Tuesday
Sep072010
Measured In Sunsets
September 7, 2010 * * * * * Posted by: Puna 
Continued from...
Char stepped out of the airplane and made her way carefully down the stairs to the tarmac below. Her artificial leg doesn’t feel artificial anymore. It’s become a part of her. She commands it to move as she does the rest of her body.
“It’s a miracle,” she thinks to herself. At times she knocks her toes gently against a table leg with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that stubbing her real toes would send sharp pains through her body and swear words through her mouth.
The heat of the African sun pounds on her head and the oppressive humidity fills her lungs. It made her gasp a little before her breath settled.
“Lady, lady!” The familiar voice called to her. She turned her head and smiled.
“Abu! So good to see you again! Thanks for coming to get me.”
They greet each other like old friends but they don’t hug. She extends her hand and he pumps it enthusiastically.
They made their way through the open air terminal and into the parking lot. She hops into the passenger side of the jeep and Abu pulls out, but not carefully enough so Char’s head jerks back a little. She looks over at him and laughs. He’s returns the laugh almost apologetically. The familiarity between them felt good to her.
As they pull into the highway traffic, Abu engaged in a stream of one-sided conversation. The pipes were laid. The filtration system was waiting for Char’s arrival so the testing could begin. The celebration plans had begun in anticipation of a successful project. Things were almost complete and Char felt like a proud parent. At the same time, there was poignancy about the two-year project coming to an end. She knew it would happen; she planned for it for years. But the reality was still bittersweet.
The jeep kicked up dust as it sped along. They arrived at a high concrete wall topped with barbed wire. They waved at the gate guard in the shack without slowing down at all as Abu raced through and into the compound. They came to a screeching halt in front of a small yellow house made of plaster and wood.
Char hopped out of the jeep and said a small prayer for their safe arrival. Then she said a small grateful prayer that she could hop again.
She slung her backpack over her shoulders and waved to Abu as he sped off again to the low-slung mess hall. She giggled youthfully as she watched him drive away. He always brought out the best in her.
She unlocked her front door and made her way inside. The house was decorated humbly but with feminine touches, the flowered tablecloth on the kitchen table and the carefully folded blankets on the couch belied the fact that a woman lived there.
She laid her keys in the white floral china tray and looked into the hallway mirror at the woman staring back at her.
Her face was brown and wrinkled from the sun. Her high cheekbones protruded and were made more prominent because of her sunken cheeks. It was a face of a survivor, toughened by the events of life.
Her gray hair was tied back into a single pony tail, small trails protruded from under a bright yellow and red bandanna. Her gaze turned to the worn photo in a silver frame to the right of the mirror. It was of her grandmother. Char nodded her head slightly as if in deference to someone who is still living. One could look around the humble home but one would not find any other photos but that one.
Char made her way around the home with secure familiarity. In the kitchen, she opened the cabinet and reached for a glass without looking. The drawer was opened and a bottle opener was retrieved. She opened the bottle and poured the wine with one hand while the other reached for the stereo power button. Beethoven filled the small cottage-like house.
She made her way to the back porch and left the sliding glass door open as she sat in the smooth wood of her lounger.
Like she had many times before. Like she will many times more. And there her life will be measured in the sunsets that come and go.
Reader Comments (11)
sunsets keep amazing and attracting me, like this one. I like the clouds a lot, they break the sky, and add some drama to it. great shot Puna
Oh..this is beautiful!! It's as if we are reaching a happy ending...that after all of the pain and suffering there is life..and no other real way to measure it other than in sunsets.
Perfect!
This chapter feels like a Coming Home, Puna...and maybe Great Expectations...all rolled up into one. I like that Sage Grandma is watching over her. I like that as surely as there is sunset there will be sunrise, God willing and the creek don't rise. Somehow things seem to be back on track and Life holds promise. That Abu sure intrigues me, too, so I'm guessing we're not done with this story yet! :)
A very beautiful read,I enjoyed it along with my first cup of coffee this morning......after I finished gazing at the beautiful image!
I love that she gives thanks..even in the little things...a great reminder that I need to appreciate things more...
and the story continues. well done puna.
wonderful image!
Beautifully written! I love it!
I love this continuing saga, Puna, and it just keeps getting better and better. It's nice to see the contentment and acceptance and perseverance that Char exhibits through all that she has experienced in life. Well done! And your image is gorgeous!
yes, because life always does go on, no matter what happens, the sun also rises...
I love this writing, thank you for sharing it. Sunsets really have a way of allowing you to lose yourself for a brief time. You can never get tired of them as they are always changing.