The day Rosabel McCallister entered my life was the first day I breathed. Not like an infant does, with no sense of the world. But a real breath, absorbing the colors and smells and sounds. She did that for me. She had a way of making everyone better, just by being in her presence. She saved many lives in one way or another. Rosabel McCallister certainly saved me.
“I’m doing some… research. The lady I live with is very
interested in Pepperville history. She thought the story of our place seemed
really unique.” I’ve barely mentioned the farm to anyone. The memories I do
have are too painful.
“Oh… I see.” Her voice softens. “Isn’t that nice of her.
Well, let me go through that trunk with your grandfather’s things after my
bridge club and I’ll see if we kept that letter.”
I let out a loud sigh. “When will that be?”
“Oh, this evening I 'spect. I was goin’ to make a lemon cake
for dinner at Kyan’s tomorrow, and maybe pull the outdated canned tomatoes from
the shelf. Is it real important to know soon?”
“Yes, it is, Mother! There are things that I need... want to figure out. Just as soon as you can. After bridge.”
The Salty Sun, Established 1925
Vanessa Withers, Reporter
Jenny Jacobson, age 82
Our dear Jenny went to be with the High and Mighty yesterday
at 4 p.m. She wasn’t upset about dying. As she told this reporter during a
chance encounter at a coffee shop, “This lady has gotten her work done and you
can only lounge in the sun so long before the sand in your crack becomes
unbearable.”
Jenny was born in Wallyville. Her folks were out shopping
for a new car that day and lost track of time. She barely outlived her mother,
who died at the age of 103 a week ago last Thursday, after finding a big
spider’s nest in her bathtub.
Most of Jenny’s life was spent giving to others. After
graduating with a teaching degree, she moved to Canada where she taught English
and P.E. for twenty-five years. Upon retirement, she decided to move back to
Sandy Salts to open a secondhand goods and firsthand ice cream store, called D’
Ya Want Seconds? Folks who couldn’t afford the ice cream could trade clothing
or good, used appliances for a scoop. Nobody went away hungry.
She closed the place two years ago in order to fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling the world with a younger man. After finding her companion via an online ad, Jenny and Javier spent time in Spain, Greece, New Zealand, and Cancun. She died last week in the garden of her Sandy Salts home with a smile on her face.
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