Oranges

Looking upwards, arms outstreched as far as he possibly could..
Still just unable to reach..
He jumps up, hand just grabbing it and pulling it off the branch..
"One more!" he says in excitement
His sister, standing there patiently.
Eagerly watching another freshly ripe orange drop into the heavy bag clenched tightly in her arms.

"Kids!" echoed their grandmothers voice.
Turning around, with big smiles on their faces, they looked down the hill and amongst the trees to see their loving grandmother standing on the balcony.
Hands waving
Calling them to come back

It was lunch time, they had been out for a good hour now picking the tree of every single Orange.
It also was one of the days of the month where the sprinklers are set up everywhere.
Strategically picking where to walk, so they didn't get their favourite clothes wet, they hurried as fast as they could while carrying the multitudes of Oranges back to the house where their nan awaited.

Their grandfather, a loving and caring man had grown many different things around his property.
Lemons, Oranges, Passionfruit. Tomatos, Lettuce, Cabbage and various other horrible things that the children made efforts to avoid.
He took care, he had passion in what he did, everything he did he put heart and soul into.
He took care in safe proofing his house, for the large number of regular visitors, he took care in the presentation and the craftmanship.

All he wanted for when he retired, was for a place that people could come and visit, a place that people would enjoy visiting. And sucessfully he did so.

As the children made it back, they unleashed their collection
"Look at them all nan!" they said proudly
As their grandmother brought the juicer.
"Look at them..!"



"Guess what Pa just built! You'll love it" says his father
Watching the joy in his sons eye, the excitement..
He knew his grandfather liked building things, but what was it this time?
Something big? Cool? Fast?

Walking into the garage, he saw a machine, unsure what it was underneath the blue coloured tarp..

whoosh off comes the tarp, and a huge smile erupts on his face.

4 wheels, a makeshift steering wheel, a shiney motor on the back.
Bright red wheels, green frame, yellow seat.

"What do you thi..-
His grandfather cut off half sentence, as he lunges into his belly in a loving embrace.. Saying the greatest thank you he could without using words..
He climbs up into the driver seat, eagerly ready to venture out..
As far as the trees at the top, and as low as the river at the bottom..
The engine starts, he is off..



There he sits, alone, quietly.
Computer in front of him, bored.
All the simple joys that were once there, are now miniscule, desolate.
Nothing to be enjoyed anymore.

The toy parking garage, the trees, the river, the boat, the fruit, the caravan.
Nothing of that he finds fun anymore.
Trips down there are boring now, he just wants to go home.

Tapping away at the computer keys, his fathers old laptop that he since claimed for the one purpose..
So he can be entertained in this place.
This country place, over an hour away, in the middle of the country, no mobile reception, limited FM reception.
Why would you want to live out here?

His grandfather, standing in the corner looking at him with sad eyes.
What happened to the boy who so loved his creations?

He saw him out of the corner of his eyes, watching him as he tapped away on the keyboard.



"..And there is a quadbike, a speed boat, and lots of land, it is a nice escape!" he brags to his 2 mates as they are in the car heading out there.
"We can go waterskiing!"

They arrive, the dogs barking and running up the driveway in anticipation to see who is coming.
They step out of the car, and know the correct procedure to avoid a clobbering and being showered in slobber.

Running up to his nan he hugs her hello, and searches for his grandfather.
"Pa is by the river!"
The boys walk down and greet him.

Their weekend is spent at high speeds tearing around the property on the brand new quadbike..
Occasionally hooking a trailer up to it so all 3 could go for the ride..
The times were good once again, the house keeping up with the needs to entertain the young teenager..

Once again, the joy is returned..
But only briefly..

As time went on, the visits lessened, becoming one or two days at a time..

Over the span of his later years in high school, everything just became a memory..
Spending times with friends and on the computer, replacing the trips to visit..
Little did he know, the place he once loved was now deteriorating..

The house was now sold, the equiptment and other major things sold and given away..
The things he used to love and enjoy, gone..

They moved up north to the beachy town of Nelson Bay, visits there still not as often, although it was a beautiful place he loved..

Slowly his grandfather started losing his health, between one visit, and the next visit his grandfather turned from the active healthy and creative man, to the fragile and weak man..


And then one day, 22nd January 2006, he is laying in his bed with a group of friends, it is around 10:30am the night after having a party.

His father walks into the door, and pronounces the news.


In one go, so many memories go flowing through his mind, the memories that his grandfather has left him with, the regret of not spending more time when he had the chance, the regret that he was never able to properly say thank you, I love you, and goodbye before his passing.

The times of sitting in that house, bored, when he could have been out with him.

He will always miss him.

I will always miss him.




Brian Leonard Williams
16 February 1927 - 22 January 2006
Aged 78 years