Well...I Have Berries...
I woke early this morning, at least earlier than usual. I didn’t sleep much last night. Dad convinced me to go strawberry picking with him over at Quidas in Caroline County. I love Caroline berries, so I went without complaint. We met up with my Aunt Barbara, Aunt Jo, and cousin Mandy, and picked for about an hour and a half. Dad and I filled two 8-quart baskets and decided to freeze more than half. Those berries are like gold to me.
I decided to take some to Jimmy today. The lady at the counter stopped me and looked in the container I had, and then she said, “I can’t let you bring food in here.” “But these are Caroline County berries. Best of the best.” I told her, and then I gave her one. She smiled, ate it, and said, “I’ll just look the other way.”
Jimmy didn’t eat them, but he looked at them and smiled a little. Then we sat and just enjoyed the silence, until he finally asked about prom. I told him it wasn’t important, and I asked him how he was feeling. “Tired.” He replied, and I asked if he wanted me to leave. He shook his head and said, “I want you here. Because I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again.”
And we cried.
I left the strawberries with him and left 2 hours later. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to. We were going to dinner tonight, to celebrate Nick’s birthday.
I was in no mood to celebrate.
I was in the mood to cry.
But dinner was actually entertaining, and being with my family cheered me up. I actually felt guilty afterwards; knowing I had so much fun while Jim’s in the hospital, dying.
Now I’ve eaten too much at dinner and I’m staring at those strawberries, thinking about how full I already am.
I’ll sneak one and call it a night.
I decided to take some to Jimmy today. The lady at the counter stopped me and looked in the container I had, and then she said, “I can’t let you bring food in here.” “But these are Caroline County berries. Best of the best.” I told her, and then I gave her one. She smiled, ate it, and said, “I’ll just look the other way.”
Jimmy didn’t eat them, but he looked at them and smiled a little. Then we sat and just enjoyed the silence, until he finally asked about prom. I told him it wasn’t important, and I asked him how he was feeling. “Tired.” He replied, and I asked if he wanted me to leave. He shook his head and said, “I want you here. Because I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again.”
And we cried.
I left the strawberries with him and left 2 hours later. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to. We were going to dinner tonight, to celebrate Nick’s birthday.
I was in no mood to celebrate.
I was in the mood to cry.
But dinner was actually entertaining, and being with my family cheered me up. I actually felt guilty afterwards; knowing I had so much fun while Jim’s in the hospital, dying.
Now I’ve eaten too much at dinner and I’m staring at those strawberries, thinking about how full I already am.
I’ll sneak one and call it a night.