The Write Place

Under The Fruiting Tree: Chapter 33 – The Write Place
Under the Fruiting Tree: Novella Table of Contents – The Write Place

Jason and Amanda stood under the tree on the warm spring day.  Jason was wearing his Marine Corp shirt as he often did.  His hair remained shortcut, resting under a baseball cap.  Amanda stood next to him in a gray t-shirt, her long hair flowing out from under a cap of her own.  His hair was slightly graying, though his form remained much the same.  Amanda had a little more weight, and wore more years upon her face, as did Jason.  The two stood beside the bench busy at work setting up a place to watch the game.  They worked together to unfold two blue lawn chairs next to the gray stroller amidst a crowd of people doing much the same for themselves.  As Jason crouched next to the chair a little girl in a blue dress ran up to cover Jason’s eyes with her small hands.  Upon feeling her squishy digits upon his eyes, Jason playfully lifted his head.

“Let me guess.  Is it Matthew?” Jason asked in feigned confusion.  The little girl shook her head and squeaked out a small no.  “Is it the cat?”  The little girl shook her head with a giggle.  “Nope, he’s at home.  And he’s too tall. Let me see.” Jason remarked playfully.  Jason reached with a free hand to feel the head of the little girl.  He grabbed one of her ponytails, swinging it gently.
“Ah!  Is it Emily!?”  The little girl nodded her head and squealed out a yes.  “Splendid!  Emily, are Gramma and Grandpa here yet?” Jason asked, turning his head to face the little girl as he set up the chair.  The little girl nodded, bobbing her brown pigtails.  “Why thanks Emily,” Jason said, patting her on the head.  “Are Jacob and Matthew and Ethan still playing with their friends?”  Emily nodded again, bobbing her hair.  “Thank you very much. You are a most helpful young lady,” he said as he finished putting the chair up.

Amanda knelt down to Emily.  Gently she pulled the little girl to herself.  “Have you seen Hailey, sweety?”  Emily shook her head, squeaking a little “no” from her lips.  “Okay. Thank you. Emily you can go to the slide with Julie now.  Emily smiled wide before running in a toddle down the hill, yelling her delight. “Remember being young and having that much energy!” Amanda asked Jason, smiling with delight at the youthful display of the small life they created.

“Nope, but I’m getting old, so my memory is starting to go.  So maybe I was but who knows!” Jason said with a chuckle.  Amanda responded with a laugh and patted Jason on the back.  “There’s Hailey,” she said, looking at their teenage daughter walking toward them.  She wore torn jeans and a light sweater, holding her phone at her side. The girls on either side of her parted with a wave.  She strode over, her black hair flowing from under her black headband.

“There she is in her torn jeans again.  Paying more for less fabric.” Jason said to Amanda as he shook his head with only somewhat feigned judgment. “Games about to start, Hailey!” He shouted through cupped hands.  He looked over to her on the other side of the road.  “Ma, Pa get your bags of bones over here. I saved you the bench like you wanted” he yelled to an elderly couple walking from the parking lot at the church across the road.

“Pick up the pace, Sharon,” Robert said.  His shaved face worn some from the years.  Having put on some weight and even more years, he waddled slightly as he carried their blue cooler.  His wife strode behind him in her jeans and gray sweater. She was little changed save for the years.  Her short graying blond hair stayed completely still as she took her short quick steps, as it does for most grandmothers.  With energy and vigor, Sharon strode past her husband, purse in hand. An amused look appeared on her face as she jogged past him.

“Pick up the pace, Robert!” Sharon yelled over her shoulder teasing as she pulled away.  When they arrived, they set up next to the bench they used to sit on so many years ago.  Emily and three brown haired boys ran up to greet their grandparents.  The herd of offspring swarmed past Hailey who stood still as they hurried by her, hoping to avoid a repeat of the tripping incident. One of the many as it happens.

“Hey dad,” Jason said, trying to reach around the group hug that was forming at the bench.  “Glad you could make it!” he said, shaking his father’s hand. “Hey momma,” he said, hugging his mother over the mass of his offspring.

“Yeesh,” said Hailey walking over to meet them. “Is it safe to come over now?”  She inquired with the standard teenage whine to her voice.

“Should be, but no promises,” Jason said, stepping out of the way.  “Go ahead, Matthew.  Your coach is waiting,” Jason said to the tall, athletic boy who appeared a little older than Hailey.  Hailey gave hugs and said a quick hello to her grandparents before scurrying off.

“Playoffs first year on varsity!” said Robert to his son.  “I never made the playoffs,” he added, a touch impressed.

“Never played baseball either though, dad,” Jason said with a knowing smile.
“Well what’s that got to do with it?” Robert said in faux ignorance.
“You gotta win the games first. You don’t win any if you don’t play first,” Jason said.

“Only reason I didn’t make the playoffs.  Though come think of it, even if I had played, I probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs,” Robert said, leaning back with a smile.  “Impressive in any case” he added with pride.

“How’ve you been Sharon?  Still painting?” Amanda asked her mother-in-law as she put on the baby harness and inserted the passenger from the carriage, which rested to the right of the bench.  The infant’s flailing little pink limbs hung from the harness.  The infant kicked, letting out soft gentle squeals.

“Quite well, thanks.  I’m enjoying that about my retirement.  I can paint all the time now.  What’s the new necklace?  Oh, Jason’s anniversary present?” Sharon asked. She leaned in and pointing to the silver cross necklace that was dangling around Amanda’s neck. 

“Yes, it’s so lovely.  He’s proud of himself.  He keeps drawing me with it,” Amanda commented, holding the necklace in her free hand.  “I think he’s just looking for an excuse.” she added sharing a laugh with Sharon. Amanda smiled broadly, softly bouncing the cooing baby in the carrier.  Amanda and Jason set their chairs next to the bench.  Dropping into the chairs, Jason and Amanda each let out a sigh.

“As his mother I can tell you he was always good with excuses. . .  Long week?” asked Sharon looking over to the younger couple.  Amanda lifted her head quickly with a knowing smirk on her face.

“A whole seven days,” said Amanda. rather amused with herself. 

“You know I’m supposed to say that” Jason said, leaning forward in feigned indignation.

“You’ve said it enough.  And you’re supposed to say it faster, too,” Amanda said with a playful voice and flirty move of her head. 

“True.  Supportive work of a good spouse. Playing the wingman.  Wingwife,” Jason added with a touch of pride in his wife’s performance.  “Coulda put it in our vows.”
“Yes, why should dad’s have the monopoly on dad jokes,” Jason said.

“You married well” Robert said, patting his son on the shoulder.

“Gee thanks, Pop!” Jason said, waving an enthusiastic arm. “Nice to know I married up in the world.”
“I won’t argue that.  Right honey?” Amanda added with a wry smile.

“Yes dear,” Jason quickly agreed, and by their laughter of the adults in their party.

“Aaron and Eli are coming with their families,” Robert said. He waved to two men coming from the parking lot.  The two bore a familial resemblance to Jason.  They were flanked by their wives and a herd of children walking as focused as possible with them. All hands were full, carrying something to set up for the family outing.

“There room on the bench before they get here?” Hailey asked hurrying over to have a seat next to her grandparents.

“Sure, you’re skinny enough,” Sharon replied. Sharon and Robert scooted to their right to make room for their granddaughter.  “Quickly honey, quickly.”  A little boy rushed from the herd, beating her to the spot.  Hailey barely stopped herself before falling over on her younger cousin.

“Ugh.  I guess I’ll stand by the tree,” Hailey responded with a teenage level of indignation.  She shuffled over to the tree and worked to position herself until she found a good place to see the game and her family a short distance away.

“You can come over honey, you had it first.” Sharon quickly offered.
“No grandma, it’s alright.” Hailey added, pulling out her phone.

As the family settled in and started talking, a young boy with red hair and blue eyes walked up behind Hailey from the stream of people still approaching over to the hillside.  About Hailey’s age, wearing a baseball uniform he walked in a bold and nervous stride.  His taller frame cast a shadow on Hailey’s back.  Hailey tilted her head slightly, sensing a new presence.

“Excuse me,” the boy said to Hailey.  “It is Hailey, right?”  he asked as he shuffled his feet in the dirt.  Hailey turned from facing the field to the newcomer at her side.  The boy’s ocean blue eyes met Hailey’s copper-colored eyes.  Recognition flashed upon Hailey’s face.

“I don’t know if you remember me,” the boy said.  His body closed its stance as he struggled to maintain eye contact, albeit successful.

“Ryan?” Hailey asked in mere formality. Though they hadn’t spoken, she knew and remembered him well.  “Yeah, I do remember you from school,” she added a look of recognition on her face.

“Good,” Ryan said rather nervously. ”That is good, right?” Ryan added with a nervous smile.

“Yes, good,” Hailey said, nodding her head in agreement with an amused grin.

“Didn’t realize you’d be here,” Ryan said.  Racing thoughts filled his head as he anticipation the course of conversation not yet had.

“Well, Matthew’s my brother,” Hailey said motioning to her brother down the hill in the batting cage.

“Oh, is he?  I didn’t realize that.  Well all right then.  Mystery solved I guess,” Ryan said, looking at Matthew then back to Hailey.  “He and I have gotten to be pretty good friends from being on the team this year, but I didn’t know you were related.”

Amanda looked over to her daughter. “Who’s the boy?” asked Amanda, smiling with delight.  By no mistake, loud enough for everyone to hear. 

“Yeah, who’s the boy?” asked Jason. “We’d all really like to know,” Jason said, emphasizing the word as much as he could while putting on his sunglasses with one hand.  “Oooh!” his brothers resounded from behind him.

“Dad, don’t start,” Hailey pleaded.  Her body bobbed up and down with her words, betraying her significant experience in the words directed at her.  In spite of her best efforts a slight redness was forming on her face.

“I did start. We finish what we start in this family.  You know there’s an application for dating her,” he yelled through cupped hands to amused laughter from the family and several witnesses. “I’ll have you know I’m a Marine,” Jason yelled rather pleased with his own performance.

“Dad, stop!” Hailey continued with exasperated pleas.  Her thin frame shook with of irritation of things unfolding exactly as they predictably would.

“I already told you, I gotta finish first,” Jason shouted jovially at the pair.  “What kind of father would I be if I didn’t?”

“If it doesn’t scare him away it’s meant to be,” Amanda said, joining in in support of her husband.  Jason returned her enthusiasm with a high five.  As the two laughed Hailey rolled her eyes.  Ryan however, though his face was turning red as his hair, remained calm, enjoying the spectacle.

“Really?  Marine corps?  I actually plan on joining up,” Ryan said, turning to face Hailey’s parents. The new turn of events had gained his attention.

“Oh, do you?” Jason shouted with satisfied interest as he popped open a soda from the cooler.  Jason sat up, soda in hand upon hearing those words.

“Yeah.  Long line of military.  My dad was, my grandfather was, too, but he died in World War II though, so my dad didn’t get to meet him.  Really respected what he did, though,” Ryan said.

“Darn right,” Jason said, lifting his soda  toasting the service of those who came before.  “Especially the marines. Talk to me sometime I got some fliers for you to read. Some at least are about the Marines,” he said loud.

“I gotta go but, see you after the game maybe?” Ryan said, looking at Hailey with the fidget in his leg returning.  Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long for an answer.

“Yeah, sure, definitely see you around,” Hailey replied, while trying to hide her blushing face.  Ryan walked down to the field in gentle satisfaction. His anxiety was replaced with a pure confident stride, a mix of pride and relief.  He felt on top of the world. Hailey stood under the tree smiling both a small and obvious smile.  

“That was interesting,” said Amanda.  She threw a twinkling look  to her daughter as their eyes met. “A little familiar, too,” she added from behind a soda can.

“You’re telling me!” Jason said with a deep look at his wife.  “Nice kid,” said Jason loudly enough for everyone to hear.  “Seems like a nice guy,” he said, his voice trailing off a bit into the sounds of life around them.

“Yeah.  He is…” Hailey said.  Her eyes followed Ryan as he walked over to take a place on the team bench.  She stood watching the field on the warm sunny day surrounding her.  As he sat among his teammates, he turned to look at her once more.  As their eyes met, hanging above her swaying gently in the breeze, the tree was budding.