Granny’s Rattler … or Bear? (May 5)

It was agreed by all that Granny had weathered some kind of adventure on the boathouse dock one afternoon long before Robbie’s birth. A rattlesnake had reportedly been involved, but the details of the story were hazy:

“In my parents’ version, my grandmother had frantically shooed it away with an oar from her rowboat. In Granny’s own account, she had calmly unfolded her deck chair and sat back to share the sunshine until the visitor chose to depart. I could never be sure which rendition was true until an entirely new variant came to light…

“Granny’s French-Canadian friends may well have known her better than anyone. In their telling of the story, it had been not a rattlesnake, but a black bear. They lauded her cool decision to stare it down with the combination of bluff and circumspection they had taught her for such an emergency. And they vied with each other to adorn their testimony with persuasive minutiae. One boastful hunter went so far as to affirm dropping off a pair of still-warm steaks at Granny’s kitchen door the following day.

“By the time I heard all that, the moment had long since passed. Winning the argument ceased to matter. In myths and legends, glass slippers call for no common-sense explanation.”

(Providence Point, pp. 6-7)

Folkloric tales of that sort made Granny a pivotal figure in young Robbie’s world. Not until his teenage years would he begin to more fully understand her. Still, even after losing a little of her magical aura, she remained his respected guide.

Providence Point is constructed around glimpses into all manner of friendships, collaborations, and even rivalries. Not every one of them unfolds as satisfyingly as the relationship between Robbie and his grandmother, but all repay scrutiny. Above all, blest are those uplifted by an elder who grows with them as they make their own way. A relative, a friend, a teacher or even an employer – such mentors make all the difference!

But rattlesnake, bear or whatever else may be in store from encounter to encounter, you’ll only be sure if you acquire a copy of the novel to see for yourself. Do so through Amazon or any of the other sellers listed on my site and, while you’re there, leave me a review!

(Illustration generated by AI)