Jack and Jill

Jill sat in her chair by the window. Her sad gray eyes watching the snow fall longily. Her long gray hair braided at her back. The fond memories of playing in the snow were slipping away.

Jack was standing beside her. His green eyes etched with sadness. The little bit of hair he had left matched the snow outside. He rested a gentle wrinkled hand on Jill's shoulder. Memories of long ago flashed through his mind.

He remembered a time they were in grade school. They we're about six years old. He had been sitting behind her in class. He had pulled her pigtails. He thought she was cute. After, school she had thrown a snowball at him in retaliation. He told her of the time when they were in middle school. She had been home sick. She had snuck out to the porch and threw a snowball at him as he walked home. All their assignments scattered in the wind. They rushed to catch their assignments High school memories drifted through his mind. Prom night and graduation seemed like a blur. Then, their marriage after he came home from the war. He was lost in thought. When, he heard the tea kettle whistled.

Jack walked to the small kitchen. He turned off the kettle. He took the packets out of the blue box. Jack grabbed the cups from the cabinet above the sink. He poured water in the cups and added the contents from the packets. He stirred the contents of the cups. Jack looked in the cabinets for marshmallows. He found a small bag in the back. He put it in his coat pocket. Jack handed Jill her cup. He sat his cup on the table. He looked out the front bay window as he warmed his back on the fire.

He saw the mailman drive down the road nearly hitting a mailbox as the truck slid on the icy street. He went out the door. He carefully walked down the steps. He held tightly to the rail. It hurt his hand. He didn't want to fall. He was at the last step. When, he felt a cold hard blast hit his back. He turned to see Jill standing on the porch.A mischievous smile on her face. The smile had always been there in their youth.

The sadness in his eyes disappeared for a moment. He bent down and made a snowball. He threw it at her gently. They laughed. They threw a few more snowballs. They looked at the sleds that their grandkids had discarded near the steps. Then, looked at each other and nodded. His eyes lit up. Her eyes excited.

He picked up one of the sleds. He sat it at the top of the hill. Jack sat down carefully on the sled. He barely fit on the sled. Jack gently pulled her into his lap. Her small frame fitted into his lap. The one thing that hadn't changed over the years. He held her tight with one arm. He looked at her one more time. He asked, " Are you sure?" She nodded.

He pushed off with the other arm. He quickly hugged her tight. They moved slow at first. Then, they got stuck on a branch. The hill was steep. He yanked free. They slid down the hill a bit faster.

He felt her smile. They rolled off when they hit the bottom of the hill. Jack landing on top of her. He gave Jill a small kiss and rolled off. They lay in the snow holding hands. They laughed hard. Each smiling at the other. It was like time had turned back and was stuck on their dating years.

Jack stood up slowly. He helped Jill up. They slowly walked up the hill. Holding hands. Jill whispered, " I love you, Jack." The sad smile returned to his eyes. The sunlight reflected off the tears he was holding back. She hadn't remembered his name in years. He said, "I love you, more."

They walked back inside the old house. He helped her take off her wet outer clothing off. It was a slow process. His fingers were stiff from the cold. He laid the wet clothing on the fireplace to dry. Then, Jack helped his wife to the chair near the fire. He handed her the hot chocolate. Then, he pulled a package of marshmallows from his pocket. He added a generous amount to her hot chocolate.

Her gray eyes smiled briefly. Then, she looked at him confused. "Who are you?" He turned his back to her. He looked at the trees. The trees sparkled in the sunlight. The morning dew had frozen on the trees.. He mustered all the courage he had. He swallowed hard. Holding his tears back. " I'm Jack I live next door. I'm here to take care of you." She replied, "I used to know a Jack. He was drafted to the war." Slowly and painfully she spat her words out like a two year old learning to talk.

She looked on the mantle where silver framed photos sat on a dusty shelf. She looked at the one of Jack in his Navy uniform. His green eyes scared and excited. She looked at the new Jack. "He had green eyes like you." Jack looked at the picture of himself. He replied, "Yes, I guess I do look a bit like your Jack.

He sat down in the chair next to her. He picked up the newspaper laying on the coffee table. He pretended to read the paper. He watched Jill as she fell asleep in her chair. He put his paper down quitely not wanting to wake her. He picked up the blanket she had knitted out of scrap yarn. It was colorful just like her personality had been. He laid the blanket on her. Then, he sat down. There was no need for the paper. He let the tears quietly fall down his withered cheek