Well this is Goodbye

Well this is Goodbye

As I step out onto that large ominous steel platform, my whole body is thrown into a cold sweat. My knees start to buckle. I wind my fingers around the frosty metal railing; the frigidness pierces my hand, going through to the bone. I tell myself it is time to size up the beast that is before me. I stare up at the massive metal giant, I get the sense it is staring back (P&M). I feel my eyes start to tare away from the craft, I lose all eye contact with the immeasurable metal giant (P&M) and I gaze back into the direction of my house. As I take one last glance at my house I relive the hours before this moment.

Sitting down at the table in the empty kitchen, I look over at the large bare white wall; I see all of the spots where pictures used to hang. As my eyes continue to glide across the room they’re attention is caught by a short, hunched figure occupying the door way. It is my Grandfather. He takes the vacant seat that is directly across from me. I watch him as he places his hands on the table reaching out for mine. He tells me that he is sorry but he can not go to live on the moon with Danny, Jerald, and me. He continues to speak with a quivering voice.

“I am 98 now, I am too old to leave this planet and relocate myself on the moon. You’re Grandma is buried here and I will be too. Well this is goodbye then kiddo, take care of you’re brothers.” As he finishes talking tears pour out from the slits of his eyes. I start to nod my head. I can’t speak. The words are drowning in my throat. Everything is being swallowed up with tears. I bring myself over to him and I throw my arms around him and start to sob. As I pull my head away from his shoulder I see little damp spots on his plaid cotton shirt caused by my liquid pain. I slowly turn away and walk out the door while wiping off the salty tears. I bolt out the front door, the dark cold air sweeps by my face. My brother Danny calls out to me and says

“It’s going to be a cold night tonight. It hasn’t been this cold in about five years. I don’t think they have to call it global warming anymore, they should call it global freezing now.”

Now my other brother Jerald chimes in “I just heard on the news that tonight the storm is coming and its going to send about ten feet of snow all throughout the United States. The meteorologist says we won’t be coming back down in this lifetime.”

I look around everyone has already left. The street is dark, cold and uninviting. I make my way back in through the front door to get my bags and say my final goodbyes to my Grandfather. As I walk in through the front door I realize this is the last time I will ever enter my house again. I walk through the sullen kitchen once more and make my way through the living room. I look up and see a strange hunched figure dangling from the ceiling on a thick yellow rope. I take him down and place him on the couch. I close his eyes, cross his arms, and place a blanket over his body. Soon after I recompose myself and almost mechanically walk back outside. My two brothers are running up the steps of the craft yelling out “will Grandpa be alright?” I close my eyes and nod my head indicating everything will be fine.

As I glance back at my house for the last time I shed one tear and say in an undertone “well this is goodbye” I finish my assent up the stairs and I find myself in the belly of the beast. This strange hollow cell is what I will know to call home.