Pawpaw: A Short Story

I watch, I listen, I learn. I have lived for hundreds of years and will continue to do so for many more to come. I have watched lovers marry, beloved children die, and even watched the making of new life in all of its wonderful ways. The people that surround me know nothing of me or my history. They do not know that in my life time I have had over three hundred robins make their homes on me. That I have been struck by lightning once and have survived the ordeal. They do not even know that I watched them as they tore down my brothers and sisters to make room for their roads and houses, which have become abandoned and long forgotten by the people that live here.

The first thing my father said was, “Release the clutch slowly while giving it the equivalent amount of gas.”

“Doesn’t weigh much, you could probably carry it if you were as old as me. Grab the shears, would you?”

"I'm a great driver!" Jackson scoffed, kicking the back of my seat even harder than this time.

“Sounds boring, I used to get to check out new gear all the time with I was little. It’s not that great Sam.” I

“This can’t wait. There was a burglary. The KEG went missing and I think you have it because you were the only other person besides Maggie and me who knew of its existence and location. I don’t have it, nor does she, so that leaves you.”

Tizio brought Painted Girl home after a long day of work. There was an odd car in the driveway. Painted Girl got out of Tizio’s truck and waved goodbye to him. She made her way up the walkway, pausing to look at the plain stoop. Beige siding, railing and door, the only color change was from the off-white concrete. She made mental plans for the entrance but wondered about the spiffy new Land Rover in the drive. She sighed. She hoped that Sarah had followed the plans for the house. It was written down in clear English, all she had to do was follow directions. She continued to hesitate worried that the house would be chaotic. She wanted to be home for Christmas. She reached for the door handle but it was jerked out of her hands and she

"I don't know what that is." Yeah it's probably not a good idea. I pull a cigarette and lighter out of the center console instead.

“Wow, really? That is even more interesting than I thought it would be! Two friends who have planned to meet again on the exact same spot and the exact same time in twenty years! Very interesting, please go on.”

”Well , I was at my cousin’s house and we was playing outside. The Jimmy told me to race him.” , said Billy.

"I don't know Arnold. What if it blows up in your face, and she goes right back to the girl she was in the fourth grade."

“About five or six years ago, I went through a reconnect with childhood phase where I really got into just looking at things fresh was the idea, and being excited about things because I'd been down a lot and been through a lot. It's very easy to get blasé about it.”

"This is both practical and flexible. It is how I used to wear my hair when I was a Watchwoman."

I blinked as my eyes were assaulted with florescent yellow lights from the 80s. “Why are you so happy? We haven’t sold a car all day.”

“Girl, aint no way nothing over there would fit me,” she sniffed. “I’m a junior 15 at the most.”