The Reading Tree

Chapter TWO

Along the banks of the green river lies Greensburg, Kentucky. A quiet little town of 2,500 people. Where antebellum homes line the streets, drivers wave at you as they pass by and folks talk with a twang. In the summer the air is fragrant with the smell of fresh cut hay and grandma's home cooking.
"Jamie! Honey look we are here!" my father says as i am awakened by his voice.
Lifting my head from the glass I suddenly regret my choice of resting places, boy does that hurt your neck after a while! I guess i must have fallen asleep for the entire ride, which for me is surprising.
Looking out my window I see we pulled up to the long dirt driveway of the farm. There is a rusty old mailbox that says Williams off to the side, it sort of leans a little. A small creek runs alongside the road and a canopy of green trees shade overtop our car. I roll the window down and feel the warm breeze hit my face, it makes me smile as I close my eyes and breathe in the sweet smell of Mother Nature.
At the end of the driveway there is a small white bridge with overgrown vines wrapping around the side and if you look closely you can see tiny cracks in the weathered wood. As a child I was terrified it would break when you drove over it so I always hold my breath.
Just over the bridge is my grandparents house. A big beautiful log cabin with a porch that wraps around the whole house. Two rocking chairs sit in the front and a swing on the side. The landscape is like something out of a magazine comeplete with red and yellow tulips, blue hydrangeas, a bird bath and a few shrubs. The cabin sits on a three acre farm with four horses and two goats. My grandma didn't want any more animals other than the outside cats and dog Bruno.
I see my grandpa sitting on the porch swing as we pull up, dust from the car fills the air as we come to a stop. Jumping out of the car i run to greet him with the biggest hug!
"Oh grandpa! I missed you!" I say as he pulls me up into his arms.
Billy Williams is his name, he's a tall brawny man with thick white hair and sparkling blue eyes. Still wearing the same old trousers, checkered shirt and chewing on a cigar hanging from his mouth. Deep smile lines and wrinkles cover his face revealing his age. However, being in his seventies doesn't stop him from getting things done around the farm. He still does everything despite my grandma's wishes to "Take it easy".
As i hug him i inhale the sweet smell of pipe tobacco and pepermint. I love that smell. It takes me back to my childhood when we would sit under the oak tree and listen to the wind whistling through the branches.
"I missed you too buttercup! How was school this year? Im so sorry we couldnt make it down for your graduation."
"Oh its fine grandpa, all you missed was me embarrassing myself in-front of a hundred people."
He laughs "What do you mean?"
"I tripped over my own shoes and fell on stage getting my diploma" i say back trying to not relive that moment.
"Well i hate to say this sweetheart but you are pretty clumsy" he giggles and he is right, sometimes i wonder if my feet and brain actually work together.
"Is she here!?" my grandma comes running out wiping her hands with a dishtowel.
"Oh jamie! Im so happy to see you dear!" She says giving me a giant hug.
Marilyn Smith was her name before she married my grandpa, She was the town's local beauty queen with bleach blonde hair and soft porcelain skin. Time has been good to her for she doesn't look her age the least bit, i'm sure hair color helps with that too. Sweet as pie but feisty like a wildfire most would say!
Her and my grandpa married young, so young in fact their parents had to sign for permission. Back then that's what you did, got married to your high school sweetheart and had babies. They had my father at sixteen, i couldn't even imagine what that was like.
"Honey, we are going to hit the road back home okay?" My mother says brushing the back of my hair.
"Okay i love you guys so much!" i say hugging them both tight.
"Talk soon? I love you sweetheart" my father says as they get in the car. I wave and watch them drive off back down the long dirt driveway.
"So honey tell me..." my grandma says wrapping her arm around me as she and i walk into the house.
"Did you have any boyfriends this year?"
My face turns bright red as I remember how awkward I am around the opposite sex.
"Oh grandma! Of course not!"
I haven't had the best luck with boyfriends.