Mr. and Mrs. Swing

Chapter 9 - Welcome Home Bug

December 22, 1992

Cumberland, Virginia

The bus pulled into the station and before I even stepped off the bus I could smell the grass and hay in the background. I grabbed my duffle bag from the overhead bin and swung it over my shoulder. I walked off the bus and immediately saw my granddad and brother standing in front of the crowd of people, holding a large bouquet of roses, my favorite. I ran over to them with my arms open wide.

"Grandaddy! Eli! I missed y'all so much!", I yelled as my two favorite men wrapped their arms around me.

I stood back and looked at my little brother. He was now 19 years and looked like the spitting image of my dad, which was a little frightening. He was taller now, basically six feet tall with smooth caramel skin and a low cut. He had on the Levi jeans and COOGI sweater I mailed him a few weeks ago.

"I see you got your gifts, baby bro, I'm happy you liked everything. It was way harder shopping for a 19-year-old MAN than I thought!", I said I was we started walking to the car.

"I love anything you send me Bug, really! Nobody down here in the holler has a real COOGI sweater, I'm the man at the pool hall!", my brother replied.

My granddad opened the car door for me like he's done since I was a little girl, while my brother grabbed my duffle bag and put it in the trunk. Last year, Eli and I finally convinced my grandad to give up on his old beat-up 1969 Chevrolet truck. He replaced it with a 1992 Cadillac Deville which was really nice, me and my brother talked to him for weeks convincing him to spend a little money and treat himself. He really deserves the world.

"So Junebug, I called your Auntie Loretta and told her you were coming so she's at the house cooking. Diane is with her too and the baby. That lil fella is a spitting image of Diana and cute as a button", he said as we started driving down the dirt road to our farm.

"Auntie Loretta's lemon pound cake, I can taste it now. Oh! I can't wait", I said as leaned back in the plush seats.

Eli chimed in from the back, "You shoulda never told Auntie Loretta that Bug was coming. Bug she done made so much food. Fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, green beans with ham hocks, cornbread dressing, lemon pound cake, cheesecake, and sweet potato pie".

I licked my lips, imaging all that good homecooked food just waiting for me, "Well, I better get in the gym after the holidays because I won't be able to fit any of my clothes eating like this!".

Grandad laughed as he turned into the driveway, "Bout time you put some meat on them bones! Looking like one of those fashion models instead of a country girl", he said laughing.

I got out of the car while my brother grabbed my bags and headed into my childhood home. Grandad told me he and Eli made some improvements to the house but I was truly impressed. They replaced the old screen door with a new one that was painted white, they painted the front of the house a light blue and the porch white, there were brand new white rocking chairs on the porch surrounded by beautiful potted plants. The only thing that was missing was the old porch swing, me and Eli spent many summer days drinking iced tea and reading books on that swing.

"Eli, Grandaddy, the house looks so beautiful! Y'all really did a great job. I am kinda sad that y'all got rid of our old porch swing", I said walking up the steps.

"Turn around Bug and look at the tree!", Eli yelled as he walked towards the house.

I turned around and looked at the old Magnolia tree and saw our old porch swing, now attached to the tree with a fresh coat of yellow paint. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. It felt good to be home with people who loved me for me, people who know the real me, people who didn't just love for what I can do for them.