A long road to peace

It's been years since she had a glance at her beautiful boy. The last image she could remember of him was that of his teenage hood.

Ganny who's now 70 years of age, does nothing other than watching television and some little morning exercises. Old age doesn't look so good on her. The things she once did with ease has now become a tug of war. Her strength slowly declining and her smile nearly fading into oblivion.

Source

"Knock knock" she heard a slight bang in the door.

"Oh! Relax I'm coming." She said, walking to the entrance door. She instinctively knew it was no other person than John. He was the only one who paid her a visit.

"Ganny Ganny!" He voiced in an exuberant tone as he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Oh will you stop that! There's no milkshake for you today," she playfully said while waddling towards the kitchen.

John, who's 30, locked the door behind him, watching the old woman as she left for the kitchen. He pulled out a chair and sat at the dining.

"I'm waiting Ganny" he shook his legs in anticipation of his milkshake - he knew she'd definitely bring it. He had stayed long enough to know that her 'No' is always a 'yes'.

"Here you go" she said holding a large tray with fried chips and chicken... and of course, milkshake. The utensils within the tray clattered as she slowly approached the table where he sat.

She cleared her throat placing, the tray in front of him while having a seat opposite him, "I think it's high time you get yourself a wife, you'll need someone to do the kitchen for you."

He chuckled "Why would I when I've got you" he said, winking at her.

"You know I won't be here forever, John."

"Oh come on, stop saying that!" He said swaying his hands sideways. "You've got atleast over 40years to live." He said touching her puffy wrinkled cheeks.

"Get those nasty hands off me" she smacked his hands away.

"Ouch! You're still as strong as ever." He said slowly rubbing his hands.

"Have you heard From Daniel?" He asked.

She kept mute. Her lips spoke silence, Her eyes transmitted pain. You could tell she was hurt.

"I— I'm really sorry." John apologized "I didn't mean to..."

"It's perfectly fine. It's okay." She cut in, dabbing her eyes with a white handkerchief. "I over reacted" she continued.

"You know every now and then, I think of Daniel, his perfect little smile. His fluffy hair that billowed with the wind. He should be turning 30 years this month."

She hadn't seen Daniel, her only son since his departure on a scholarship into Israel to study.

"I remember when the three of us went farming back in the days, he would always hide one of the harvested corn away from you, and keep it so the both of us could cook and share it later." John said, fiddling with his fork.

Ganny laughed with all her strength, there was a tincture of sadness and happiness exuding from that laugh of her's.

"I think you meant: Two corns" she said.

John raised his both hands in the air "Okay, you caught me this time around." He laughed. "Wait! he told you that?" He asked leaning forward with both hands on the table.

"Uh ugh. He tells me everything."

John noded "okay... Okay... "

He glanced at the television right in front of him, just behind Ganny who sat backing it. He read the news headlines, his gaze shuffling between the TV and Ganny who faced him, staring into blank space.

"The war between Saudi Arabia and Israel is still ongoing right? I can sense when you're trying to hide details from me." She said, still staring into empty space. "I saw the news this morning, I see the same news every day." She added.

"Trust me your son's in safe hands Ganny" he said, placing his hands over her trembling hands. "He was my best friend and still is. I know how strong he his. He'll put a call through someday, hopefully. In serious wars like this phone lines can be shut down for years."

"But 15 years is a long while" one could sense a piece of her was missing and her joy couldn't be complete as a Mother.

"Oh! Chin up Ganny!" John touched her fragile cheeks once more "oh my gosh! They're so soft." He added.

She flung his hands away with a slight giggle. "You sure know how to make someone smile."

John got up from the dining, held her both palms as he gently lifted her up. He wrapped his left hand slightly above her waist and her's on his while locking his other hand which was lifted in the air with her's.

They danced slowly in a circular motion under the echoing melody of Bob Marley's "Everything's gonna be alright."

He looked at her with a grin that permeated her soul and whispered into her ears "It's gonna be Alright."