The Ring

I cried on Sunday night. I never cry.

Rewind to last May. After my Grandmother passed away my mother and I spent a few days in Montreal packing up Grandma's stuff. Room by room we went through everything, taking what we wanted , packing the rest for good will. When we got to Grandma's jewelry box I felt a surge of anger inside as I knew what remained would be mere costume jewelry. Mom had already been there the week prior and cleaned out my Grandmothers more expensive jewelry. It was her right. The will stated the house contents belonged to her. As I looked inside the box, something made me catch my breath. Immediately I knew what it was. It was my Grandfathers wedding ring. I reached for it.. wanting to touch it.. be near him...and she just snatched it. I asked her for it and she refused. Again, it was her right. I was very bitter.

Last week, she calls me quite a few times saying we have to get together; alone. She has something for me. She says it's very important. So finally, by the 3rd call, I agree to meet her for dinner. That Thai place I love. I don't know for certain what it is she wants to give me but my heart does a little backflip when I think of the possibility... however remote.. that she might give me the ring back. Imposible!





As we're waiting on our food she hands me a box, holds my hand and says. " This belongs to you. It was yours to begin with. I know that but I had to work through something first before I realized that."





I open the box and there it is; shining under the twinkle of light .. his tarnished gold wedding band. I felt dizzy with happiness but before I could say a word.. my mother says.."look inside the band, read it". I read it.. my eyes squinting to read the small script. What I read made my heart just explode. I was so gratuitous ..to be able to feel such intense emotion. Let me paint a quick picture. I have reels and reels of old 8 mm film of me singing as a child. Almost always with my grandfather singing along beside me or to me. We loved to sing. Our favourite song was "Don't sit under the apple tree" He sang this song to me every day I was with him. Here is the song for anyone who doesn't know it by heart:





Don't sit under the apple tree, with anyone else but me
anybody else but me
no no no
don't sit under the apple tree, with anyone else but me
till I come marching home - insert straight leg marching movements-



My mother had the following words engraved on the inner band of the ring



" I'll always be waiting for you..under the apple tree"



I can't begin to describe what I felt inside. I couldn't do it justice.





Thank you Mom. Thank you for putting me first this time. Thank you for the gift of memory





I miss him so very much.

Epilogue.

I had to ask her. Why? Why did she do this. Why did she take it in the first place?She told me that she had to come to terms with something first and what she came to terms with was that he loved me more than he loved her.

Here is the ring


Authors note * This had NO editing or rewrites. I just reached in, cut and let it gush.