Strange Deeds Under A New Moon (Alternate Ending)

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…My grandfather turned his wheelchair away from me and stared out the window, “I’ve never told anyone that story. I knew nobody would ever believe it.” 

I sat befuddled and not speaking for the longest time. “That was an amazing story, Grandpa,” I finally said as he turned toward me. “I don’t know what to say.” 

“Well, there’s nothing to say, except that in less than a week there will be another new moon equinox,” he revealed as he reached for a book on his nightstand. “Look at this almanac,” he ordered as he handed it to me. 

I took the book and turned to the month of March 2004. The equinox was scheduled to occur on Saturday, the 20th at 1:49 a.m. and the new moon would take place at 10:41 p.m. 

“What are you saying, Grandpa?” 

“Just that there will be an opportunity for New Growth between 1:49 a.m. and 10:41 p.m. on that day,” he explained as I closed the almanac and handed it back to him. He smiled at me and continued, “It would take a lot of determination, but a person could actually grow a new hand during that time, if he wanted to.” 

I immediately glanced at my withered hand as the import of what he had said sunk in. “Are you suggesting I chop my hand off?” I asked in disbelief. “Well, that’s up to you,” he said as he once again lowered his voice. “All I’m saying is you have the opportunity to have New Growth.” 

After talking awhile longer, I left my grandfather and the nursing home. Walking back to my house gave me time to contemplate the astonishing and marvelous things that I had been told. Over the next few days I debated as to what I should do. One moment I wanted to believe my grandfather. He had never lied to me before. The next moment I was concerned that what he had said could have been the fanciful whims of an elderly man suffering with dementia.

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The clock in my kitchen chimed as the hour reached 9 a.m. I looked at the calendar for the hundredth time to make sure it was March 20th. My fingers gently stroked the handle of the meat cleaver sitting on the dinner table. I closed my eyes for a moment and then with a deep sigh took a firm hold of the knife and raised it into the air. 

“Grandpa, I hope you were telling me the truth!” 

WHACK!!

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Two weeks later I found myself at the jewelry store wanting to buy a new watch band. The young lady behind the counter kept glancing at me as I waited my turn in line. I recognized her from a brief encounter at the grocery store where we both attempted to grab the same tomato. In my finest gentleman manner, I let her take it while I picked another. I never gave it much thought but now I could not help noticing how her attention was on me even as she waited on another customer. 

When it was my turn, she gave me the biggest smile as I approached. I had not really noticed before, but she was quite attractive and seemed to be a friendly and pleasant person. She showed me some bands and then asked to see my watch. 

I handed it to her, and she exclaimed in a very sweet voice, “Oh, your hand! What happened?” 

I looked at my hand and then at her, “It’s nothing. I scratched it on my car door.”

Smiling again she asked, “I have a band-aid, would you like one?”

I said, “Sure, thank you.” 

From under the counter, she produced one and opened it for me. I started to take it when she said, “Please, let me.” She tenderly placed it over the scratch and then let her hands linger on top of mine. “You know, you have quite beautiful hands.”

“Oh, thank you very much,” I replied.

“They’re so well formed,” she continued. “It’s apparent you take great care of them.”

“I try,” I stammered. Before, I had always been timid about having a shriveled hand. That was then. Now, I had nothing to be shy about. 

I paid for the new watch band, and she handed me a business card. Before turning to leave I swallowed hard and then asked, “Would you mind if I gave you a call sometime?”

She looked at me and said, “No, not at all.”

My heart skipped a beat and then I asked, “May I have your phone number?”

She smiled and replied, “I wrote it on the back of the card for you.” 

A warm spring breeze was blowing as I stepped out onto the sidewalk. I held the card between my fingers and looked toward the nursing home on the corner of Main and Elm. My grandfather was in there probably flirting with nurse Rachel. Even though it was the middle of the week I decided I would pay him a visit. 

I glanced back at the jewelry store and then at my hand. Fighting the urge to jump up and shout for joy, I simply mouthed toward the nursing home, “Thank you, Grandpa! Thank you so much!”

THE END

Copyright ©2014 by Jerry W. Crews