Emily's Seams

After coming back from Europe, I made a one day stop in Huntsville to pick up Mr. Puggums and then I was on the next plane to Toronto.

For the next six months, I lived with Robert on the other side of Canada. I would still be there except Robert had a conference in Vancouver and had asked me to come with him.

I didn’t stay for the conference.

I drove my rental car into Huntsville. I didn’t stop until I was at the old forest. I had a flat of colourful flowers and a small shovel in the seat beside me.

Carrying the flowers down the worn path underneath the forest’s canopy was treacherous. I nearly dumped everything twice.

The hospital was still there. Alone and pathetic. I didn’t dare go inside.

I carried the flowers around back to where the old picnic table still stood. The garden beside it had rich earth and a healthy assortment of weeds.

I worked away at the soil for three hours, clearing away the weeds and turning over the dark brown dirt.

Finally, I was ready to plant.

I didn’t space them out too much. I just kind of plotted the flowers wherever. I stood up and looked at my work. It was really pretty.

I was about to take a seat at the picnic table when something stopped me. Sitting there on the bench was an old, weathered red baseball cap. It was a Red Sox cap.