Pure Soul

“Look,” he says, pointing to the sky. I splash water in his direction one last time and glance up. It’s so beautiful. The sun is swimming down into the trees. There are sparks of red and pink. Is the sun melting? 

“Grandpa? Didn’t you say the sun would stop shining forever someday?”

The redness begins to spread and it mixes into the clouds.

“Yes, I surely did.”

“It looks like it’s bleeding.”

“And do you know what that means, Jean?”

The water is starting to get cold and the rocks at the bottom feel chiller. 

“What does that mean?”

“It means the world has lost a pure soul today.”

“Somebody died?”

“Yes, son.”

“Oh.”

I look up once again to see the sun gone. Only red remains in the sky.

“Let's get back, jean. The lake is starting to get cold.”

“Okay.”

I grab his fingers and he leads me out. I make sure not to step on the rough rocks. They are the ones that can cut.

Grandpa grabs the purple towel we brought and wipes my hair. It sticks up in the air. I look down at the lake while he wipes himself. My hair looks darker in the water. My freckles look huge the closer I get to the water. 

The grass is light and the walk back to the hut doesn't feel long at all.

“Is mommy home?” 

Grandpa looks down at the ground and frowns.

“Your parents won’t be home for a long time, Jean.”

“Who will read my bed time stories?”

“I will”

“Okay.”

I hop on each stone leading up to the hut, trying to avoid each grassy patch.

“Slow down, Jean.” 

I wait for grandpa to reach the stone I'm on. He opens the door and the smell of cookies takes us in. 

“Is grandma home?”

“I’ve been waiting for her for a long time, Jean.”

“She’s not home?”

“I hope she comes home soon.”

“Me too.”

Grandpa takes the cookies out of the oven while I change into warm clothes.

“How’s your sister jean?”

“Is she coming home?”

“I hope she doesn’t come anytime soon.”

“That's mean.”

I crunch on a cookie and it breaks in half. The chocolate melts into my mouth. 

“Do you want milk with that?”

“Yes, please.”

Grandpa opens the fridge and pulls out a jar of milk. He takes my favorite Spiderman cup out of the cabinet. I watch as he slowly pours it in and slides it over to me.

“We can go see them all tomorrow.” 

“Okay.”

I can’t wait to see everyone. I take a sip of milk and dip the side of my cookie in. A chocolate chip falls into the milk and the white begins to turn brown. I drink it anyway.

“Grandpa?”

“Yes, Jean?”

“Mommy told me that you left to go on an adventure after you got so sick.”

“She’s right.”

Grandpa gets up from his seat to look out at the moon in the sky.

“You used to tell me there's a man on the moon.”

I look at the Moon. It's glowing. I can trace out a face. It looks like the face is old.

“I think there is.”

“Really?”

“Do you not believe so?”

“No.”

“Why is that, Jean?”

“Why does the man never come down to see us?”

“Maybe he does, and we just can’t see him.”

“Oh.”

My eyes start to become tired and grandpa notices.

“How about we go to bed?”

We walk up the stairs. I hold his hand and he smiles down at me.

“What is it, grandpa?”

“I had missed you dearly.”

“I’m right here.”

Grandpa starts to laugh and seeing him happy makes me smile. The door to my room opens when grandpa gently pushes it open.

I climb in and my toes start to warm up.

“I hope mommy comes home soon.”

“What book would you like me to read, Jean?”

“Um, how about Jack and the beanstalk?”

“Oh, that's a good one!”

Grandpa walks to the bookshelf and pulls out a book. He walks right back and sits on the bed.

“I don’t think I can wait.”

“What do you mean, Jean?”

“I want to see everyone now.”

Grandpa thinks about it for a few moments and sighs. He puts the book down next to my legs.

“You may not like it.”

“It’s okay.”

Grandpa nods and looks me in the eyes.

“Think of someone you want to see.”

I think of my mommy. 

“Okay.”

“Who is it, Jean?”

“Mommy.”

“Okay now focus on her and I will do the same.”

I follow his directions. I think of her brown hair that matches mine and her silver eyes. 

I open my eyes back up and we’re not in my bedroom anymore. I still see grandpa but we're in the kitchen. I hear my mommies voice telling Vi to brush her teeth. I run to the bathroom to see them both. Mommy is in her pj’s and Vi is too. They look sad.

“Hi!”

“They can not hear you.”

Grandpa looks at me and he has a frown on his face.

“Why not?”

“Do you believe in ghosts, Jean?”

“No way, Grandpa!”

“Jean my dear, we are ghosts.”

I look up at mommy to see her helping Vi. They both look like they have been crying. I tug on her shirt but nothing happens. I poke at her shoulder but she doesn’t turn around. I give Vi a hug but she doesn’t move. 

“We are ghosts?”

“Yes, Jean”

“So, we are dead?”

“Yes, Jean”

“I don’t believe it!”

“It is hard to believe.”

“How did I die?”

“You don’t remember, right?”

“Nope.”

“Do you remember what happened when you were born?”

“No.”

“It’s the same with death, Jean.”

“Nobody remembers?”

“No.”

I look back up at mommy and Vi. They give each other a hug and I join in. I can’t feel them. 

“Did I die today?”

“You did, Jean.”

“Was I the pure soul the world lost?”

Grandpa nods.

“Oh.”