A Cranky, Old Man: Percy's Peak

Ernie, a cranky, old man, was slowly falling into the depths of despair. He was not about to forget his hopes and dreams much to the dismay of his only daughter, Frances, who saw everything he tried to do at age eighty, as being almost impossible for him to do. On the other hand, Ernie still saw almost everything in terms of possibility.

"If I can think it and dream it, I can do it!" he insisted, when his daughter chided him for trying to accomplish too much in his lifetime. "All I need to do is to figure out how."

Frances was growing increasingly concerned because her seven-year old son, Edgar, was becoming a dreamer like his grandfather.

"Grandpa, Edgar is only seven years old. Stop filling his head with your impossible dreams."

"Kids have to have dreams, too!"

"Not impossible ones. Now he needs his rest. Go on, you get up to bed. You are old and not getting enough sleep, lately. You are way too cranky to be around my son."

"Your son!" Ernie became quite indignant. "He is still my grandson."

"It's time to go to bed."

"Old!" he exclaimed, angrily. "Cranky!"

"Yes, old and cranky!"

"Daughter, don't interpret my dreams in terms of impossibility," said Ernie, from the doorway. "I am still way ahead of you."

"Don't argue with me, Dad!" replied Frances. "Get out of here right now."

Ernie did as he was ordered and headed for bed.

Frances was aware that her father had been increasingly forgetful and argumentative lately. At the same time, she was almost jealous of the way Edgar responded to him. It was as if they were living in the same world and understood each other perfectly.

"Is this the beginning of Alzheimer's disease and dementia for him?" she asked herself, repeatedly. "Maybe he is reverting to his own childhood? I will have to have a good talk to Edgar about him."

Early the next morning, as slivers of sunshine peeked through his window, Ernie awakened to find his grandson, Edgar, fully dressed and fast asleep beside him. As he stirred, Edgar opened his eyes and smiled at him.

"If we are going to do it, Grandfather, we have to do it now," Edgar whispered to him.

"Oh, I forgot! What were we going to do this morning?"

"Climb to the top of Percy's Peak!"

"Let's do it!"

Ernie knew it might be his very last opportunity to attempt it. Edgar was excited about the excursion.

Shortly after that, Ernie and Edgar quietly headed out of the house and up the long, gravel mountain road towards Percy's Peak.

Ernie knew that it was going to be a long walk, but it was a beautiful day, too. The air was wonderfully fresh, scented with spring flowers peeking out of the ground. In the distance, the top of Percy's Peak, still covered with snow, glistened in the sunlight.

Edgar chatted continuously, as they walked along.

"There is something majestic about that mountain peak," said Ernie, as they stopped to rest for a moment.

"Grandfather, how far did you say this was going to be?"

"Not much further, Edgar," replied Ernie, who was already short of breath and getting tired. "We can rest here for a while."

"It looks like Percy's Peak is still a long way away," thought Edgar to himself. He was beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea.

"You must promise me something, Edgar. Even if I cannot climb all the way up that mountain peak today, you must promise that you will go there some day."

"I promise, Grandfather."

As they sat there, Ernie gradually caught his breath and became aware that this was probably about as far as he should try to go today.

"Maybe we should go back home and see if your mother has breakfast ready for us yet," Ernie said. "She might be worried."

"That's a good idea," replied Edgar. "Going back down the road is a whole lot easier than climbing uphill, isn't it Grandfather?" he asked, secretly relieved by the sudden change in plans.

"It sure is."

"Where have you two been?" Frances asked them, an hour or so later, as they walked through the kitchen door.

"Just out following my dreams," replied Ernie. "If I cannot fulfill them, now I have a grandson who can."

"And I will do that for you too," Edgar whispered to him. "Men like us need to have dreams."

"What will he dream up next?" Frances asked herself later, when her son told her where they had been.

"I think that Percy's Peak was too far for Grandfather to walk."

"Edgar, you are right. Promise me that you will tell me about your grandfather's dreams before you do anything next time. Maybe we all can do it together."

She kissed him on the cheek, tenderly.

"I promise," said Edgar, giving his mother a quick hug. He was happy to have the peace restored.

Frances knew it would not last.