Eleanor Third Grade Second Row
Eleanor was never considered a pretty girl. She bordered on being plain. However, Eleanor made up for any lack of physical appearance with a beautiful inside demeanor. Eleanor’s mother said you could not help but love Eleanor. She was the kindest little soul you could ever find. So, when God made Eleanor, he broke the mold.
Eleanor’s mother could always depend on her. She would look after her baby brother while their mother hung clothes on the line to dry. She would bring her Papa his tobacco bag and sit and watch him as he filled the pipe. Eleanor never met a stranger. She had a how do you do for anyone who looked her way.
The Parker home was modest. Everything about the Parkers was fair. The Parkers would never miss church on Sunday. The parkers were the first to help a new family in the area. Eleanor came by her disposition genuinely, for both her parents were equally matched.
The winter had been a hard one for Eleanor. Eleanor was born with weak lungs. Eleanor had been in bed most of the winter, but now that spring was here, she was the picture of health. Eleanor would take baby Bobby to the garden close to her mom’s clothesline, and they would play in the dirt with sticks and rocks for hours.
Eleanor was excited for Saturday. Grandpa Parker was coming for lunch, and they would go fishing after that.
Mrs. Parker’s voice stopped Eleanor’s thoughts. What mama? Mrs. Parker said, stop daydreaming and set the table, or you will not be doing any fishing this weekend. Eleanor bolted to the kitchen. Mrs. Parker smiled as she heard clanging dishes.
Eleanor liked Jean, who sat behind her at school. But though she was too quiet. Jean always seemed a little bit sad. Eleanor had heard Betty, who sat next to her desk, say something mean about Jeans clothes. Eleanor had scolded Betty after class about what she had said, but Betty told her to mind her business. Eleanor did not like sitting next to Betty because she was always mean to the other girls. Eleanor would bring Betty cookies on Monday. Eleanor would ask her mother if she could bake cookies on Sunday to take to school the following Monday. Mother did say your kindness is what makes a difference. Betty just needed someone to be kind to her.
Friday night after school, mother and daddy played cards with Eleanor. Friday night was cards and popcorn night. Grandpa was coming for lunch, and then the two of them were digging up some worms to use for fishing later.
Bobby was three now, and as soon as he heard the word fishing, he was pitching a fit to go. Eleanor hoped mama would not let him. It was hard to watch him and fish. Eleanor wanted grandpa to herself today.
Lunch over, Eleanor rushed to help with the dishes. Eleanor was getting ready to sneak out the door before Bobby heard her, but grandpa let the screen door go. It made a loud creaking sound, and little Bobby flew out after them. Mama, does he have to go? It is hard to watch him and fish. He always gets too close to the water. Oh, let him go, Eleanor. Please keep him in between you and grandpa. Take a pole for him. He must learn to fish sometime. You were four when grandpa first took you, remember? Oh, alright! I do not want to, but I will. Grandpa did not say anything. He smiled and said, grab our tackle and the water jug.
It was a beautiful spring day. The air was crisp, and the sky was clear blue. The pond was about half a mile through the pasture. Grandpa had caught two good-sized fish. Eleanor was busy keeping up with Bobby. Finally, he sat behind them under a large oak and played with acorns piling them up high. Eleanor threw out her line and waited.
Grandpa began telling his big fish stories. Grandpa always said the same stories, but Eleanor still listened as if it was the first time she had heard them. Eleanor felt a tug on her pole. I got one, grandpa. It was a big one, and grandpa reached over to help Eleanor pull it in. The fish was the biggest Eleanor had ever caught. As she and grandpa worked to take out the hook and string up the fish, neither noticed Bobby by the water’s edge until it was too late. Bobby tried to step back but lost his balance and plunged into the water. Eleanor screamed his name, and grandpa’s blood ran cold when he heard it. Grandpa could not swim. Grandpa took off in the water after Bobby, but he had gone under, and grandpa was up to his neck.
Eleanor could not breathe because her lungs were spasms of pain. Eleanor fell to the ground. Eleanor forced herself up in time to see grandpa’s head disappear. Bobby had gone under and never returned, now her beloved grandpa.
Eleanor ran as fast as she could home. Eleanor’s mother saw her running alone and pale as a sheet; she knew it was terrible. Mr. Parker came out of the barn and said, where’s Bobby and pa? Eleanor was a statue. The Parkers ran to the pond. The only site was a string of wriggling fish on the banks and a pile of acorns by the pond.
The sadness of the day settled itself in Eleanor’s lungs. She was in bed for a month. When the Doctor came in, he said her lungs were not great, but that is not her main trouble. Eleanor blames herself for Bobby and Grandpa’s deaths.
I just thought you should know. Mrs. Parker slumped down in her chair and said, How sad. The blame belongs to me. If you do not believe me, ask my husband. Eleanor returned to school the following week. Nothing would ever be the same again. Eleanor did not care about Betty sitting next to her; she did not care about any of them.
Nothing would ever be the same.
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