Remember October Nights - Dan Peltier

***Having finished the book, I decided to include a little vignette of my own***

She looked like Grandma again, all dressed up, with her nicest dress on, and deep red lipstick on her lips, the shade she loved so much before. The family all waited in the lower house on the Vermont farm on the balmy October night. Everyone was nearly settled in when she and Grandpa walked in to their surprise party. Everyone applauded, announcing celebration of their 50^th wedding anniversary. Aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, and a few close friends continued to pile in, but all eyes were on grandma. It was as though her absence had only been temporary; she looked great, just like the grandma everyone remembered. It was just in the past year that she was diagnosed, but so many symptoms had already set in. Daniel couldn’t help but feel awkward amongst the crowd. He went to turn on his ipod, which he stuffed full of their favorite big band songs from their time. The sounds produced a 1940s atmosphere over dinner.

Everyone ate and had their fill, partook in dancing, and shared a memorable evening, but a few of the older cousins knew too much. Dan was one of them. He knew that behind the makeup and the dress, the beautiful face, and bright smile was a hidden confusion over the whole event. He tried his best to keep up spirits by dancing and playing ridiculous games with his younger cousins; those who did not know any different. It was the first time they had all been together at once since the past Thanksgiving. For some it was just too hard to rejoice, but everyone did their part to give them their night, and that made all the difference.

The end of the party was overtaken by a chilling scene, something no pathetic Hallmark movie could do justice. Grandma got up, being escorted by Grandpa, to say their goodbyes for the evening and walk up to their house. Dan and some of the older grandchildren gave their hugs and kisses to the woman that no longer recognized them. But, she kept her joyful face and went along with the hugging. The rest of the cousins followed in line, none of them realizing what the rest had. Tears broke out over the room, like a raging flu epidemic; only more heartbreaking. Some couldn’t handle the emotion and left the room, as Dan and his older brother sat in chairs directly apart from one another. Looking at one another, the two shed tears of their own, being consoled by their aunt. After the grandparents left the closed door behind them, Dan went to the back window where he could carefully watch them walk to their home. They slowly paced past the house, up the driveway, and past the lights. Past the barn and past the silo, the happily married couple disappeared up the hill.