Going Home

Going Home

Jed Morris woke up in a good mood, for a while at least. Turning 80 doesn't happen everyday and he felt spry and fresh for a change. Jed was in pretty good shape, but he had a bad heart that Mary used to nag him about, telling him to take care of himself. Mary had died ten years earlier, after forty years of marriage.
A day didn't pass where Jed didn't mourn his wife, but he knew the time was near when he would rejoin her. He loved life as much as the next guy but he was ready to go home. His kids and grandkids all babied him and it took some work to convince them to let him even go fishing by himself.
Jed was going on an adventure that was almost a year in the planning. He was going up the mountain to the old Morris homestead. His family had lived on that mountain for over 200 years before a need for jobs drove them down into the foothills of North Carolina. It had taken getting the okay from his doctor to even get his family to discuss his trip.
The trail up there was so rough that you had to take a four wheel drive most of the way then walk the last two miles. You had to worry about falling and breaking a leg or getting bit by one of the big timber rattlers that lived among the rocks on the mountain. That was the problem he ran into: the rough country and his bad ticker. At the age of 74, after his second heart attack, he had moved in with one of his daughters. Beth watched over him like a hawk about overdoing physical activities. Her husband Dan was okay, he was a live and let live type of fellow. Jed's favorite grandson, Mark, was the son of Beth and Dan.
Mark Newton was seventeen and wanted to see the old Morris homestead for the first time, so he and Jed spent considerable time talking Mark's mom into letting them make the trip. Jed had an old 1962 Jeep that they had gotten into good enough working shape to make the trip. Even Jed's thirteen year old Boxer, Buck, would be making the trip. Though the dog was long in the tooth Jed felt Buck had one more good trip left in him, if they took it easy.
Jed did as he always did upon waking; he looked at his wedding photo on the table beside his bed. "Mary, old girl, I miss you more today than ever," he muttered as he wiped a tear from his weathered cheek. He quickly took a shower and dressed in his old button up shirt, some workpants and worn work boots, the same type of clothing he had worn for years while working in the sawmill.
Since it was only six in the morning he didn't expect anyone to be awake but as he crept down the stairs he could hear people stirring around. Jed went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee and smiled as he saw Buck sitting by the door. "He must know somehow that we're were going somewhere today," he mused to himself.
* * *
Mark was ready for the trip up the mountain but, like his mother, had some misgivings about taking the "Old Man" up there. He sat on his bed, already dressed for the day and talked with his mom.
"I think the problem will be getting Grandpa to turn back if the trail is too rough for him," he told his mom. She nodded her head sadly, "Yes, he is a stubborn old cuss and he dearly wants to see the old home place again before he dies. He lived there until he was seventeen and left to find work. He and Mama often spent weekends up there until both my grandparents were gone. Dad told me the biggest regret of his life is not maintaining the trail and the old house. There are so many memories up there of his brother Jim who died in the Korean War and, of course, of my grandparents."
Mark smiled sadly, "I wish I had met them. Mom, what is your favorite memory of them?" Beth didn't have to think about it, "The smell of Grandma's cooking. She was the best cook I ever knew, though Mom was almost as good." Mark patted her hand, "If they could cook better than you then I am impressed." Him mom just smiled and ruffled his hair a little bit, as they started downstairs to meet Grandpa.
Seeing Jed standing in the kitchen doorway Beth gave him a smile, "Happy Birthday, Daddy" and hugged him tight like she did when she was a little girl. Jed was a little taken aback by the show of emotion but patted her on the back gently. "Thanks, Daughter, but don't hug so hard or I will break a rib," he told her with a chuckle.
"It is just that I love you so much and I am worried about you making this trip. You are too old to be traipsing around the mountains anymore," Beth told him with a frown. He returned a frown as he replied "Now you know Dr. Adams said I could go and that I was as healthy as I had been in years. I worked hard to get back in shape to do this. I feel the old home place is calling me. I HAVE to see it again before I die. Don't nag me girl. Your Mama didn't try and you shouldn't either."
"Well, Mama would put a stop to this foolishness without nagging and I really don't mean to nag either," Beth replied. He smiled ,"Yes, Mary would either put a stop to it or she would understand and leave me be." Beth nodded at that and raised her hands in a silent surrender as she walked into the kitchen.
Jed followed her into the kitchen and poured a fresh cup of coffee, looking up as Mark walked into the room. "Lets get some of your mama's good breakfast and then hit the trail.' Mark smiled at his grandfather, "I see you want to get there before the roosters wake up."
They all enjoyed a nice breakfast and made small talk but didn't linger. The family could see Jed glancing at his watch from time to time, impatient to get on the road. When they finally pulled out of the driveway Jed didn't notice his daughter watching from the second floor window until they were out of site.
* * *
As they pulled out of the driveway Jed had to chuckle. "We have a worn out old man, a worn out old dog and a worn out old jeep and along for the ride we have a wet behind the ears boy." Mark just shook his head, "Hey grandpa, the jeep isn't that worn out and Buck was bouncing around like a pup this morning." Jed thought that over and laughed again, "Oh, I am the one that is old and worn out." Mark nodded "yes" as they got on the interstate and headed west.
Jed was enjoying the scenery as they got closer to the mountains where he had been born and raised. He decided to let Mark drive the jeep to get in some practice since the boy had only had his license a little over a year. As they left the interstate and began climbing a mountain road kudzu plants gave way to pine and laurel.
"Turn right when you get around this curve and start up the trail. It won't get rough for a few miles, then I will take over and drive as far as we can go," Jed told him. Mark nodded then grinned as they went through a creek and he had to gun the jeep to get across. "Yeah, I forgot to tell you about the creek" Jed said with a twinkle in his eye.
Mark was having the time of his life as the jeep bounced through the ruts in the road. "I never thought 20 miles per hour would feel like 70," he laughed. Jed also was grinning from ear to ear. "Yeah, who needs a roller coaster when you have an old mountain logging road." Buck had been asleep in the back of the jeep but was now up and wagging his tail, hanging his head out the side window.
"I swear that dog knows where he is," Jed said as he reached back to scratch the old Boxer's ears. Buck seemed to be smiling up at Jed and started to whine and smell the air. "What do you think he smells that he likes so much?" Mark asked Jed. "Dogwood probably," came the reply. It took a moment for that to sink in, then Mark started laughing at the lame joke.
Soon the old road got so rough that they switched and Jed took the wheel. He had years of experience at driving in such terrain. His weathered hands gripped the wheel tightly as he fought the ruts in the road. When they got to a tree which had fallen across what was now just a trail Jed stopped the jeep with a sigh.
"End of the road. We walk from here," Jed said. "How far is it to the old home place?" asked Mark. Jed looked around at the trees and rocks surrounding the trail. "About two and a half miles, I would judge. I walked this road many a day so I am pretty accurate on the distance"
Jed reached into the back of the jeep and pulled out two canteens and a paper bag that had some sandwiches in it. "Come on, Mark, it will be lunch time soon and we can stop and eat on the trail. You never want to hike in wild country without some clean water and extra food. I have some energy bars in my bag of goodies in case we need them."
As they started up the mountain Buck went ahead of them sniffing everything in sight and wagging his tail as fast as it would go. Mark also took a long breath in through his nose, smelling the pine and the dogwood. "It sure smells nice up here, Grandpa." Jed nodded, "Less pollution and more smells of nature. I expect we may see a deer or two if Buck doesn't scare them off. There could be wild hogs along the trail as well." After saying that he picked up a stout tree branch off the ground and started carrying it.
"Is the stick for any wild hogs that may come after us?" Mark asked him with a nervous look around. "Hell no, boy. I would have to be in desperate shape to take on a wild hog with a stick. It is just to help walk up the steep places, and it just feels right to hike with a staff in hand." Jed had to smile when he saw Mark dart off the trail and come back with a large stick of his own.
From time to time as they walked up the trail, Jed would point out a tree or flower and tell Mark what it was. He called Mark's attention to a few old landmarks, like the '55 Ford down in a ravine so far it could never be pulled out. Jed had run it off the mountain when the brakes failed and he had to jump out to save himself.
The farther up the mountain the two went, the less talking took place. Seeing a slight clearing in a laurel thicket off the trail they stopped to eat their sandwiches. Mark looked troubled, "Grandpa are you ok? You look almost gray and you are breathing kinda heavy.
Jed smiled, "Well Mark, I have felt better but I am not stopping. We are less than a mile from the top and the old place. We will spend the better part of the day up there then come back down. It will only take about 45 minutes to get back to the jeep, walking downhill." With that Jed used his staff to push himself up off the ground. He ducked under some laurel branches and as he heard a howl from Buck, Jed fell flat on his face onto the trail.
Mark had been gathering up his things when he heard Buck let out a mournful howl. He scratched his face by running straight out to the trail, not ducking under branches. He saw his grandpa roll over on his back and then lay still as Buck franticly was licking the old man's face. As he got to Jed he saw the man take a final rasping breath and then his chest was still.
"Oh God, no. Grandpa not you," yelled the boy as he began CPR. Buck started howling again but got out of Mark's way and let him try to work on Jed. Mark pulled out his cell phone but could get no signal this high on the mountain. The boy kept up his attempts at CPR until he was exhausted and had to stop. Mark was a little surprised to hear a little whine out of Buck who began wagging his tail and walking up the trail towards the top.
* * *
Jed was more embarrassed than anything when he fell flat on his face. But when he rolled over he felt the heaviness in his left arm and chest, and knew what was happening. "I have to get up so I don't scare Mark," Jed thought he said. After a moment Jed felt the heaviness leave his chest and he felt remarkably better. He quickly got up and started walking up the trail. Jed meant to finish the trip and not let Mark talk him out of it. He heard Buck whine and saw him take his usual place at Jed's side as they walked up the mountain.
Jed didn't wonder until later why he never turned to look for Mark. He just knew he wanted to see the old home place again. Feeling better than he had in years he made it up the trail very quickly. As he got near the old place he felt a sense of shock. It had been rebuilt to look like it had in Jed's youth. There was even smoke coming out of the chimney! Then Jed saw a man standing just outside the door wearing an army uniform. A look of understanding crossed Jed's face as he recognized his brother Jim, who had frozen to death in Korea in 1952. Jim was suddenly at his side and wearing old hunting clothes like he did in before he went to the war. Jim smiled at him, "That's right old man, you have passed over. If you had looked back you would have seen Mark trying to save you." Jed smiled back at his older brother, "Is this Heaven?" Jim replied, "No, but its close enough and maybe now we will be going on. I think we were supposed to wait on you." Jed looked at Jim, "We?" Suddenly, as they walked through the door to the house, Jed smelled the best smell of his life. Buttermilk biscuits, country ham, gravy, bacon and eggs were being served onto plates by Mary, and Jed's mother and his father were sitting at the kitchen table grinning at him.
"I am sorry I left you so soon," were the first words from his wife's mouth as they embraced in the middle of the room. He couldn't find any words but happiness beyond description filled his very soul as he felt his mother's hand on his back. Jed's dad had never been much of a talker but addressed the room, "Lets eat. I feel we will be moving farther along, but let's enjoy a good meal and fellowship before we go."
* * *
Mark covered his grandfather's face with his shirt and rested by the trail weeping. He was tempted to start his trek down the mountain to get help but didn't want to leave that old dog here by himself. He made it up to the top of the mountain and kept calling Buck until he heard the old dog bark at him. Mark had to break a new trail to the old abandoned house but Buck wouldn't come out to him. He was sitting at the door, which was barely standing. Mark had to drag the old dog out of there and back to the trail to start down to the jeep. Later, he never mentioned to anyone that he could have sworn he smelled a great breakfast being cooked from inside the old house. Mark would wonder about that for the next 60 years, until he took his own journey home.