CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Owen True – The Thankful

 

 

NEW PEOPLE CAME EVERY DAY after that. Joe from the garage, Don Chan and his wife, Mikala’s mom and sisters. Even Mayor Sanderson. Plus quite a few people I didn’t know. Soon Mr. Joseph was showing them what rows needed tending.

And on Friday, a column of dust follows a silver BMW driving slowly down Maple Avenue.

“Dad!”

“Hey, Owen,” he says after he gets out. He gives me a sideways hug and rubs his knuckles on my head.

“You’ve grown!”

“Well, it’s been nearly a month.”

“It has, and I sure missed you.”

“I missed you too, Dad.”

And a weird thing happens in my chest. It gets all tight and...sad. Because I have to say good bye to all my new friends.

Dad takes in all the activity in the garden. So I tell him about my idea and how Gramps’ garden is helping the people of Hayward with the recession. I don’t tell him about the angels. Not yet.

His eyebrows move up and down and he nods his head. “I’m impressed, Owen. Nicely done.”

All that sadness poofs away and is replaced by pride. A good kind. Dad is proud of me.

That night I say good-bye to Mikala.

“It’s been a great summer, Owen True,” she says, a little sob escaping her lips. “Because of you.”

“I would’ve died a thousand boring deaths, if it weren’t for you, Mikala.”

We both kick at the ground with our toes and I shove my fists deep in my pockets.

Then Mikala throws her arms around me, nearly knocking me off balance. “Let’s not go the whole year without talkin’, okay?”

So, since Mikala doesn’t have a computer, we agree to write each other the old fashioned way. With paper and pens, envelopes and stamps.

Saying goodbye to Gramps isn’t any easier, and I find my own little sob creeping up my throat.

“Gramps?” I throw myself into his tall body. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, big guy.”

Dad has all my things loaded up. “Time to go, Owen.”

I never thought I’d ever feel sad to leave Haywire. Oh heck.