Giggling With The Grasshopper

Jenny was an only child and she was still in school when her parents were killed in a tragic accident . Jenny was at school when the news came . She had to go and see Father Marcellus who informed her that her parents had been in a road accident . The news of their passing was too hard to accept and for a short time Jenny refused to believe what had happened .
The double tragedy had hit hard amongst the small community and members of both sides of the family connections started to arrive .
So called family friends talked about little Jenny and what was to be done with her . As they sat in Jenny’s Grandma’s house some talk arose about Jenny being placed into an orphanage .
Immediately Jenny’s Grandma got to her feet and took a poker from the fire and stated that she would raise Jenny herself and if anybody ever mentioned another word about an orphanage again she would personally introduce them to the red hot poker in her hand . The majority of those people in the room were told to leave and never show their faces again .
After the funeral Jenny lived with her Grandma . She was intrigued with all the things her Grandma said . Jenny admired her Grandma and discovered more about life than she ever imagined . Jenny took notice of her Grandmas clothes and the way she kept busy with life . Jenny loved to hear all the stories her Grandma told her about growing up in a port city and the tough banter working as a market stall holder . Her Grandma was kept busy knitting and sewing and often made clothes for the neighbours in the village .
Suddenly one morning Jenny’s Grandmother took ill and was taken to the hospital . That night Jenny’s Grandmother died .
Jenny was overcome with grief and refused to talk to anyone . One night as she slept Jenny had a dream about her Grandma . They were both in a field together as young girls picking wild flowers , It was such a beautiful dream .
Jenny didn’t want to wake up but in the dream her Grandma told her that it was time for her to go .
“Where are you going ?”
Jenny asked her Grandma in the dream .
“Across the bridge where angels dwell . “
Replied her Grandma .
“I want to come with you .“
Jenny said .
“Your time has not yet come . My life is done but yours Jenny has just begun One day you will join me across the bridge but for now I want to give you a friend to help you through the hard times .”
Said her Grandma who passed Jenny as grasshopper from the bunch of wild flowers they had picked .
“What is this ?”
jenny asked .

Her Grandma replied ,
“It is a comforter who will make things easier for you .”
With that Jenny’s Grandma hugged Jenny and returned across the bridge .
When Jenny woke the next morning she realised that it had all been a dream That’s when she got extremely sad .
Suddenly the grasshopper jumped up unto Jenny’s shoulder . As it did Jenny felt the sadness life and she began to laugh uncontrollably .
All that day she felt no grief or pai9n . In fact she was so much at peace with the world that she went out to a dance . What a night she had . She danced and fell in love with a man who would eventually ask her to be his wife .
Life had changed for Jenny and she believed it had been the grasshopper who brought a change of luck . It was so strange that when each grasshopper died another one would present itself to Jenny . Anytime Jenny felt sad or upset there was always a grasshopper that jumped unto her shoulder that somehow made Jenny giggle and laugh .
Jenny was married and on many occasions the grasshopper assisted to make things right .
Jenny and her husband had four children and it seemed no time at all before Jenny had her first Grandchild .
Jenny was able to get close to her Grandchild and before she passed on she handed over the sane gift that her own Grandma had given her .
Jenny’s health was getting worse and eventually the doctor stated that her time had come to leave this world .
Before she died Jenny tried to explain about a place across the bridge where angels dwell where everyone could be young again . All her Grandchildren listened intently to everything she had to say and when she died for some reason were totally at peace with the entire situation .

THE END