Jake loved looking at the picture. Everyone always said how much he looked like his grandfather did there. It was the last portrait of his grandfather with his parents, taken shortly after he had finished his basic training for the Navy.
Grandpa was wearing his dress white uniform, and standing behind and to the left of his mother. His hand rested on her shoulder, as he leaned in towards her, a brilliant smile on his face. Grandpa's mom, Mary had a proud smile on her face, her head inclined upwards slightly towards her son. Grandpa's dad, William was off to the left standing rigid, and stoic as he often appeared in Jake's memories.
Jake had never known his great grandmother Mary, but looking at the picture it was easy to see that she, and his grandpa Jack had shared a special bond, much like Jake and his grandma. That was another reason Jake loved this picture so. It reminded him that he shared more then just looks with his grandfather, a man who Jake had always wanted to be just like.
Growing up Jake's grandma had told him about his great grandma Mary, even telling him, how back in 1948 she had gotten sick with a ruptured Gall Bladder. Now back then anesthesia was still a tricky thing especially in rural Wyoming. When they had wheeled her into the operating room they only had ether to put her out with.
"Your grandpa had to go in with the doctors, so he could help hold his mother down while the did the surgery. Aunt Pauline said it was horrible, that you could hear her screaming, and your grandpa crying. Grandpa stayed in there though. Even when his dad couldn't take it anymore, and had to go outside, your grandpa stayed. Something went wrong with the surgery, and grandpa's mom passed away. Grandpa stayed with her, and held her till she was gone."
Grandma knew more then she told Jake, but the rest were things that grandpa had told her, and no one else. Grandma always kept things like that to herself.
Four years ago Jake had gotten the call from his grandma on a Sunday night, that his grandfather was losing his battle with bladder cancer. Arrangements had been made to send him home Monday morning, and to have hospice care come out starting on Tuesday. There had been no choice for Jake, and he had drove all night through the next day to get back home late Monday night. He let himself into the house silently tip toeing over to the rocking chair. Leaning down Jake kissed his grandmother's forehead, and softly patted her forearm trying to gently wake her.
"Go on to bed grandma. I'll sit here with him awhile."
Jake had dozed off for a few minutes. When he woke, and opened his eyes he realized his grandfather was awake, and watching him. Moving to reach for the pain medicine that grandma had said he would want if he woke up. Grandpa waved off Jake's movements, whispering softly.
"Lets just talk awhile you, and me Jake."
The conversation didn't last long, it really didn't need to as it was a simple subject. When they were finished Jake knelt beside his grandfathers bed, and laid his head on the old mans chest. Jake didn't see the weak, tired old man in that bed, instead he saw the strong, proud man of his youth, the man who could do no wrong in his grandson's eyes.
Less then ten minutes later Jake slipped into his grandmothers room, whispering softly.
"Grandpas gone."
Jake often thought about that night, how several times it had been on the tip of his tongue to tell his grandmother what had been said. He never did however, and now that she was gone he never would. Maybe though he was saving it up to share with that one person he would be able to share everything with.
Maybe he was more like his grandfather than he knew.
