Page 323 of The Texas Sterling Collection
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For the next two weeks, the house was quiet. The grief felt by Grover and Mabel was inconsolable. Overcome with sorrow, Felix cared little about anything. He did his chores by rote, not paying much attention to details. Mabel cooked meals, but nobody was hungry, so the food went uneaten.
Grover said one morning at breakfast, “Felix, I think you should attend college this fall. You still have time to enroll, and now there is no reason to wait.”
“It was something Joey and I planned to do together,” Felix mumbled, looking down at his uneaten scrambled eggs.
“Felix, the University of Texas opened about fifteen years ago and has done well. Joey would want you to go. You would honor his wishes if you accepted my offer to send you.”
Felix thought for a minute and realized Pa was right. He needed to honor Joey, and this was an excellent way to do it. His world began to brighten a tiny bit.
“Grover is right, Felix. We want you to go, and Joey would have been so pleased to know you went.”
“You’re both right, of course,” Felix sighed. “It’s time to move on. Joey isn’t coming back, and no amount of despair will help.”
Mabel reflected on what Felix said. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right, Felix. We all need to move on with our lives.”
“I’m glad to hear you two coming out of your fog,” Grover said. “We’ve all been gloomy, and Joey would not like that.”
“Okay, Pa. I’ll go to the university.” Felix began to smile. “In honor of Joey.”
“Good boy.” Grover smiled.
Mabel stood to clear the table. “You can use the trunk in Joey’s room, Felix. You pack it, and we’ll take it to your house in Blackfield. You may have a few things here you want to take.”
“Yes, I do, Ma.” Excitement built in Felix about going to college.
Chapter Thirty
Felix packed the trunk with things to remind him of Joey. The clothes Joey wore when he died, and the boots he had on his feet that day. Joey’s favorite hat. The horseshoes they found in the farrier stall. The ribbons they won at the Fourth of July rodeo, and the photographs the man took that day. And the horse blanket the two of them used for intimate moments in the loft. He placed the ribbons in the last page of the diary and wrapped it in the horse blanket. He put it on top of the other belongings before closing the trunk. “Joey, I love you,” he whispered.
The following day, he packed his own belongings in the carpet bag he had brought at the beginning of summer and went downstairs. Ma had fixed his favorite breakfast, biscuits and gravy with sausage patties and fried potatoes. Felix sat down with Ma and Pa to enjoy his last meal at Sterling Ranch.
Felix stared at the empty chair across from him. “It pains me to see his empty place, but Jacob will be back soon, and he’ll fill one of these two seats. You two won’t be alone for long.”
“We have each other, Felix.” Grover patted Felix on the shoulder. “We’ll be fine. You worry about yourself.”
“Yes, Pa. I’ll be fine too. I’m excited about going to the university in Austin.”
“We’re excited too, Felix.” Mabel smiled at him. “It’s a big step, but you’re up to the challenge.”
They finished breakfast, and Grover helped Felix carry the trunk down and secure it to the back of the carriage.
“Goodbye, Ma.” Felix hugged Mabel. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Felix. Promise you’ll come back and see us.”
“I promise. I know I was here only a couple of months, but this is more like home to me than any place.”
“I’m glad, Felix. You do good in college, and you write to me.” Mabel smiled.
“Ready, Felix?” Grover climbed into the carriage.
“Ready, Pa.” He gave Mabel one last quick hug before checking that Sparkle’s lead was secured to the carriage, then climbed aboard.
As the carriage approached Blackfield, Grover reached into his vest pocket and handed Felix an envelope. “This envelope contains three hundred dollars. Felix. That will get you through your first year of college. I’ll keep paying for your college as long as you keep going. You do us proud, now, son.”
Felix looked at the envelope Pa offered, then took it. This was the key to an education he never thought he would have. In one way, it was due to his father. After all, he sent him to Sterling Ranch for the summer. Had he not done that, Felix would have been trapped in a thankless existence doing a job he didn’t like. “Thanks, Pa. I’ll do good and make you proud.”
