The Jump

Jesse Conter was nineteen and volunteered at the nursing home every other day of every week. He enjoyed working at the nursing home, it gave him a sense of accomplishment and he especially enjoyed when, on his breaks, he could go and visit his grandfather, Daniel Conter. His grandfather, whenever he was in the right state of mind, which nowadays wasn’t often, would tell him some wild story about when he was younger. Jesse had heard most of them, but he always enjoyed hearing them more than once.

Today when Jesse went into his grandfather’s room while on break, he found that it was a good day for him.

“Hello, Granddad.” Jesse said as he pulled a chair up next to the bed.

“Jesse, lad. It’s good to see you.” He said with all sincerity.

“Good to see you’re doing well today. Know what dad called ya the other day?” Jesse asked, a smile on his face.

“What did that boy of mine say?” he asked, looking slightly over at Jesse, who was wiping his dark, brown bangs away from his green eyes.

“Called ya a stubborn ol’ mule ‘cause you’re too stubborn to die, and honestly I’m glad you are.” Jesse said, he was smiling, but he was also serious.

“Well, so am I, but that’s what you get from the Army, you either try to stay alive or quit and I’m sure you know what I’ve chosen. Anyways, ready for a story today?” He asked, Jesse could tell he was tired, more tired than usual and he didn’t want to push him.

“Only if you’re up for it, Granddad.” He said, but he got a chuckle in response.

“‘Course I am. Now, for the story, this one takes place when I was ‘bout 20 years old, and I believe it was 1953. I was getting ready to join the Army because we’d just entered the Korean War.”

Summer 1953

“Ya know, if ya wanna practice that parachutin’ your gonna be doin’, ya should jump Manny’s Cliff.” A young man, of about twenty years old said as he sat in a car next to a much younger Daniel Conter.

“Yeah, Joey, I wanna get killed, before I join up. That’s the whole plan.” Daniel said, laughing.

“How do you know that you even like jumpin’ from high spots?” Joey asked curiously, trying to persuade Daniel into jumping.

“I don’t know; I just have a feelin’ like I do. Now quit pesterin’ me.” Daniel said, as he kept his eyes on the road. They were headed to the drive-in for a double feature and to meet up with some friends.

The rest of the night went without Joey bothering him about the jump off of the cliff. Daniel knew that if he jumped that he’d just be jumping into water, but he also had heard one or two stories about how along time ago, around the time that he was in his preteens, that a couple kids had made the jump and hadn’t survived. He didn’t want to go like that, he wanted to join the Army and if he died jumping at the Army’s command than so be it, he wasn’t going by some stupid stunt off a cliff.

The next day Daniel and Joey road together to the mills in town, both had a job there.

“Given any thought to what we talked ‘bout yesterday?” Joey asked nonchalantly as he looked out the window, letting the wind hit him in the face.

“It’s the same answer, Joey, I ain’t doin’ it.” Daniel said, looking straight ahead.

“What, are ya chicken?” Joey jeered, looking at his friend, a smirk on his face.

“I ain’t chicken, but I ain’t no dummy either. You heard what happened years ago.” Daniel said, referring to the kids who had gotten killed.

“I know, but others have gone after them and survived.” Joey said and Daniel had to admit that that was true.

“Fine, I’ll think about, that’s all I’m sayin’.” Daniel said as pulled the car up to the mill. The two got out after he parked.

“You have till we get off, alright?” Joey said with a grin plastered on his tanned face.

“Fine, but whatever answer I have then, is the one I’m stickin’ with.” Daniel said and with that the two walked in and started at their daily work.

Daniel talked about it over the course of the morning and the guys who were closer to his age said he should go for it, their reasoning being that you only live life once. The older men advised against it, but some men also laughed after giving him advise because they remembered taking the jump themselves when they were his age. He listened to each person’s words and thought about it. By the time break time came Daniel had his answer for Joey.

“I’ll do it after work.” Daniel said while he and Joey ate lunch together. The two of them were leaning against his car, eating sandwiches from home.

“Really.” Joey said, excitement in his voice. Daniel nodded his head yes.

“I figured why not, it’d be good practice anyways.” Daniel said a smile on his face, although nervous about the jump, he knew he’d enjoy the adrenaline rush he’d get from it.

“Alright then.” Joey said, a goofy grin on his face.

“Now come, let’s listen to some music.” Daniel said and the reached into his car and turned a knob, allowing The Hilltoppers’ “Trying” to come out from the speakers.

Present Day

“Did you jump, Granddad?” Jesse asked after a couple of second, for the much older Daniel Conter had taken a small break to catch his breath.

“Yeah, I did. We’d made a plan to drive up to the cliff after work and we did. I’d tried to get Joey to jump, but he was chicken, or what he claimed was that he wasn’t join’ the Army and wasn’t goin’ parachutin’ so there was no point to jumpin’, but yes your Granddad jumped. I’m glad I did too, ‘cause I discovered how much I really enjoyed it. That was really the start of my Army career; at least it was in my book, because the next day I joined.” Daniel said, smiling, it was a tired smile and Jesse saw that.

“I’ll let you get some rest, Granddad, I’ll come back later.” Jesse said, pushing his chair back as he got up. He saw Daniel close his weary eyes and when he did he saw a look of unusual peace on his face. Having worked at the nursing home for about a year he knew the look, his grandfather had finally succumbed to death. Jesse let a tear fall down his face as he walked out of the room to tell one of the attendees. He knew why he was told that story, it was because his grandfather wanted him to make the most of life and not let things stop him. Really realizing this Jesse whispered into the air, “I will, Granddad, I will.”