Grandpa Smiles

A short story about how one can be happy on the outside but broken on the inside.

“You should have seen her” he said, describing his date to the grandchildren sitting around the camp fire. “Grandpa Smiles” that’s what the kids called him and they loved his stories, they’d even pick which one they wanted to hear… “anything to see you kids smile” he’d say before every story, he liked it because it was the only thing keeping him sane, the only way he survived his demons.
“Your grandma was the prettiest woman in town and also the purest in heart…and that was very rare to find in our time, so you could imagine how I felt when she agreed to going with me to the dance…I was the luckiest in our school”. They listened with utmost attention, they’ve never heard this one before…they’ve seen her only in pictures but no stories about her. The love on his face as he told the story was so radiant it became contagious. He sang the songs they used to dance to under the night sky, his eyes lighting up with every new song, you’d swear he was that young man with his new bride all over again. “Dad stop” screamed his daughter Annah, she couldn’t take it anymore…unlike the kids and her siblings she knew how this was going to tear him apart after all the smiles have disappeared. It tore her apart seeing her father like that, the only hero she ever knew, the piller that kept standing even after heavy storms…just fell apart leaving them hopeless.
“What’s wrong aunty Ann?” They asked puzzled at their aunt’s outburst…after all the story was going great, in fact it was the best story ever. “You kids will never understand” she simply said as tears filled her eyes and just like that the love that was flowing from face to face was quickly replaced by fear and worry. “You see what you’ve done now Anny? The smiles are gone”… “I’m sorry Papa but I couldn’t take it anymore…not when it will hurt you.” Now everyone was wondering what was going on…what could hurt Grandpa so bad that Annah had to stop a good story and why was Grandpa so worried about smiles? “Oh Anny you worry too much…it’s nothing that this old geyser can’t handle…besides you are a doctor now you will fix me”… “But who will fix me Papa? I don’t want to lose you like I did mom” Annah said falling on her Father’s feet sobbing. “Well kids I think this fire is getting cold, what do you say we call it a night, we will finish the story some other time” he said taking his daughter by hand and hugging her. “You know that Dad will always be here for you okay…I know I worry you so much and I’m sorry to be the one hurting you…but my dear child you are the only one who gets me and knows how to put my demons to sleep” he whispered as he was calming her down… “turns out I inherited them as well…I’m sorry I scared everyone” she whispered back as they went inside to join the others.
It was a long night for everyone, whispers going around the room where the kids were sleeping but none could solve the mystery, “How is it that none of us knew about this thing for so long” asked the eldest of the kids “We don’t know the answer to that , but now that we know how do we help?” Asked little Thuli the youngest in the group and also the smartest “you look like your grandma” they’ll often say to her when ever they see her at these family gatherings and she never took it to heart until Grandpa told his story. “Do you really think we could help him Thuli? You heard what your mother said…only she can help him” right then the door opened and they all froze “Aren’t you all supposed to be sleeping by now?” Annah asked as she entered the room “well we couldn’t sleep mama” Thuli answered as she threw herself on her mom. “Well well, turns out mommy couldn’t sleep either, so what were you whispering about?” she asked as she gathered them all around her, “Well aunty Ann you worried us and we were just wondering how can we help you to help Grandpa” … “That’s so sweet of you guys…do you know what Grandpa likes?” “SMILES” they all shouted… “well all you can do for him is smile okay, he will be just fine…now go to bed before the tickling monster start tickling you…I won’t be able to hold it” she said and they all scrambled to bed.

Author's Note

Please help me fix my mistakes.