Rules of Escape

Chapter 20 - Evan

Evan follows his grandfather around the summer house, to the overgrown backyard.

"See here, Evan? It's hard to see because of the weeds, but each of these lumps is a garden box. If you pull out all the weeds, this is a great place to grow vegetables."

Joe tugs a few tall weeds out. The dirt beneath them is dark and loose. "Remember helping me out here when you were little?"

"Yes," Evan says. He remembers pulling up carrots and picking beans, filling large bowls with vegetables and fruit, taking it all to Grandma, and her broad smile showing such pleasure. One morning, Evan filled a small bowl with huckleberries before anyone else was awake. At breakfast, Grandma had said they were in for a real treat. Huckleberry pancakes. Only at Grandma's, she had said, winking at Evan.

"So you think you could manage on your own here?" Joe asks.

"Yes." To prove it, Evan starts pulling out weeds. He has a small pile beside him when he stops. "These are raspberries."

"Good for you, Evan! Not everything is gone! Let's see if anything else is edible in these boxes."

After an hour of pulling out the largest weeds, Evan discovers that there are blueberry bushes, potatoes that have started sprouting, and a few self-seeded tomato plants. Not only that, but when he and Joe inspect the long narrow herb box, they discover that most of the herbs have survived very well, much better than the wooden box disintegrating beneath them.

Evan cups his hand around stems of fennel pulling them through his hand, careful not to crush the delicate leaves. The liquorice smell will stay with him until he washes his hands.

"Maybe I should live here with you for a while," Joe says. "You could help me get around and I could help you out if there's something you're not sure about."

"I'd like that very much," Evan says.

"I understand that some of your friends want to live here, too. What are they like?"

"I like them."

"Well, I think it's a good idea if you move in first. It's your home now. You can have other people live here if you like, but it will always be your home. You get to decide who can, or can't, live here."

"Okay."

"Why do your friends want to live way out here?"

"Ana feels good here."

"All the fresh air, probably."

"Her head doesn't buzz. She can relax."

"Maybe because there aren't any radio or cell towers around here. Some people think they are affected by radio waves and wifi. It's all baloney, far as I can tell."

"What's a radio tower?"

"It sends out signals so people can tune their radios into different stations. There's also cell towers and other things that send out signals so people can use cell phones and get wireless internet connections. They're all over. They'd be here too, if it wasn't for the nutty, old bat down the street who got all the people around here so scared about the effects of radio waves that no towers have been put in yet."

Evan holds out his arm for Joe who grabs on to it and slowly eases himself down onto a concrete garden bench.

"I wonder if Gladys is still around? She used to have tea with Grandma sometimes. Crazy woman dyed her hair all sorts of unnatural colours. Used to walk around stark naked when it rained to save on her water bill, or so she said. I could never understand why Grandma entertained her. They were so different."

Evan walks over to the dry fish pond as he listens to Joe reminisce about the past. He takes a pair of clippers out of his pocket and starts slowly clipping back some of the brambles threatening to take over the pond.

"Jesse said he was maintaining this place," Joe says. "All he did was have the house painted and a bit of grass cut. There's so much more here, if you know how to take care of it."

"Can you show me? I want to make it look like before."

"Nothing would make me happier, Evan. I think I'm getting younger just sitting here."

Evan looks his grandpa up and down. He doesn't look any younger. He looks very old, fragile, like a strong wind could push him over. But he is smiling, his whole face creased in wrinkles.

"Where's Jesse?" Evan asks.

"He's inside the house trying to determine whether the house is habitable. I don't know why it wouldn't be. There's just a bit of dusting needs done. Jesse worries too much about safety. I should never have agreed to go into that retirement home." Joe surveys the yard a few moments. "We're two peas in pod, you and I. We're both trying to escape. I'm looking forward to the big jailbreak. Hope it comes sooner rather than later."

"Are you in jail, Grandpa?"

"Of course not. I mean figuratively. The home for old people feels like jail. Anyone with their wits about them feels like they're in jail and dreams of escape because when a person moves into the old folks home, they leave everything they love. That's how they feel. When their homes are gone and most of their belongings, they have nothing to do. So they wait to die. But it's not just about having stuff - the stuff just gives people purpose. A reason to get up every morning. That's why when I went into the home, I refused to sell this place. As long as it exists, I have something. A reason."

"You are sad with loneliness."

"Not really. I ain't lonely. There's some interesting folks there. And Jesse and his kids visit. Jesse thinks I should live with him. But he doesn't understand, I don't want to be a burden. I want to have a purpose and I'm not so old that I don't get joy from having some control. I want to have some say in my world. Leave my mark. I may be a doddering old fool, but I still have some sense in me yet. I still have ideas."

"You can tell me what to do."

Joe winces as he stands up and straightens his back using the bench for support. His large hands are dotted with dark spots and shake slightly. Evan worries that he has made his grandpa mad.

"You're one smart boy, Evan. Now the hard part will be to convince Jesse. If we can get him to agree, it'll be smooth sailing for us and we'll be escapees before you know it!"

"It will be hard to get my friends here."

"Why's that?"

"They have to get independence, first."

"Hmm. Sounds familiar. Well that will be our next challenge once the two of us are moved in here."

"And the garden. And getting my driver's license."

"Of course. Those will be our first priorities." Joe laughs which makes him cough, but he continues laughing anyway. Then his face brightens. "I have just the thing that will loosen up Jesse! Can't believe I almost forgot about it. I'll give it to him and I know he'll agree to anything we suggest."

"What is it?"

"Oh Evan," Joe whispers, "It's my Pearl." Joe rubs his hands together with excitement. "Jesse would never have found it on his own. We must go see Gladys, right away. I never thought I'd say this, but I hope like hell she's still alive. Help me out of this garden."

Evan places his hand under his Grandpa's elbow. When Joe leans towards him, Evan moves in closer so Joe can use him as a support. As Evan helps Joe out of the garden, he notices that the ground is uneven. Twigs and the weeds he has just pulled out, are now tripping hazards. For his next garden project, he will clear the paths.