When I was about 12 I was sent to live with my grandparents in Bay St Louis,,,Maybe I was a troubled youth,,,Well,,,thats what the Judge said, !!,,It was just great ideas gone wrong,,but,,it was what it was. I was leaving all my friends,,my school,,I was terrified and sick to my stomach.My dad and momma drove me down,,my momma was crying,,,they didnt speak the whole way down, just silence for 2 hours. We drove down the old shell road,,I remember the crunch of the tires,,funny how that stuck in my mind and the fact that I was a terrible disappointment to my parents.I stared out the window of the Nash station wagon.The moss covered oaks made the final trek of the journey even more gloomy. When we approached my Grandparents house ,,I saw my Gran sitting on the front porch of the old unpainted Acadian house, Oh Lord this is too much, I felt sick to my stomach.We got out of the car and walked up to the porch. I had a sheet with all my possessions close intact.My dad hugged Gran and my momma just stood there,,like in a daze.My gran reached out and took her hand,,and held it to her heart. She whispered something to my momma. My momma started crying and they hugged for a long time.all this was my fault,,,the whole sorted mess was because of me and the way I saw things.I did this,,I am putting my momma and dad through all of this. My Gran reached out for me and tried to hug me, but I was too ashamed to give her a real hug,,just too guilty I guess.My Gramps walked out on the porch and hugged my dad and my momma.Well,,it is what it is I thought. Daddy took me to the side and said,,boy,,,this is only temporary,,do the best you can, and mind your Grandpa and Grandmother. I nodded and My momma just hugged me briefly and they turned and walked to the old station wagon. I waited for them to turn and tell me its all wrong,,and for me to come get in the car and lets go home,,but it never happened,,they never even looked back and then,,they were gone. My Gramps walked with a slight limp and my Grans hands were slight and wrinkled and riddled with arthritis. She looked at me and said,,,Trenton,,its going to be fine.They just need a little time back home to let everything settle down, you will be just fine. Now lets go up to your dads old room and get you settled in.We walked in the dark house and up the stairs,,I guess it was a little akin to prisoners going to their cells when they first arrive at prison. after all,,this is my sentence. The next morning arrived with out much ceremony .I could smell breakfast cooking and Gran hollered up,,Trenton,,breakfast is ready. I walked down the stairs and sat at the table.Gramps looked up at me and said, son sit over here in your dads chair.I got up reluctantly and moved. I was hurt,,I was sad,,but I was guilty and deserved every bit of this.Gran was a wonderful cook and breakfast was amazing,,the chatter at the table brought me out of the self pity and doldrums I was wallowing in.Gramps said, Trenton, I need you to go with me today and help me with my work.I thought to myself,,why would they want me to stay with these old people and what could I possible learn from an antiquated crippled old man. I said , sure I will go Gramps. As they cleaned up the kitchen I walked into the front room, I looked bout at pictures of my dad when he was young,,,it was pretty amazing to say the least ,,Dang,,I had no idea that My dad had done all the things in these pictures.I saw my gramps in his uniform and my dad in his.All the plaques hanging upon the walls,,like in a museum or something.My Gramps walked in and said,,OK son,,lets get a move on,,,We walked to the old rusted Red International pickup.We drove down through Bay St Louis and stopped at all the places my Gramps traded at. Everyone that spoke to him,,called him Mr OShay,,You could see the respect in their expressions ,,,but why,,Hes just an old bum. Hours passed and then days and weeks and months.I had become accustomed to being there,,,but I was still living in a daze or in a dream like state.Gran would read my letters from home and catch me up on all the latest events of my family. One day when Gramps and I was sitting on the pier in front of the house,,,we talked about my dad and Gramps said my dad was a war hero,,,I thought A WAR HERO,,,this was the first I ever heard anything about it. I looked at gramps and said,,,What about you Gramps ?,,He looked at me for a long time and just said,,,the war was the worst time of my life,,,I ask,,Were you a hero??,,He looked back and shook his head,,,from side to side,,no son,,,I was just a soldier,,just like everyone else,,just doing my job,,just like all the rest of the soldiers,,,All I saw was a wrinkled up old man with the shakes and limp.How could he have possibly done anything,, We watched the sun going down and Gramps said,,,each day I sit here and watch the sun go down and it confirms that I lived another day,,justified,,,I said,,what the heck does that mean,,,he just rubbed my head and said,,it will come to ya one day.I just hate when grown ups say that.When we got back to the house Gran was walking out on the porch with 2 cups of fresh ground coonass coffee as Gramps called it.They sat on the porch and Gramps relived evey step he and I took that day and Gran would smile and say,,,Well Ill be,,,,LOL,,She always said that,,,,I just sat there on that porch and realized what a wonderful person my Gran was,,,I loved her so much,,,She reminded me of my momma,,, Weeks passed and one morning after breakfast I was in the living room looking at all the pictures and plaques and I saw 2 velvet plaques on the fireplace mantel .I walked over and took it down and looked at the medals ,,,It said,,,Medal of Honor,,,on my dads and then I looked at Gramps and he had one also. When Gran walked in to tell me Gramps was warming up the truck,,I ask,,what are these for,,,she smiled and said,,the only person that could tell you that would be the ones that got em.Dang,,I thought,,just another way of getting out of telling me anything. I walked out and got in the old red truck and we were off,,,the whole time I was just itching to ask,,but it just didnt seem like the right time for some reason,,,,We worked an extra long day and when we got home ,Gramps went immediately out to the pier,,,We just caught the end of the sun going down.We sat there a long time in complete silence,,I just didnt feel like talking and neither did Gramps.After a bit,,,Gramps said,,,lets go see your Gran,,we walked across the old shell road to see Grans smiling face,,,Gramps had told me to start using his little skiff anytime I wanted and,,I final felt like it,,,Saturday morning I woke up to the smell of Grans hot buttermilk biscuits and frying bacon. after we ate,,I ask,,have we got anything to do today Sir?,,Gramps spoke real slow and said,,,I dont recon,,,why ?? You got some plans. I said, well I guess its about time I learned my way around these bayous.They both smiled and said,,that sounds like a fine idea. I ran across the road and shoved the little skiff into the Jordan.I started it with one pull and I was off,,,,the whole of Hancock county was mine to explore.I drove down to the mouth of the Jordan and turned toward the Bay Bridge,,,I pulled up on the beach in town and just started walking around,,,Everyone I met smiled and spoke,,,some asked me who I was,,,I said,,my name is Trent ,,,Trent OShay,,they would look startled,,,and then they ask,,Is your grandfather,,,Clarence OShay,,,I was almost embarrassed,,,to answer,,,being afraid they looked down on him...but I answered,Yes,,,Yes he is,,,,,they looked at me and rubbed my head,, and replied,,, one of the finest families in the country,,,,be proud young man.I just couldnt see it,,,surely they must be talking about someone else.I soon learned the town and its people,,,life was kinda becoming normal,,,it was a relief ,,and I just didnt feel like being the little hellion,,,anymore,,,,just wasnt any need for that Trent,,,, One Monday,,,Gramps and I were making our rounds,,,,Oh yeah,,in case your wondering,,,Gramps was kind of a handy man,,and maybe ,,even had a little junk man in him,,,,a man of all trades and a master of none he use to remark and chuckle,,,,We were crossing the Bay Bridge,,, and saw smoke coming from a boat ,,it was a boat on fire,,,,,Gramps pulled over and was trying to get someone to stop,,,the cars were screaming by,,not even looking,,,,as I peered over the bridge rail from the old truck,,,,,I saw a woman trying to draw water from the bay and toss it on the fire which at that time was growing out of control,,,,,My Gramps hollered for her to abandon ship,,,,she said,,,NO,,My husband is down in the cabin,,,,Gramps just stood in front of the cars passing ,,but none would stop,,they drove around him,,,why cant they see the grave situation,,,what is wrong with these people,,,,,Something just took ahold of me , I couldnt think,,,It was just a whirlwind of emotions,,,,I opened the truck door and ran and jumped over the rail,,,,,and into the freezing waters of the Bay,,,,I swam with all my mite,,,,I swam like it was the fight of my life,,,,,I reached the boat,,and by that time it was fully engulfed,,,,,I climbed aboard,,,,the old woman was steady drawing water,,,I kicked the cabin door,,nothing,,,I kicked again,,,still it wouldnt budge,,,finally I saw a timber ,,,lying against the motor house,,,,I grabbed it and battered down the door,,when I did the flames rolled from the underside of the deck,,,,I could feel the heat from my brogans ,,,,I ran and grabbed the old woman and put the life preserver around her shoulders and lifted her like she was made of straw and flung her in the bay,I looked back at the bridge,,,,My Gramps just standing there in complete silence,,,, staring at me,,,,I ran down the partially burned stair way,,,,,I saw the old man on the floor,,,,his frail body lying motionless on the floor of the cabin,,,,I picked him up,,again,,,,he weighed nothing,,,,,like a feather pillow,,,I looked back at the stairs,,they were fully engulfed now,,,We were in a fight for our lives,,,,the old man,,,,looked up at me and pointed toward the bow,,,,his haggard voice,,,,saying,,,that way,,,,,I ran to the Bow,,,and looked up,,and there was a hatch,,from the looks of it,,it hadnt been opened in years,,,,I sat the old man down and pushed,,,,I pushed and pushed,,,,but,,I couldnt budge it,,, OH dear GOD,,,,,,,we are done for,,,,,,,I knew I could jump through the door way where the stairs were now burning wildly , yep,,,I could do that,,,,but I could never leave this old man,,,he pulled me close to him,,he said, son,,,,get out of here,,,,save yourself,,I am an old man and I have led a good long life,,,,I am ready to go,,,,I have already made my peace with My Maker,,,,,I said,,well,,,I aint leaving,You,,!!!,,So I will pray with you and make my peace with Your Maker as well,,,,,The fire grew hotter and hotter,,,I thought about my family,,,I thought about all I put them through,,,I though about my Momma,,and my dad,,,,,I thought about my Grandpa,,,,,standing on that bridge watching helplessly,,,,I could see my Gran,,,,,crying her heart out,,,,,but this was the right thing to do,,,,,I just dont care about the way this is ending,,IT WAS The RIGHT THING,,IT WAS THE ONLY THING,!!!,,,The thick black smoke had already taken the breath from the old man,,He seemed peaceful now,,,he wasnt fighting it anymore,,,,,,I can see my momma,,,,,,I can see Gran,,standing on the porch,,,,,she is calling for Clarence,,,,She is calling for him ,,,over and over,,,,,,,,The heat is taking my breaths from me now,,,,,,it wont be long,,,,,I will be long gone before the flames,,,,,OOOOoH,,,,LORD,,,Take care of my Gran and My Pappa,,,and my Momma and Daddy,,,,,,I hear a crashing,,,above my head,,,,,CRASH,,,CRASH,,,,CRASH,,,,I can see the hatch caving down,,I guess this is it !!!!,,Ever more and more the crash,,, I can see a light,,,,CRASH,,CRASH,,,,,and then the light from above,,,,,,,I can hear my Grandpas voice,,,,,Trent,,,,Trent,,son,,,give me your hand,,,,,I awaken from my death sleep,,,,Its my Grandpa,,,,,,he is reaching down to me,,,,I reach up and am pulled like a feather from this fiery grave,,,,,,,I feel the wonderful cold Bay Of St Louis water,,that was sooooo cold,,,now like a life giving spring,,,,,,I see my Gramps jumping down in the hatch and pushing the old man up on the deck,,,,,I must be already in the hereafter,,,,This cant be real,,,,I see my Gramps holding the old man and jumping from the exploding deck,,,,,,,he is swimming toward me,,,,,I must be dead,,,,he is just an old man,,,,,he cant even walk,,,,,,he grabs My life preserver,,and starts pulling the old man and myself toward a nearby boat,,,,,,,When I awaken,,,,I am at the Hospital,,,,,My Grandpa,,,in the bed next to mine,,,,,the one across is the old man,,,,the old woman standing by his side,,,,,,My Gran is holding his hand,,,,,there are people in the hall,,,,the hospital is buzzing with people talking,,,,They are telling me,,,I am a hero for saving the old couple,,,,,but,,,I didnt do anything,,,compared to my Gramps,,,,,,My Gran,,,took my hand and said,,,,,,OH TRENTON,,,,,,,You saved them both,,,,Your Granpa saw the whole thing,,,and in all the excitement,,he fell into the bay,,,and Cap just happened by and pulled all of you into his boat,,,,,,NO,,!!! I did get the woman off,,,but then I got trapped in the cabin,,,,,and Gramps bashed the hatch in and pulled us out,,,he took the old man and jumped in and swam with us both to the boat,,,,,,Gran,,,,,,I saw it,,,,Gran Looked at Clarence,,,,and he just shook his head from side to side,,,,,I saw it,,,I was there,,,,No one agreed,,,,,with me,,,,,everyone saw what Gramps told them,I said,,how did Gramps get those burns,,,,Gramps,,tell them,,tell them what you did,,,he just looked at me and said,,,son,,,you need to get some sleep,,,,,,,when we all recovered,,, the city held a ceremony . It was a very big to do,,, I received an Award from the State Of Mississippi and from the City Of Bay St Louis and from Hancock County,,and from the Fire Department,,,,,for Bravery and Valor in the Face Of Imminent Death,,Well for me,,,it sealed the deal,,,,,,My Gramps and me became inseparable,,They called me his Little Shadow ,,,,,,I was proud to walk beside him every single step,,,,,he was a true hero,,,,,,one that walks in obscurity ,,,,,,,life in the South,,,,Have a wonderful Sunday
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 02:21:52 +0000
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