Little Squirrels Can Climb Tall Trees by Michael Murphy (namjoon book recommendations txt) 📕

“Well, there were two things. One was your father is the cheapest SOB on the face of the planet. But mostly it was your grandmother.” She looked at me and explained, “Wicked old witch of a woman. She lived with us for years and nearly drove me insane. I hated her with a cold, hard passion.” Turning back to her son, she went on. “She always had this holier-than-thou attitude. It took me years to learn that that was all just an act. And I fell for it for too much of my life. The happiest day of my life was when we buried that old woman. I still go by her grave every once in a while just so I can spit on her. If there’s some dog around, I encourage them to go pee on her grave.”

Kyle’s eyes were as wide open as humanly possible. Clearly this was all new information for him. “But….”

“She made my life a living hell about so many things, including the way I raised you kids. And it worked so well. You’ve all moved away except your crazy sister Patti. I must have dropped her on her head at some point, but I just don’t remember it. She bought that whole act your grandmother was selling, and now she sits in her big house with her big husband and passes judgment on how the whole world isn’t as good as she is. And the truth is that her husband is now out banging some other man’s wife.

“And my good kids, like you, moved as far away as possible—and I know are never coming back—because they’re good kids who somehow got through those years and have been able to build good lives for themselves all by themselves. Like you’ve done, baby. And you belong here—anywhere but back there. I miss you every day. That place is where I was born and grew up, but it is a place full of two-faced lying scum.”

“Unfortunately, those people are just about everywhere.”

“But back there no one will ever talk about anything real. They will never confront issues. Never admit to doing wrong. Will always be quick to condemn but just as quick to sweep some personal wrongdoing under the carpet. They paint everything with pretty makeup, but it’s still the same pig underneath.

“Last night when you stood up before all those people and took on that man, I was so proud. And the way you and that woman drove that man off the stage,” she chuckled. “Made an old woman proud that my son could do that with his words, with his brains. I love you, son. Whatever anyone does or says, I will always love you. You’re my son. I’ve got a lot of learning to do, and a lot of unlearning to do. And I’ll be honest with you—I don’t know if I can do it. Will you help me?”

“Absolutely!” he said as he stood and grabbed his mother in a hug. “Love you too, Mama! I never thought we’d ever be able to have a conversation like this. Makes me proud to be your son.”

“Okay, okay,” I added, “now you’re gonna make me cry if you don’t stop soon.”

Kyle opened up his arms and drew me into a three-way hug with his mother.

When everyone had recollected their emotions and felt presentable once again, Kyle’s mother asked a surprising question. “So, are you two married yet?”

There was no way on the face of the earth that I was touching that question, so I simply looked at Kyle and passed the question to him. “No,” he answered.

“Why not? I understand it’s legal in New York State now.”

“We hadn’t thought about it.”

“Well, think about it. If you love him, marry him. Simple as that.”

Kyle considered her words for a moment, still looking stunned that we were having this conversation. “I do love him, Mama.”

“Good. Make me one promise.”

“Of course. What?”

“Send me an invitation. I want to be there. And even though it’ll just frost your father’s Wheaties, I’ll fly back here. I want to be here.”

Kyle explained, “Remember, my dad is frugal.”

“Frugal! Hell, he’s so damned cheap it’s embarrassing most of the time.”

“So how’d you talk him into spending the money for this trip?”

“I didn’t. I wouldn’t even bother. I sold some of my quilts and earned the money myself. Quilts have become real hot lately, and at the county fair, we get a lot of city folks who want homemade, handmade things. A bunch of us are only too happy to help them out and take their money in the process. Earned it all myself.”

Kyle laughed with his mother.

While Kyle and his mother talked some more, I cooked breakfast for the three of us. We ended up spending the day together, having a wonderful time. Since it was a beautiful afternoon we shared a walk in the park. At one point we sat and watched the squirrels all running around, finding nuts and frantically digging holes to bury them in for winter.

“They sure are high-energy little creatures with those nuts, aren’t they?” she asked.

Kyle and I both worked really, really hard to suppress a laugh but readily agreed.

When we parted company the next day, it was on terms that none of us had ever anticipated but all were so grateful we had achieved.

Chapter 18

A FEW weeks later, we loaded a few things into the car and, one Saturday morning, drove north to see my family in Vermont. The drive was gorgeous, with some trees still loaded with multicolored leaves. It looked as if someone had taken a palate of colors and just painted the countryside. It was so beautiful. New England in fall was an experience that couldn’t be described adequately. Everything was preparing for a long nap through the winter. The trees shed their leaves. The flowers and bushes all stopped blooming and growing and went to sleep. Mother Nature was tucking everything in to keep it safe through