The Bottle House #2

"I would like to see you again, Molly.  Please come with me to the picnic on the grounds at the church next Sunday." he told her as he left.  "Oh, I would love that! I will meet you at the church at eleven o'clock!" Molly said.

They sat together under the large oak tree at the edge of the church near the cemetery. The weather was perfect for a picnic.  He brought several quilts for them to sit on and lemonade inside mason jars with the lids on.    She brought fried chicken, sliced red tomatoes, potato salad and tea cakes.  Lee watched Molly as she arranged the lunch.

She was so delicate he thought.  The women in his family had been stocky and strong from farm work.  Their hands were as calloused as the men's.  Molly in contrast had features like a china doll.  Long lashes and that stunning dark hair that fell to her mid back.  She wore a green ribbon around her head that pulled her hair back from her face. Her white dress had small green polka dots, a full skirt and fitted bodice.  Her build was petite and she had all the right curves, too.  He caught a scent of verbena as she took off her sweater and tossed it on the quilt beside him.

Lee stretched out on his side with  his arm and hand propping him up so he could

enjoy the sight.  The trees were starting to turn colors and a few leaves fell on the blanket.  He tossed them to the side.  Molly turned and saw him watching her.

She gave him a full smile and announced " Lunch is ready!"  They could hear children laughing on the other side of the church.  Several ran by them  in a game of chase.  Mothers called their names to come and eat.  

Soon they were by themselves as the rest of the crowd had chosen to remain at the front of the church where there were long tables of food of all kinds.

Molly said " I'm so glad we decided to come over here to eat. There are too many people over there and you find yourself talking to people you don't really want to talk to.  How about you, Lee?" He told her " I know exactly what you mean.  Sometimes I don't want to come to church because people won't mind their own business.  There are some who come to church and then spend the week sinning so they can come clean the following Sunday."  

" Well, I'm glad  you came last week" Molly explained.  "I was wondering where you had been."  Lee felt a rush of excitement that she had actually missed him.

He never thought a beauty like her would ever be interested in a farm boy like him.

Lee helped pack the basket with the remainder of lunch and told her how good it was.  " I'm so full" he said as he rubbed his flat stomach and stretched out with his hands under his head.  "How old do you suppose this tree is?"  he asked.

Molly shrugged her shoulders and said she couldn't guess but it must be very old because of the size of the trunk and how massive the branches  were.

You could see this tree from a far distance as she walked from town toward it each Sunday.  

"Let's take a stroll through the cemetery" Molly told him as she picked up her sweater and put it over her shoulders and fastened the top pearl button.

She stretched out her arm to him and helped him up.  

"Right over here my parents and grandmother are buried" Molly said.

"I had the angel monument placed at my grandmother's grave last year.

It reminds me of her in so many ways."  Molly stopped at the foot of the white carved marble statue.  The angel had her arms at her sides and the palms of her hands turned slightly outward.  Her head was tilted down.  The wings on her shoulders flowed back.  Gentle curls of long hair were under the halo on her head.  You could feel a calmness come over you just by gazing at her.

Molly and Lee said a silent prayer together as they stood there.  A few leaves

had scattered across the ground and a gentle blanket of color sprinkled across the grave sites.

"Are your parent's and baby brothers here, Lee?"  Molly asked him.

"Yes, right over here."  He pointed to a small cluster of concrete headstones

surrounded by a rusting iron fence.  It was in the corner of the cemetery and the wind had pushed a mound of leaves over their graves.  He stooped over and picked up arms full of leaves and tossed them over the small enclosure.  "I confess I have not been out here in a long time.  I will bring a rake next week and get this all cleaned up and presentable."  Molly told him she would help him with that chore if he wanted her to.  "Yes, that would be very nice of you, but just bring yourself and some refreshment and I'll do the labor."     Cont'd.........