Summer Wine

A Different Ending

Early the next morning, I was sitting on my back porch, hoping that I would see her again. I wanted to put off the day's work that lay before me to search for her, but I knew I couldn't do that. Not yet, anyway.

Staring off into the field, my eyes rested on the biggest tree in the property. I remembered that it was where I first saw her.

I approached the tree without hesitancy, a little too eager, though what a tree could offer me about her, I didn't know. On reaching it, I saw that it offered the best shade and made me feel lazy and sleepy. It offered solitude, and I knew I could get used to wasting my time under there.

Circling it, I found an engraved drawing near the lowest branch. I couldn’t make out what it was, so against my better judgement, I found myself climbing a tree on a beautiful summer morning. It was something I haven't done for a long time.

When I was high enough to study the engraved drawing, I stopped to study the view from this high up. It was breathtaking.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. One could really get used to this. Nature has a very effective way of luring people into a false sense of security. The air and the place were intoxicating. And so was the woman's image that kept popping in my mind. Together, they created the perfect paradise.

Remembering the purpose of my short excursion, I scrutinized the engraved drawing and realized that it showed seven men lined up in a straight line, and just below these figures was the word Remember. I ran my fingers along this work of art and wondered if she, the beautiful woman I saw yesterday, was responsible for marking the tree with this bizarre engraving.

I jumped down from my perch and for the first time, I noticed the owner's house just a little ways away from mine. I remembered that it was an old man who owned the property and sold me my new home. Come to think of it, I never even met him, and he never even welcomed me when I moved into my new house. I wondered where he was. Thinking that maybe he could shed light on the woman's identity, I decided to pay him a visit.

I knocked thrice on his door, but there was no answer. His house was bigger than mine, and I knew at a glance that it was well-kept. I peered in the windows but saw no sign of life. I knocked again but still there was no answer. Giving up, I headed back to my house and finished the day's work.

----

That night, he drifted off into an uneasy sleep, and sure enough she appeared in his dreams. She was as beautiful as ever, but on closer look, she was crying.

He knew he had to help her, but how, he did not know.

----

Lisbeth spent most of her days attending to old man Piper. Just before the first day of summer, he fell seriously ill and she feared for him. He was her only source of strength, and she knew she couldn't, just couldn't, bear to lose him.

She brought him to the doctor, and she prayed that he would get better soon. For days on end, she found it hard to sleep, fearing for the worst.

One day, pacing impatiently in front of the old man's room, the doctor told her that her worrying and anxiety could do no good to the old man's condition. She was advised to go home and rest.

Annoyed and angry, Lisbeth rushed to old man Piper's side and promised him that she would be back. She squeezed his hand and ran towards home.

Lisbeth stayed in her tree all night, worried about the old man. When the sun was about to come up, she went in the house and cooked a meal for herself and the old man, then hurriedly went back to the hospital, continuing her silent vigil.

-----

I woke up with a headache, and I knew it was because of yesterday's work. I finished everything that had to be done to make my house livable, yet I still had to go and buy food if I wanted to live long enough to look for the mystery girl.

Someone must know who she is, or where she lives. I just have to go look for that person. With this in mind, I hurriedly got dressed and soon was on my way to town.

As I was leaving my house, I noticed a light on in the old man's place. I decided to stop by his home and maybe introduce myself. If luck would have it, maybe then I could ask him about the woman. Why are you so obsessed with her anyway?

As I approached his home, I knew immediately that it was empty, but I decided to check anyway. I knocked thrice on his door, and as I expected, there was no answer. I shrugged and went on my way.

Even this early in the morning, the whole town was busy. Vendors and people littered the roads and shops, all preoccupied with one thing or other. People paid little or no attention to me. It was as if no one noticed me at all.

But someone must know that I'm new to this place. And just as the thought crossed my mind, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and came face to face with who was obviously the sheriff of Summer Wine.

"Good mornin' sir, you must be the guy who just moved in to old man Piper's. Only I haven't seen your face from around here before, ain't that right?"

He was chewing on a cigarette, and I could see that he was old. I tipped my hat in greeting and answered,

"Yes, yes I just moved here. I came out to get a hold of the town, and to stock up on food and supplies,"

"Summer's comin', people're gon' be busy. You ain't got nothin' to worry about. What say you join me for breakfast?"

He led the way to a small diner and greeted the lady at the counter warmly. A little too warmly.

"This here's my wife Martha. She gon' cook you the best meals you ever tasted, son. Let's go and make ourselves comf'table," and to Martha he said "Go easy on the eggs now love," which left her blushing.

Once we've settled down, he talked mostly about the town.

"Summer Wine's the perfect paradise. Been livin' here since I was a young lad, never got around to leaving the place. Then I met my wife and built my family and ended up as the sheriff. It’s a town so easy to love, it is,"

He asked me a few questions about myself and I answered him as best I could. When the food was served, we ate in silence, only to be interrupted by another of his questions.

"Say, how's the old man doing?"

I hesitated, then replied,

"I don't know, I've never seen him yet. Hasn't even welcomed me to his place when I arrived,"

He raised an eyebrow in question, "That so? Well the old man fell sick just before you moved in, thought he would've been released from the 'ospital by now. Been there for one, two weeks, I dunno," he sipped his coffee noisily and continued.

"What say you we go an' visit him? It’s only him and Lisbeth, and I must say I feel guilty for not havin' the time to go check on him. Piper's a good friend, a good man. Only, he's become too old, hah!"

"Who's Lisbeth?"

He stared at me with a sad look on his face. "Ah, Lisbeth. She was adopted by the old man when she was 'bout eight. Dunno where she came from though. Just remembered Piper calling me one night to report 'bout a girl that keep stayin' in his tree, but then he went on and took her in. Good man, that Piper,"

I think my heart just skipped a beat. I felt like a man who just found out he won the lottery.

"Adopted, you say? Why? What happened to her?" I pried.

"As I said, no one knows, except perhaps Piper. She just turned up from nowhere, and soon she was taking care of him and him her," he scratched his nose and took a sip of his coffee. "All I know's she has not had the easiest life. Why? You ever met her, lad? She be a fine sight for a woman, I must say,"

I stood up and offered to pay for the meal.

"What's the rush son? You can stock up on supplies as soon as the stores open,"

I flinched. I didn't know how to tell him that I had to go to her. I had to see her, I just need to really see her.

"I better go, sheriff..." Come to think of it, I didn't even know the sheriff's name.

"Martin. Sheriff Martin. Tha's alright son. If ever you need anythin', you can come by my house anytime, and forget about payin' the meal, it's on the house,"

He stood up and we shook hands. I hurriedly went outside, happier than I have ever felt in my life.

I went and searched for the hospital, asking for old man Piper when I reached the dingy building, but I was told that the old man was not allowed any more visitors.

I waited an hour for her to maybe come out for an errand or something, but she never did.

Devastated, I stood up and went back home, my heart heavy and my mind clouded with thoughts of seeing her again.