About Mrs. Henson

Mrs. Henson is nearly eighty years old. She still sweats and toils most of her free time out in her garden where she feels closest to home. She loves the smell of well moist soil on summer mornings. It reminded of her childhood summer day when her papa got her the first taste of vanilla ice cream at the local fair. ‘It is magical!’ she thought, after the first lick of that sweet melting ice cream on her tongue. She still loves ice cream but it just isn’t the same as how she remembers it. She quietly laughs in her heart how the very memory brings her to the wonderful place of her childhood summer that she holds so dear in her heart.

When she’s not working on her garden to pluck the weed around her gardening goods, she often sits on her back porch wondering what her children and grandchildren might be up to these days. Since all her children moved away to the city to make their ways in life she knows she can’t be disturbing them. She wants to call them whenever she pleases to just to hear their voices for a second and tell them how much she loves them and misses them. Often times she stops herself from doing so because she knows when she finally gets the courage to call them, the phone ring never ends and it just gets directed to the voice mail to which she has left them many unreturned messages. ‘But it’s all okay.’ She told herself. She understands how things can be when you are young. She once was young too just like them. ‘Well, not quite just like them literally,’she thought. ‘They are far more wonderful! And I love them all so much!’ And because of that very reason it was all okay for her. She was just glad and proud of them that they are on their ways with their lives to their likings and all. Besides she knew she will see them soon enough. when the summer is over Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means, no matter what they all will be here gathered around this old lady with all their favorite dishes on the table. Nothing can stop us from spending time together as a family since it has been the family tradition for as long as she remembers. Just a thought of them being here put a gentle smile on her face.

As she sits on the porch thinking of all the dishes she can put her magic spells on this year’s Thanksgiving day for her family, she looked up to see the old barn where her and her late husband used to raise chickens, goats, ducks cows and many other domestic animals that came and went to sell for money or just to raise just because they needed to. ‘That old barn needs a new paint,’ she thought, ‘then it will be as good as new.’ But who really truly cares for that old barn other than herself. She could try to paint it herself but her concerned children will think she’s going mad trying to salvage that old thing! Yet her memories to the place is just as good as new. She still remembers the day when her dear husband, jack-of-all-trades was working so hard making the barn. She wanted to help out in the midst of their children running around. Her husband insisted that she should just watch her step so she doesn’t hurt herself. He was a true gentleman. And she was always glad that he was her husband and the father of her children. She misses him. It took her quite sometime to be on her own again after he had left her. But she knows for a fact that his spirit still lingers around. She would suddenly get a gust of scent that felt like his presence. Then she would look up and ask ‘Is that you? John?’ She would just chuckle at herself how silly she’s being and yet she couldn’t help talking to him like how she used to. And then he would brush her hair to the side of her face with the summer breeze as if he was gazing in her eyes and wipe her sweat off of her face. Then she would say ‘Thank you John.’ And would gently kiss his cheek how she used to.

Her children insists that she needs to take the old barn down saying how it’s just taking room and being an eye sore. But Mrs. Henson kept on saying no. One time she over heard a conversation between her children and their spouses about the barn. When she passes they might turn that place into a barn house and rent it out for a bed and breakfast that nowadays young ones like to do. She wished she didn’t overhear the conversation about it. She wished they would have come to talk to her instead. I would have let them do it, if that’s what they would like to do NOW! ‘This old lady can still be part of it all.’ She thought. ‘I can cook the breakfast for the guests and all.’ But they were just waiting for her to pass. Even then, she still understands. Being young is a blessing and they should live fully as they pleases just as she has full of love and wonderful memories. Not that she’s lived a perfect life but all seems like they were fated and meant to be.

She sat there and wondered if the children ever thought she is an eye sore and something that takes up room like that old barn. ‘It is true though,’ she though. ‘the barn can be remade but I cannot!’ She giggled at herself over her own silly joke to herself. And felt proud how she doesn’t feel sad for feeling old. She knew her sprit and soul still feels good as new full of love and that’s all she cared.

She noticed dark clouds starting to come in over the horizon. She knew she needed to get up to go inside but instead she put her head down on a cusion on her bench. ‘Just a little longer here. To feel a bit more peace.’ She told herself. ‘I will just rest a little bit until the rain cools off.’ There already was a scent of rain in the air. She gently closed her eyes to get a better feel of it all. And she fell asleep and had the most wonderful dream of having all her children, grandchildren, her friends from the library, schools, around the neighbors. Even her late husband John, a young one that is, was in her dream. She was a young girl again too. With her papa next to her holding her hand. And she asked them all, “What are you all doing here? Is this all for me? But it’s not even my birthday!” She had a huge grin on her face. No one spoke back. They all just smiled back at her and waved. She couldn’t understand, since she was a little girl again but she waved back at them all too with a cheerful and loving heart. Then she saw a blue butterfly flew by her and caught her attention. She knew it was time for her.

“Oh, I see! You all came to say goodbye to me! I love you all and thank you for all the wonderful memories and being part of my life! I will miss you all but we will see you all again! Bye! Thank you again for Everything!”

Then she followed her blue butterfly into her deep sleep and never woke again.