just gonna tell.”
“Well sorry,” the old man said in a very annoyed voice. “Well, Wednesday was the day that changed my life. I was sitting in my chair when that dark fellow appeared in front of me. I was scared to death. I was more scared than a black man at a Klan meeting. He walked over to me. His yellow eyes were glowing like fire and he reached out his hand. A sinister smile crossed his lips.
“What does sinister mean?”

“Evil!!!” the old man yelled. “He reached out his hand and put it on my head. He was as cold as ice. My chest began to throb with pain and a golden light fell between me and the dark fellow. A voice said, ‘It’s not his time,” and the dark one took his hand away and disappeared. Luckily you and your mama came over just in time and called the ambulance and here I am. I’ve been lying up in this hospital for three days.”
“I’m glad he didn’t get you.”
“Me too!”
The door opened and both the grandfather and grandson turned towards the door. A tall and shapely golden skin woman walked in. She had a beautiful and kind face.
“Mama!” the boy screamed and ran to hug the woman. “The man didn’t get granddaddy.”
“What man?”
“That the man with the yellow eyes.”

“Daddy! What have you been telling him?” the pretty woman asked with a suspicious smile on her face.
“I told him about my heart attack and how old Death couldn’t get me,” the old man said proudly with his hand in a fist on his hip and his mouth pursed tight.
“He sure couldn’t!” she said as she put the boy down and walked over to her father and kissed him on the mouth. “He sure couldn’t.