to another. Birds flitted from tree to
tree.
Willa scooted in by Amanda and gave
her a welcoming hug. Amanda's parents talked to most of the
congregation as people came in. Jeff was glad to see people he knew
from his youth again.
For the next three years toward the
end of May, Amanda was always eager to spend two months in Pleasant
Valley, Arkansas on the farm. She loved chores with Grandpa and
helping Grandma in the kitchen. Willa was always around to visit
with.
Once Amanda settled in, it was as
if she had always lived on the farm in with her grandparents. This
was was truly her second home. She wished everyone could be as
lucky and happy as she was.
Each Christmas, her parents came
with her to celebrate the holidays at the farm. Even her mother,
Iris, had learned to like the country in winter. She remarked once
it was much nicer to visit Art and Tansy in that season. She didn't
care for the hot summers or the ticks.
Senior year came and went. Amanda
graduated from high school and was ready go for her summer vacation
with her grandparents before she went to college.
When Art and Tansy picked her up at
the bus stop in Saddle, Amanda noticed they seemed frail. Even
Jubel was thinner than before when he hung his head over Old Blue's
side for her to pat him. Age was creeping up on all the ones she
loved at Pleasant Valley.
Some things had changed. Art had
sold the milk cows. He bought his wood from a neighbor already cut.
While she was on the farm, Amanda took care of the chickens for
Tansy which was the only chore.
About a month into Amanda's visit,
the fact that Jubel was Art's loyal companion proved true. Art
hadn't been feeling well. Tansy and Amanda took him to the doctor
in Thayer. The medicine Art took didn't help.
He took to his sick bed with a case
of summer pneumonia. He had a fever and coughing spells which
weakened him. He gave up eating and slept as much as he could
between the coughing fits.
Quietly, Jubel stayed next to the
bed. He stood up often to nuzzle the ill man's hand and laid back
down. Amanda brought the dog's food and water pans and set them
beside him so he wouldn't forget to eat.
Eventually, Art took a turn for the
worse that warned the end was near. Tansy called the doctor to come
check on her husband. After examining the elderly man, the doctor
said there wasn't anything he could do. They needed to let Art rest
in peace.
Amanda called her father. He said
he and her mother would be there as soon as he could drive from
Chicago.
Not long after Jeff and Iris
arrived, Tansy sat on one side the bed, holding Art's hand. Jeff
and Iris pulled chairs up beside Tansy. Amanda sat on the other
side the bed and held Art's other hand.
Jubel laid his head on Art’s
shoulder and closed his eyes. The dog made sure to be within arms
length to Amanda so she could pat his head to give him comfort.
Jubel sensed he was losing his best friend.
The next morning, Jeff made the
call to the funeral home. The funeral director came in the hearse
to get Art. Jeff called neighbors to be pallbearers. Clem Whitman,
Clarence Young, Sid Fertle, Wilburn Cox and Bill Scott came to lift
Art into the large wicker basket and carry the basket to the
hearse.
Jubel stood in the kitchen door,
growling. He wouldn't let the men take Art out of the house.
Quickly, Amanda knelt beside him. The dog quieted down, but he
wouldn't move from the doorway.
The funeral director said the dog
could go along with Art if he wouldn't bite anyone. Amanda said as
long as Jubel could stay with Art he would be good.
The plan had been to keep Art over
night at the funeral home and bring him back to Pleasant Valley
church for visitation and the next day the funeral service. Amanda
told Grandma for Jubel's sake it might be better if Grandpa was
brought home for the services. Besides, Grandpa would have liked it
that way. He loved his farm.
When the hearse returned, the
director opened the back, and Jubel jumped out first. He stood out
of the way
tree.
Willa scooted in by Amanda and gave
her a welcoming hug. Amanda's parents talked to most of the
congregation as people came in. Jeff was glad to see people he knew
from his youth again.
For the next three years toward the
end of May, Amanda was always eager to spend two months in Pleasant
Valley, Arkansas on the farm. She loved chores with Grandpa and
helping Grandma in the kitchen. Willa was always around to visit
with.
Once Amanda settled in, it was as
if she had always lived on the farm in with her grandparents. This
was was truly her second home. She wished everyone could be as
lucky and happy as she was.
Each Christmas, her parents came
with her to celebrate the holidays at the farm. Even her mother,
Iris, had learned to like the country in winter. She remarked once
it was much nicer to visit Art and Tansy in that season. She didn't
care for the hot summers or the ticks.
Senior year came and went. Amanda
graduated from high school and was ready go for her summer vacation
with her grandparents before she went to college.
When Art and Tansy picked her up at
the bus stop in Saddle, Amanda noticed they seemed frail. Even
Jubel was thinner than before when he hung his head over Old Blue's
side for her to pat him. Age was creeping up on all the ones she
loved at Pleasant Valley.
Some things had changed. Art had
sold the milk cows. He bought his wood from a neighbor already cut.
While she was on the farm, Amanda took care of the chickens for
Tansy which was the only chore.
About a month into Amanda's visit,
the fact that Jubel was Art's loyal companion proved true. Art
hadn't been feeling well. Tansy and Amanda took him to the doctor
in Thayer. The medicine Art took didn't help.
He took to his sick bed with a case
of summer pneumonia. He had a fever and coughing spells which
weakened him. He gave up eating and slept as much as he could
between the coughing fits.
Quietly, Jubel stayed next to the
bed. He stood up often to nuzzle the ill man's hand and laid back
down. Amanda brought the dog's food and water pans and set them
beside him so he wouldn't forget to eat.
Eventually, Art took a turn for the
worse that warned the end was near. Tansy called the doctor to come
check on her husband. After examining the elderly man, the doctor
said there wasn't anything he could do. They needed to let Art rest
in peace.
Amanda called her father. He said
he and her mother would be there as soon as he could drive from
Chicago.
Not long after Jeff and Iris
arrived, Tansy sat on one side the bed, holding Art's hand. Jeff
and Iris pulled chairs up beside Tansy. Amanda sat on the other
side the bed and held Art's other hand.
Jubel laid his head on Art’s
shoulder and closed his eyes. The dog made sure to be within arms
length to Amanda so she could pat his head to give him comfort.
Jubel sensed he was losing his best friend.
The next morning, Jeff made the
call to the funeral home. The funeral director came in the hearse
to get Art. Jeff called neighbors to be pallbearers. Clem Whitman,
Clarence Young, Sid Fertle, Wilburn Cox and Bill Scott came to lift
Art into the large wicker basket and carry the basket to the
hearse.
Jubel stood in the kitchen door,
growling. He wouldn't let the men take Art out of the house.
Quickly, Amanda knelt beside him. The dog quieted down, but he
wouldn't move from the doorway.
The funeral director said the dog
could go along with Art if he wouldn't bite anyone. Amanda said as
long as Jubel could stay with Art he would be good.
The plan had been to keep Art over
night at the funeral home and bring him back to Pleasant Valley
church for visitation and the next day the funeral service. Amanda
told Grandma for Jubel's sake it might be better if Grandpa was
brought home for the services. Besides, Grandpa would have liked it
that way. He loved his farm.
When the hearse returned, the
director opened the back, and Jubel jumped out first. He stood out
of the way
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