Heaven (Casteel 1)

I watched silently as Pa again got into his old

truck and sped off, kicking up dry dirt and scattering

dead leaves, creating a whirl of dust and litter. He was

gone, and he'd taken his dogs with him. Now we had

only cats who hunted just for themselves.

When I ran to tell Sarah that Pa had really gone

and this time he'd taken his dogs, she cried out and

sank slowly to the floor. I knelt beside her. "Ma, it's

what you wanted, isn't it? Ya drove him out. You said

you hated him . . . why are you crying when it's too

late?"

"SHUT UP!" she roared in Pa's own ugly way.

"Don't kerr! It's betta so, betta so!"

Better so? Then why did she cry even more? Whom did I have to talk to now but Tom? Not

Grandpa, whom I'd never loved as much as Granny,

mainly because he was so content in his locked-in

small world, and he didn't seem to need anyone but

his wife, and she was gone.

Still, I helped him to the table each morning

when Sarah stayed in bed, and each evening, and said

what I could to ease him along until he grew

accustomed to being without a wife. "Your Annie has

gone to heaven, Grandpa. She told me many a time to

look out for you after she was gone, and I will. And

think of this, Grandpa. Now she doesn't ache and pain

anymore, and in paradise she can eat anything she

wants, and not feel sick after every meal. I guess that's

her reward . . isn't it, Grandpa?"

Poor Grandpa . he couldn't speak. Tears

streaked from his pale, tired eyes. When he had eaten