“Heaven Knows”
‘ We started off as strangers, Then we became friends, Then suddenly were lovers, what is going to happen next? ‘
“Tell me more Grannie! ” Lucy urged. ”Patience little one.” I answered, eyes missing from years of smiling. “Just tell yours and Grandpa’s love story!” Lucky said, for a little boy, he’s more into love stories than Lucy. “That again? We’ve heard that story a billion times!”Lucy exclaimed. “Hush Lucy, that’s not the way a lady should act right?” I lectured. “Ooh! Just start the telling and we start the listening” Lucy answered. “Sure child, it all started when your dear old Grannie was just a little girl, I was in fourth grade at that time. There was a guy who is two years older than me-““is that Grandpa?” Lucky butted into my story. “Tsss, you already know that that man is-““Hush Lucy” I scolded slightly but not forgetting to reassure her with my smile that I’m not really mad. “Yes, Grannie” Lucy replied grinning sheepishly. “Now, where was I, aaah, as I were saying, that man was older than me, he’s name is Rayden, he’s a great man, I had a crush on him, he sings great, he’s not that smart but smart enough to not fail he’s studies. He’s sweet and humble to everyone who acknowledges him, stranger or not. We went to the same elementary school at our Barrio. He served as your Grannie’s inspiration but that didn’t last long” “Aww, why Grannie?”Lucy urged completely into the story. Smiling, I continued telling my story. “He is two years older than me which means that he is in sixth grade at that time, which also means that he’ll be graduating that same year.” “What happened when he graudated Grannie?” Lucky asked. “Well, I continued crushing on Rayden. He inspires me until I graduated in elementary.
When I graduated, I studied at a different school from Rayden’s. But I still get to see him every day after classes and we live in the same barrio.””Do you talk to each other Grannie?” “Yes, every after school. He buys me my favorite Chocolate Sundae everyday. He makes me smile, a lot.” “Grannie! Your story give me goosies! I want more!” Lucy exclaimed. Before I could tell Lucy to shush so I could continue with my story, a deep male voice talked, joining our little company. “Now,now my sweet little Lucy, how could your Grannie here finish her story if keep on talking every two minutes?” he’s voice is deep, scary deep but it holds a gentleness that assures all of us that he is a very gentle type of man. “oops! Sorry mr. J! I’ll shut up now! “ Lucy apologized grinning with her missing four front teeth. For being so young she already knows what life really is, she was just living seven years or her lifetime she already have to say goodbye to that life. When she tells me her story of how she got here all I could just think of is ‘so young to be wasted’. “Grannie gran gran! Shes zoning out again Mr. J!” “no I’m not Lucky” I answered. “common Katelyn, don’t leave the children hanging” Mr. J said smiling accompanied with a slight laugh.
“alright, alright. Now where was I? oh yes, everyday Ray den waits for me until I get out of the school so we could hang out and go home together. It’s like an everyday routine, we go to school, then we hangout after school then go home. Until we realized we are each other’s best friend.” “but why Grannie? Why not tell him you like him? Urgh! I can’t understand you adults.!” Always the thinker, Luck exclaimed. “it’s because you’re too young” Mr. J answered. “oh common!” everyone laughed at Lucky’s frustrations. “ I can’t tell Rayden that I like him, that I love him. It can ruin our one year friendship, Lucky. Sometimes you have to sacrifice for the sake of others.” Mr. j looked at me, his eyes full of sympathy. Forcing to ignore the lump in my throat I continued. “were the best buddies in our Barrio, he always comes over at my house or it’s me who comes and visits him at his house. The elderlies in our barrio would always say, ‘you two would perfectly fit for each other, just like the putting the last piece of jigsaw puzzle to finally see the picture’ but we would just laugh it off, but deep inside me, a little bit of hope sparks, wishing it is true. Then one day, a part of that saying came true, Rayden confessed his love for me, of course I was so happy I could jump of the cliff but your Grannie here ain’t no fool. I said, ‘you love me? Then court me you knucklehead!’ “ they all laughed at my story and I couldn’t help but to laugh with them, seeing them, especially the children, happy, I’m happy. “more Grannie!” Lucy said. I chuckled. “Oh common! Stop interrupting the story Lucy!, continue Grannie.” Lucky said as he loses he’s patience. “as I were saying, on that very same day, December 18, 1988 he started courting me, we went on a date.
