Page 3 of Ginjuh

Grandpa was silent for several moments.

“You gotta make sure you’re tendin’ to your school work, son.” He said with that rheumy voice. “But the farm sure won’t suffer none if you manage to come help out some.”

“I think I can manage.” I nodded out towards the fields, a smile settling onto my face as the morning dawn approached.

We both stood there, looking out across the fields, the sun coming up over the horizon, my back to my grandpa so he couldn’t see my smile. Grandpa’s farm was like a plot of Heaven that God forgot about and Grandpa snatched away before he knew it was missing. I’d miss the little slice of paradise when I was halfway across the state of Iowa, far from everything I could remember of my life. I’d miss the dirt between my fingers, the smell of freshly turned, rich earth, the sun setting and rising over the fields which contained the memories I’d made with my grandpa. Even the blisters and sunburns would be missed because at least they were proof I’d spent my springs, summers, and falls with my favorite person in the whole world.

“Well,” Grandpa cleared his throat again, “I’d invite you in for some breakfast, but you should get on home and enjoy your last day before school starts back up, shouldn’t ya’? Young men need to have some fun, Zach.”

“I have fun here.” I turned to him, trying to not frown.

“Of course ya’ do.” He chuckled. “Who doesn’t like to break their back shoveling dirt? But you ain’t spent much time with your friends this summer. They probably miss you.”

Again, I was confused as to why my grandpa seemed to be pushing me away from the farm.

“I guess.”

He nodded. “You want me to run you home?”

“Nah.” I shook my head slightly. “I don’t mind running back.”

“All right, then.” He gave me a nod and a salute with his coffee mug. “I’m gonna go in here and enjoy some television for once.”

He started towards the door but stopped for a moment.

“We’re gonna start next weekend on prepping the fields and making plans for the corn maze.” He said. “You just enjoy your first week of school, son. Enjoy being a senior.”

“Yes, sir,” I said gently.

“Zach,” Grandpa licked his teeth and looked off towards the fields again, “I’m damn proud of ya’, son. You’ve…well, you’re grown now, aren’tcha?”

“Yes, sir.” My eyes flicked away, embarrassed.

He cleared his throat again and gave me a nod. “I’ll see you Friday after school?”

That did make me smile. “Yes, sir. I’ll be here.”

“All right then.” He smiled back, finally meeting my eyes again. “Now, go do something you kids do for fun. Be young!”

I laughed as Grandpa winked and disappeared into the house, the screen door slapping shut lazily. Again, I gave the fields a good eye-fucking, taking in the splendor of Grandpa’s farm being bathed in the thick early morning sun of summer. My friends and family were great, school was okay, my life wasn’t bad—but I wouldn’t miss any of it the way I would Grandpa’s farm. And Grandpa. But, as Grandpa had pointed out, I was grown. Senior year was starting, I would go to college, I would mold my own life out of the clay of experiences I’d gathered, and one day maybe my grandson would be working on my farm. I smiled to myself as I swiveled and took off in a jog back towards home. Having one more year with my grandpa and his farm made the thought of leaving the life I knew behind seem a little less scary and sad.

The jog between Grandpa’s house and my house took around ten minutes if I was lazy about it, but I made it home in record time. Sweat decorated the armpits of my shirt and my forehead was beaded when I got back home. Even though it was morning, it was still late summer, and as soon as the sun peeked over the horizon, everything started to warm. From the way it felt so early in the day, I knew it was going to be a scorcher by lunchtime. When I slowed to a walk up to the front door of my house, my phone was buzzing in my pocket, so I pulled it out and wiped my forehead with my forearm before looking at the screen to see who was calling.

“Duuuuuuuuuuude.” I smiled as I heard Jason’s voice drawl through the earpiece. “You’re never going to believe what happened.”

“You say that all the time.” I chuckled as I reached for the door, holding the phone to my ear. “And whatever you’re talking about is never as cool as you seem to think it is.”

Jason ignored me. “Got head from Mandy last night, dickbreath. How’s that for exciting?”

I rolled my eyes as I entered the house, grateful for the blast of A/C infused air. Quickly shutting the door behind myself, I kicked my sneaks off by the door and shoved them into the corner, out of the way, with my toes.

“Pretty exciting for you.” I agreed. “Traumatic for her, no doubt.”

“Har-fucking-har.” He responded quickly. ”I’m officially not a virgin anymore, Ginjuh!”

“Don’t call me that, fuckface.”

“Fine.” I could hear the roll of his eyes in his voice. “But it was fucking sweet, man. I mean, I didn’t last very long, but daaaaaaaamn.”