Honoring Others
Part VIII-Epilogue
“This was such a fun day,” exclaimed Trixie as she and Tad drove back to Sleepyside.
For a second time, the two had visited the Trampoline Palace in White Plains for an afternoon of fun and relaxation.
“Seriously, Tad. I can’t believe you tried to jump off the side trampolines and landed on that poor kid. I wish I had made of video of it. You’d be a Youtube smash for sure!”
“Oh yeah? And your flip that had you landing in the springs was no ten-pointer either,” teased Tad.
“We could always up our training, you know.”
Tad glanced at Trixie out of the corner of his eye and winked. “I think we can find more fulfilling things to do with our spare time.”
Trixie shrugged nonchalantly.
Tad smiled mysteriously. “Now, I’ve got something I want to show you.” He flipped on his signal and turned the car onto Main Street.
“What?” demanded Trixie as she sat up and surveyed the scene that was unfolding in front of her. “What do you want to show me? I don’t see anything.”
“Seriously, Belden. Can’t you wait even 10 minutes?”
“Seriously, Webster. Why don’t you just tell me what you want to show me and then I wouldn’t have to wait at all.”
Grinning, Tad shook his head. “Patience, grasshopper.”
Trixie flopped back in her seat. “First of all, I have no patience. Second of all, I’m not a grasshopper. Sheesh, the things you don’t know about me.”
Ignoring Trixe’s mumbling and grumbling, Tad continued driving and finally pulled into the parking lot of the Sleepyside Metro Park.
“This is what you want to show me?” demanded Trixie as she scanned the large park. “I already know about it.”
Choosing to ignore her, Tad opened his car door. “Let’s go,” he said.
“Where?” Trixie hopped out and studied the area suspiciously.
“This way.”
Tad took Trixie’s arm and the two wound their way through the picturesque park, passing young families who were enjoying the late afternoon, their sounds of laughter and shouting filling the air. When Tad arrived at a big, splashing fountain, he stopped. “We’re here.”
“Here?” frowned Trixie. “At the Veteran’s Garden? And what am I supposed to see here?”
Tad threw up his hands. “I’m with the greatest detective of all time and she can’t even sniff out a mystery when one is laid at her feet?”
“Hmmm…” Trixie narrowed her eyes and eyed Tad suspiciously.
Tad crossed his arms. “This mystery won’t solve itself. You probably should get busy.”
“Phfft,” frowned Trixie.
Seeing that Tad wasn’t going to budge on revealing the mystery, she started going through the area. She poked around the sweet smelling bushes and trees, pausing to read the big rocks that had adages and lines of poetry etched on them. As she moved through the garden, she noticed the path beneath her feet was laid with new bricks. Studying the names, she gasped when she found one she recognized.
“Tad!” she cried out.
“And the mystery is solved.” Tad stood behind Trixie, a beaming smile on his face.
“You got a brick for Zeeck Johnson!” exclaimed Trixie.
Tad nodded. “I thought it was something I could do for you. That mystery was a tough one. And I didn’t want to nag you about it so I just did it myself.”
“But how did you know the dates of his birth and death? I never learned that. And all the other bricks have that information on them.”
“I didn’t. Just take a look.”
Trixie leaned down and read what was etched into the brick.
She stood up, tears pooling in her eyes. “It’s perfect.”
“I thought so, too.” Tad opened his arms and Trixie stepped into them. Neither said a word as they let the moment speak for itself.
“Where did you get the phrase?” asked Trixie as she wiped the tears from her cheek. “It’s just so...so... right.”
“It was something you said when we were talking one day and there was so much passion behind your words.” With the pad of his thumb, Tad wiped away one of Trixie’s tears. “I tucked it away for future use. This seemed like the perfect time.”
“It is,” murmured Trixie.
The two stood for a while longer, then wandered around the rest of the Veteran’s garden, reading the names and epitaphs that were on other bricks. Sometimes they talked, and sometimes they let their thoughts have free rein in the comfortable silence between them. Finally, they arrived back at Zeeck’s brick and the two paused.
“So,” began Tad as he clasped both of Trixie’s hands. “Are you okay with how your Zeeck Johnson mystery turned out?”
Trixie shrugged. “I don’t know.”
She knelt down and ran her fingers across Zeeck’s name. Tears filled her eyes and the words blurred. “At least you are now remembered,” she whispered. She kissed her index finger then pressed it against the personalized brick. “And you are honored.”
Rising, she molded herself into Tad’s side and the two remained in that position for a few minutes longer until Tad broke the silence.
“You ready to go?”
Trixie nodded.
Tad took her arm and led led her back through the park to his car. The families that had been enjoying the area had disappeared, leaving behind silence and serenity.
“So, what do you want to do tomorrow? I have to work the early shift, but then I’m free.” Tad unlocked Trixie’s car door then went around to the other side.
Trixie, looking across the top of the car, suddenly gasped when she saw the vibrant, western sky gleam behind her boyfriend. The sun, partially hidden behind voluminous gray clouds, glowed and its fiery rays, surrounded by shades of indigo and purple, extended toward the earth. The effect cast an ethereal aura over the silent park.
“Tad, look!” Trixie pointed toward the sky. “It’s like Zeeck’s reaching down to us.”
Tad studied the brilliant sky for a moment then smiled at Trixie. “Oh, yeah. Crepuscular rays.”
Trixie’s mouth gaped open and her eyes widened. “What?”
“Crepuscular rays, also known as Jacob’s Ladder, you know, like a ladder to heaven.”
“Where did you ever learn that word? I seriously doubt muscular rays are discussed on Sportscenter.”
“Not muscular, crepuscular. Didn’t you learn that in your class? I think I learned about them in high school.”
“The class is called Astronomy, Tad, not Ridiculous Words that Sound Like My Brother Made Them Up.”
Tad laughed. “Whatever. Anyway, I like to think those clouds are telling us that Zeeck Johnson is at peace.”
Trixie’s eyes met Tad’s. “I like to think that, too.”
“Come on, this calls for a celebration.” Tad slid into his seat.
“Pizza?” asked Trixie as she clicked her seatbelt.
Tad shook his head. “Bigger.”
“Burgers?”
“Bigger.”
“What?” Trixie exhaled loudly. “Don’t tell me I have to solve this mystery too.”
“Nope. I think this day calls for two triple big milkshakes from Wimpy’s. Strawberry flavored, of course.”
“But, of course,” giggled Trixie.
Driving beneath the glorious sky with its constantly changing hues, the two accepted the conclusion of the Zeeck Johnson mystery. Meanwhile, back in the quiet solitude of Trixie’s apartment, a framed faded and tattered photo held a place of honor on her mantle, a man whose life deserved to be remembered.
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word count-1225
Author's notes: A very special thank you to my sister, Judith, who edited this story for me. Her encouragement kept me going and to my family who listened as I tried to put this story together. Also, thank you to my DH who does a final read for me and finds my little typos.. Also, thank you to Vivian for her patience with my publishing struggles. Picture by me!
Gilligan’s Island - an American sitcom that ran from 1964-1967.
Psych- American detective/comedy that ran on the USA network.
Youtube-American video-sharing website.
Sportscenter-(SC) -a daily sports news program.
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