Grandfather's Dance Quotes

“The sounds of voices and laughter are like little pebbles.
All around us.
We can reach up and scoop them up in our hands.
Holding them close to us.
Saving them forever.


When I reach my journal to Grandfather, he smiled.
“Forever,” he said, more to himself than to me.
He walked over to the driveway and bent down. Then he came back to where I stood. He took my hand and put a pebble there.
“I…,” he said.
“Love…” He put another pebble there.
“You,” he said as he placed the last one.
I stared at them for a long time, then closed my hand over them. When I looked up again, Grandfather was gone.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Thank you,” I said to Grandfather at dinner.
“Thank you,” said Grandfather.
“I feel better,” I said.
“I do, too,” said Grandfather. He took my hand. “I do, too.”
“Well, I am waiting for Nick to speak French,” said Mama.
“That is impressive,” said William.
“He can only speak French in my journal,” I said.
“I suppose that’s what writing is for,” said Grandfather. “To change life and make it come out the way you want it to.”
“Speak, Nick. Speak!” said Papa.
Nick cocked his head from one side to the other. He was silent.
“Woof,” said Jack finally.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I want to be remembered in my overalls,” said Aunt Lou.
“You will,” said Grandfather. “Believe me, you will.”
Mama and William laughed.
“That’s how we think of you,” said William.
“You see me every day,” Aunt Lou said to William. “You don’t have to remember me.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I remember years ago when you first came here. I took a picture of you and Jacob and Caleb--he was little then. And Anna. And the dogs.” He looked at Lottie and Nick.
“They’re a little older now.”
“We all are,” said Mama. “Anna married Justin this past week.”
“So I heard,” said Joshua.
Joshua shook Grandfather’s hand.
“Hello, John,” he said.
“I’m older, too,” said Grandfather with a smile.
The aunts came out onto the porch. Aunt Harriet and Aunt Mattie wore their traveling dresses and fancy shoes. Aunt Lou wore her overalls.
“I want to be remembered in my overalls,” said Aunt Lou.
“You will,” said Grandfather. “Believe me, you will.”
Mama and William laughed.
“That’s how we think of you,” said William.
“You see me every day,” Aunt Lou said to William. “You don’t have to remember me.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I’ll ride Zeke,” said Aunt Lou, starting to walk to the barn.
“No,” said Papa, going after her and taking her hand. “I’ll saddle up Molly.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Grandfather. “This time we’ll take a quiet and slow ride around the slough. If that’s possible for you,” he called after Aunt Lou.
“Boppa,” said Jack to Grandfather. He held out his arms.
“All right, all right. A short ride,” said Grandfather.
Grandfather, Papa, and Aunt Lou went to the paddock to bring in the horses. Jack followed Grandfather, walking just behind him, his arms behind his back like Grandfather’s.
“Little Boppa and big Boppa,” said Caleb, making Mama laugh.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“The next day Aunt Lou was the very first up in the morning again.
“I’ve driven a car,” she said to Papa. “Now it is time to ride a horse. Only five more days before we have to go back East. It’s time.”
“‘Old lady on a dapple…’” began Jack before Mama put her hand over his mouth.
Grandfather and Papa smiled.
“Zeke, maybe,” said Aunt Lou.
Papa looked at Mama.
“I remember a long time ago,” he said softly. “Do you?”
Mama nodded.
“When I first came here I wanted to learn to ride your wildest horse, Jack, and to fix the roof…”
“And to plow and almost everything else,” said Papa.
“And she did,” said Caleb with a smile. “She wore overalls, too.”
“I had a lot to learn,” said Mama.
“Well, Sarah taught me how to swim when she first came here,” said Caleb.
“In the slough?” exclaimed Aunt Harriet.
“You bet,” said Caleb.
“You bet,” echoed Jack, making everyone laugh.
“I remember skinny-dipping in Maine,” Caleb said. “That water was cold.”
“I’ll ride Zeke,” said Aunt Lou, starting to walk to the barn.
“No,” said Papa, going after her and taking her hand. “I’ll saddle up Molly.”
“I’ll go with you,” said Grandfather. “This time we’ll take a quiet and slow ride around the slough. If that’s possible for you,” he called after Aunt Lou.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I almost got married once,” said Aunt Harriet wistfully.
“Me, too,” said Aunt Mattie.
“Not me,” said Aunt Lou. “I got a dog.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“When I walk the path between the gardens everyone is there, Mama and Papa, the aunts, Caleb and Jack. Aunt Harriet plays the flute--
But the best thing of all is that Grandfather is there waiting for me, smiling.
He gives my dog husband a bone.
“Be good to Cassie,” he says.
“Oui,” says Nick.
I am astonished. I have never heard Nick speak French words.
“You speak French!” I cry.
“I retrieve, too,” says my dog husband.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“William stopped in front of me.
“Cassie,” he said softly.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“You must be Cassie. You look just like your mama did when she was your age.”
“Really?”
“Really. She even had braids like you.”
William reached out and touched my hair.
“Did you tease her?” I asked.
“Of course,” said William. “It was my job.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Wedding is four days away. Are you ready?”
“I am. I’ve been ready for Anna to marry your son for a long time.”
“We’ll be family,” said Dr. Sam.
Papa said what we all knew.
“You’ve always been family,” he said.
It was quiet. Then, all of a sudden, there was Jack’s clear voice.
“Caleb’s home!” he said, making us all smile.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I live life to the brim,” she said.
“And a little over the top, I’d say,” said Grandfather.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Aunt Lou and Grandfather drank tea at the kitchen table.
“That was very fast,” I said. “I’ve never gone that fast on the prairie. Except maybe galloping on a horse.”
Aunt Lou smiled at me over her cup.
“If I’d been writing in my journal, my dog husband would have chased the car,” I said. “I almost looked out the back window to see if he was there.”
Aunt Lou put down her cup.
“If he’d been chasing the car, I would have stopped for him,” she said.
“Thank you,” I said.
She looked at Grandfather.
“And how did you like the ride?” she asked.
“You’re a madwoman,” he said.
Aunt Lou smiled.
“I live life to the brim,” she said.
“And a little over the top, I’d say,” said Grandfather.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“This says Lou can drive, signed, Horace Bricker.”
Aunt Lou nodded.
“Yes, Horace taught me how to drive. That’s proof.”
Papa’s mouth opened. He looked at me, then closed it again.
“How about,” said Papa slowly, handing the paper back to Aunt Lou, “you drive on the tractor roads that go through the meadows. Could you do that?”
“Oh yes!” said Aunt Lou happily. “You didn’t think I wanted to drive on the main roads, did you? With all the fools out there?”
She tapped Grandfather on the shoulder.
“How about it, John? Want to go driving? Past the slough and across the far meadows? We can go fast!”
She stopped and looked at Papa.
“We can go fast, can’t we?”
Papa put his hands over his eyes and leaned on the table.
Jack put his hands over his eyes and leaned on the table, too.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Aunt Lou was up early, dressed in overalls. She and Papa sat at the table drinking coffee and having a peppy discussion. Jack sat between them, his head turning from one side to the other as they talked. I stood in the doorway, listening.
“Why?” asked Papa.
“I want to,” said Aunt Lou.
“Do you have a permit to drive?” asked Papa.
“Yes,” said Aunt Lou quickly.
Papa smiled slightly.
Jack smiled, too.
“Well…where is it?” asked Papa.
Aunt Lou took a deep breath and went to find her bag.
“Good morning, Cassie,” said Papa.
“Good morning,” I said, coming into the kitchen. Grandfather came after me, pouring coffee and sitting next to Jack.
“Pal!” said Jack.
“Pal,” said Grandfather, putting his hand over Jack’s hand.
Aunt Lou handed Papa a folded piece of paper.
“Here.”
Papa looked at it, then at Aunt Lou.
“This says Lou can drive, signed, Horace Bricker.”
Aunt Lou nodded.
“Yes, Horace taught me how to drive. That’s proof.”
Papa’s mouth opened. He looked at me, then closed it again.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Aunt Harriet surprised Grandfather right away. She brought her flute, which did not impress Grandfather.
“You don’t have to like it,” she told Grandfather when she saw the look on his face. “I didn’t bring it for you.”
She also brought a deck of cards and invited him to play. They played many games, and Aunt Harriet beat Grandfather every time. While Aunt Mattie helped Mama with her dress for the wedding, Aunt Harriet kept winning into the night. Lamplight fell across the cards on the table long after Jack had gone to bed.
“I’m not amused,” said Grandfather as Aunt Harriet won again.
“That’s all right. I am,” she said.
“Me, too,” I told her.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“The ship of aunts has arrived,” said Grandfather softly. “Aren’t you going down?”
I nodded.
“You’ll be nice, won’t you?” I said to him.
“I will be as charming as a prince,” said Grandfather.
“We’ll see,” I said.
I left Grandfather laughing behind me.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Anna worked for Dr. Sam. Her eyes widened when she came out of the office and saw the car.
Papa laughed.
Anna hugged Grandfather and peered into the car.
“How does Zeke feel about this?” she asked Papa.
“He’s on a little holiday,” said Papa.
“For the aunts,” said Jack, his thin voice startling everyone. And then he added what Papa was afraid he would. In a clear voice, so easy to hear, like a little bell in the wind.
“Three old women on a dapple-gray horse.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“The aunts will love this, Jacob,” said Mama. “You can pick them up at the train in style.”
“Better than three old women on a dapple-gray horse,” said Grandfather.
Papa looked back over his shoulder at Jack, who sat quietly, looking at the prairie pass by.
“Zeke could handle it,” he said softly to Grandfather.
“Not sure the aunts could,” whispered Grandfather.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“We washed the floors in Caleb’s and Anna’s rooms. We moved three beds into Caleb’s bedroom for the aunts. We straightened and dusted and painted a table and bookcase blue.
“Blue looks nice in this room,” I said.
“All this trouble for old girls,” said Grandfather.
“You’d better be careful,” warned Papa. “Your small friend repeats everything.”
Grandfather straightened and looked around, alarmed.
“I have to watch myself all the time,” he muttered.
“He loves you,” said Papa.
“Well, I’ve had just about enough of his love,” Grandfather complained.
Then he looked at Papa.
“That’s not so.”
“I know,” said Papa.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Two weeks of aunts,” said Papa. “That’s a lot of aunts.”
“They’ll help,” said Mama.
“Oh, I know that,” said Papa, laughing. “They may take over.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Poor John,” said Mama. “This is a very hard job. Keeping Jack in line behind him.”
“Huge,” said Anna.
“Nearly impossible,” said Justin.
And they began to laugh all over again.
A long time later, Grandfather and Jack came back. They were very quiet. They sat next to each other at the table where Mama and Papa and Anna and Justin were drinking coffee.
Grandfather poked Jack gently.
Jack looked up at Grandfather.
“Doggie sorry,” said Jack.
Grandfather poked Jack again.
“Jack sorry,” said Jack, using his name for the first time.
Grandfather sat back.
“That’s very good,” he said, pleased with himself.
“Drat,” whispered Jack.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Eat your beans, Jack,” said Mama, pointing to his plate.
“Doggie no beans,” said Jack, frowning.
“They’re good, Jack,” said Justin.
“No,” said Jack.
Grandfather dropped his fork on the floor.
“Drat,” he said.
“I’d like you to eat some beans, Jack,” repeated Mama.
Jack climbed down out of his chair.
“Drat, drat, drat,” he yelled.
Everyone was quiet.
Grandfather finally spoke.
“That sounded…a little bit…like…”
“You, Boppa,” said Papa.
Grandfather sighed and stood up.
“I guess I’m the one who should take care of this,” he said.
He took Jack’s hand and they went outside.
Mama bit her lip. Papa stared at his plate. Suddenly, Mama began to laugh. We laughed, too.
“Poor John,” said Mama. “This is a very hard job. Keeping Jack in line behind him.”
“Huge,” said Anna.
“Nearly impossible,” said Justin.
And they began to laugh all over again.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Where will they stay?” I asked.
“In the barn,” whispered Grandfather. “We’ll throw down some blankets.”
“We’ll make room,” said Papa. “Harriet and Mattie and Lou can stay in Caleb’s room. That’s something to think about.”
“I’ll stay in the barn,” said Grandfather in a strong voice.
“Doggie stay in barn,” said Jack.
Grandfather reached over and took Jack’s hand.
“You bet,” he said.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“Old women in the house. That’s all we need,” grumped Grandfather.
“That from an old man, of course,” said Papa.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“It’s Anna and Justin!” I said.
“We couldn’t miss the family picture,” Anna called out the car window.
“My first,” said Justin.
“Not your last,” said Grandfather. “You can stand behind Cassie.”
Anna smoothed my hair back. Justin poked me.
“All looking here now,” called Joshua.
“You’re not much to look at,” said Grandfather softly. “I’d rather look at Zeke in the meadow.”
“Zeke in the meadow,” said Jack.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I remember years ago when you first came here. I took a picture of you and Jacob and Caleb--he was little then. And Anna. And the dogs.” He looked at Lottie and Nick.
“They’re a little older now.”
“We all are,” said Mama. “Anna married Justin this past week.”
“So I heard,” said Joshua.
Joshua shook Grandfather’s hand.
“Hello, John,” he said.
“I’m older, too,” said Grandfather with a smile.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“The next day Aunt Lou was the very first up in the morning again.
“I’ve driven a car,” she said to Papa. “Now it is time to ride a horse. Only five more days before we have to go back East. It’s time.”
“‘Old lady on a dapple…’” began Jack before Mama put her hand over his mouth.
Grandfather and Papa smiled.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“That night Aunt Mattie gave me a box wrapped in bright paper.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Open it,” she said. “I made it for you. There’s so much fuss for Anna that I was afraid you’d get lost.”
Caleb put his arm around me.
“Cassie? Cassie’s never lost. Except maybe in her head,” he said.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“That’s a nice car you have,” said Aunt Lou, looking out the window.
“Would you like a ride?” asked Dr. Sam.
“I would,” said Aunt Lou.
“Don’t, under any circumstances, let her drive,” Grandfather whispered to Dr. Sam.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance

“I had to come,” said Dr. Sam. “To have a look at the aunts.”
Grandfather laughed.
“Well, this is Harriet, and Mattie, and Lou,” said Caleb, touching each one on the shoulder.
“How do you do? Didn’t you have sheep by those names?” Dr. Sam asked Mama.
Mama smiled.
“Yes, I saw Mattie the sheep just yesterday,” said Aunt Lou. “She’s a bit fat.”
― Patricia MacLachlan, Grandfather's Dance