The Bluestone Review 2025

The Bluestone Review

“I am. Shut up will you?” Mike whispered to Matt. “Both of you, move to the side so I can open the gate,” I said as I averted the argument that was bound to happen. I pushed the wire up and over the post and the boys walked inside cautiously. They weren’t sure what they were going to run into; especially when they saw the tall, lanky, gray-haired, old man that walked through the door over the shriveled up wooden boards that served as a porch. “Uncle Jim, we’re here,” I shouted because I knew he was hard of hearing. “I can see that. How long are you staying?” he said gruffly. “Couple of days, I just wanted the boys to see where their grandmother was born and lived when she was their age,” I replied with a smile fading from my lips. “Okay, but you have to sleep upstairs and you know the bathroom is out back up the hill. I will let you use a slop jar at night but you have to empty it and clean it yourself each morning.” With that string of words completed, he turned and walked back inside the house. While I unloaded the car and carried the suitcases upstairs, Uncle Jim cornered my sons and kept them quiet with whispered words for them only to hear. “Mommy, can we go for a walk in the field out back?” asked Matt. “Sure, I’ll be right with you.” It was just as beautiful as I remembered it was when I was a child. The wind rippled that tall grass and exposed the wildflowers. Matt ran ahead and gathered wildflowers but also seemed to be looking on the ground for something. He returned to me and thrust the bouquet towards me. I wrapped my hands around the pretty posies clasping them to my heart. One of the leaves in my hand moved. Then it looked as if a bright green stem had started to move, wriggling, and writhing right there in my hands. “A snake!” I screamed as I threw the flowers into the air. Matt and Mike laughed until they saw the terror in my eyes. “Uncle Jim told us to do it,” both boys chorused. “Let’s go back to the house and get ready to leave, Uncle Jim doesn’t want us here.”

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