The Last Harvest

The sun set slowly over the vast expanse of prairie. As Jack stepped down from his new Dodge diesel truck, the wind swept through his hair bringing the smells of late harvest on the prairies. The autumn air sent a shiver down his spine and he wished that he had grabbed his old flannel shirt out of the cab as he walked across his yard. His dog, Tux, a large black and white mongrel, slowly ambled over to Jack who absent mindedly bent down to ruffle the fur on the old dog’s neck as Jack headed toward the shop. He opened the door and a cat shot out of the door, startling Jack momentarily. Jack noticed that the lights at the North end of the shop had been left on. Perhaps his son, Kelly, or the new hired man, Dale, had left them on after one or the other last checked the moisture in the wheat. They both tended to be forgetful.

All in all it wasn’t a bad day, Jack reflected as he walked to the sink to wash his dirt and grease blackened hands. They had completed most of the combining and, as long as the weather held out, Jack felt that they should finish harvest tomorrow. Just in time too, as the weather forecast was calling for rain or possibly snow on the weekend. It had been a long harvest due to the extraordinarily high rainfall in September. Hopefully the grain prices would be high enough to allow the farm to cover all of the bills this year. Jack finished scrubbing his hands, turned off the tap and grabbed an old rag that was sitting next to the sink. He heard the old grain truck approaching the yard. He should really head out to the bins to help Kelly unload the grain. As he started towards the door, the phone in the shop rang out. Jack started towards the phone on the end of the counter top near the door, but as he approached the ringing stopped. Jeanette must have grabbed it inside the house. Perhaps she hadn’t heard him drive into the yard. He picked up the shop phone to listen in and determine if it was for him. But, if it was, he wasn’t sure he wanted to take it. He was tired and was looking forward to discussing the day with Jeanette and getting some rest.

“…not in yet, he’s still out in the field. Perhaps I can take a message?” he heard Jeanette say to the caller on the phone.

“Please have him call Dr. Hornung’s office first thing tomorrow morning. Our number is…,” intoned a female voice, which he didn’t recognize, before the number was cut off by Jeanette’s voice.

“Just hang on a second. I have to get a pencil,” he heard Jeanette fumbling through the desk. It was always heaped with the mail that there had not been time to go through due to harvest. He was considering interjecting when Jeanette came back on. “Okay, what was the number?”

He listened in as the lady on the line repeated the number and Jeanette asked if everything was okay with the test results. He wasn’t surprised when the lady told Jeanette that there were some results that Dr. Hornung wanted to share with Jack as soon as possible. He had actually been expecting this for some time. He just didn’t want to deal with it until after harvest. As he headed toward the grain bin to help Kelly he paused briefly, looked to the sky and recited an old prayer that he had first learned in Sunday school as a child. Tux followed him as he headed towards the bins. He shivered as a new chill swept up his spine.

* * * * *

Jeanette told Jack about the call as he was washing his hands at the back sink. He had made her promise not to tell the kids about the testing until after harvest. She had yielded to Jack’s request. She was thankful that she’d taken the time to prepare a good meal; roast bison and potatoes with this year’s crop of beans. It was one of Jack’s favorite meals.

The call weighed heavily on their minds as they both ate in silence. They had been expecting a follow up call from the doctor’s office at some point this week. Jeanette had held out that the naturalist who did the blood analysis readings could possibly be wrong when he had told Jack to get to the doctor immediately. She was the one who insisted that Jack should go and get his blood analyzed as he had been perpetually tired throughout most of this past summer. Jeanette believed in holistic medicine, but she now found that she did not have complete faith in the naturalist’s readings. Surely the small, circular dots that he had identified as free radicals could be misconstrued. At the very least, Jeanette prayed that the naturalist’s prognosis could be exaggerated or that perhaps he had misread the results. She knew that liver cancer was usually a secondary cancer and often metastasized there from a primary site. She had felt like the wind was knocked out of her when Jack told her the naturalist’s prognosis, showed her the blood analysis photograph and explained that it was probably nothing, but just to be safe he had gone to the doctor’s office for further testing. From that point on, Jeanette prayed that Jack would be okay. Now all of her fears relied on the prognosis of their medical doctor, which Jack would get the next morning.

Jack had never complained. It wasn’t in his nature. Sure he’d been tired and irritable, but wasn’t that a natural part of aging? It had seemed that way to Jack as he watched his father age until he had finally succumbed to old age in his nineties. Jack was only 68 years old, but that had seemed old to him a mere decade ago. He had maintained his stoic optimism and shrugged it off as old age and the stresses of the farm. He didn’t want to impose upon or worry his wife and kids. Besides, if it was anything to worry about he’d put all his energies towards beating it when he finished this harvest.

* * * * *

Throughout supper, Jeanette struggled to maintain a semblance of normalcy. She had neatly skirted the edges of meaningful conversations about her or Jack’s emotions, preferring to focus on the mundane issues of harvest and the weather. As they were clearing the plates from the table, the ring of the phone pierced the noises of the kitchen. Jeanette stole a furtive glance at Jack as he sighed audibly and moved to answer the phone. Surely it wasn’t the doctor! Their offices had to be closed by now, didn’t they? She realized that she had not taken a breath since the phone first rang and she turned away to put the cutlery in the sink.

“It’s Kelly,” Jack announced as he read the call display. She turned to watch this man that she had loved for over forty years. He stood with his back to her as he listened intently, peppering his side of the conversation with the occasional, “uh huh” and “okay” before bringing the conversation to a close with, “Okay, call me tomorrow when you’re done. Good night.”

“What did Kelly want?” Jeanette asked.

“Not much,” Jack replied in his typical manner. “He wants me to run to town tomorrow morning to pick up a couple of things for the dryer on our bin. It broke down and we’re going to need it tomorrow.”

“So who’s going to run the combine and the truck?”

“Kelly will run the combine. He told Dale to come by and truck for us,” Jack answered as he brought the last of the dishes to the sink. “I’m going to get the dryer fixed tomorrow morning and Kelly should call me after lunch when he’s finished the last few acres.”

“Okay,” said Jeanette as she slipped the last of the cutlery into the suds. “Are you sure you don’t want to combine, Jack? Kelly could fix the dryer.” Her words hung unanswered for a few moments, the air temporarily heavy with unspoken words. Finally Jack spoke, shattering the silence.

“Naw, I’ve been combining all my life. Kelly can finish it up. We’ve only got a few hours left until we’re all done. I’m going to have a little snooze. Wake me up in half an hour. I’ve got to spend some time working on the farm books yet tonight.” Perhaps work would halt his inevitable contemplation of the future.

As Jack ambled over to his favorite easy chair, Jeanette was suddenly overcome by the silence of their big house. She flipped on the radio. She needed company as she fell into the abyss of thought. Sedaka was crooning out, “Take Good Care of My Baby”. She swallowed with difficulty and hummed along as she scrubbed the pots.

* * * * *

Sleep came fitfully for Jack that night, yet the next morning he arose prior to dawn feeling refreshed and full of anticipation. The final day of harvest always served to invigorate him. He knew that the rush would be fleeting and that his impending exhaustion would be a by-product of the push to finish harvest. Perhaps he would still be able to go fishing if everything worked out. He always looked forward to fishing at Jan after harvest. Well, he’d deal with that matter later. If he didn’t get moving he’d be wasting daylight!

Jack slid his legs out of bed and bent over to pick up his jeans. He noticed a dull ache in his abdomen. He must have slept too long. The hunger pains were setting in. He lightly moved about the room as he dressed. He didn’t want to wake Jeanette. Stepping to the nightstand to grab his wallet, he glanced at his wife. He was still amazed by her beauty after all these years. He reached for his wallet, accidentally banging the lamp. Jeanette opened her eyes and their eyes met.

“Morning,” she croaked. “What time is it?”

“’Bout seven thirty,” Jack replied as he shifted his glance from the clock to the nightstand to grab his wallet. He also spotted his ring beside the phone and although he rarely wore it, this morning he stuffed it in his pocket.

“I’ll put on some porridge for you,” he called over his shoulder as he slipped from their bedroom.

As he entered the kitchen, he looked out the west window. No sign of rain in the western sky. That was good. Hopefully they’d have half a day with no breakdowns. He glanced over at Kelly’s house in the adjoining yard. The lights were on; Kelly’s kids would be getting on the bus soon. He grabbed a pot from the lazy-susan, filled it with water, placed it on the stove-top and turned on the stove. As he grabbed the Red River Cereal, which he often referred to as birdseed to tease Jeanette, he heard the click of the bathroom door. Just then the phone rang. His shoulders sagged as yesterday’s call reverberated in his memory. He sighed heavily as he put down the porridge and he slowly moved toward the phone.

* * * * *

The truck hummed as it gobbled up the road. Jack examined the fields as he drove, noticing that many of them had been harvested. As he drove, he planned his first stop at Day-Mar where he would pick up the parts he needed for the dryer. He fumbled in his left pocket to get out the part number that Kelly had given him over the phone earlier. His fingers happened upon the ring he’d slid into his pocket earlier. He forgot about the paper. Grasping the ring between his thumb and forefinger, he struggled to pull his hand from his pocket. Once free, he raised the golden band to his other hand at the top of the steering wheel. The sun reflected off the ring momentarily, producing a blinding flash. He studied the ring. A perfect circle! No beginning and no ending. He read the inscription and was snapped out of his reverie as his truck drifted right and the rumble strip interrupted the hum of the road. He quickly replaced the ring in his pocket as he redirected his eyes to the road. He was almost there. In the background, barely audible over the droning wheels, the oldies station played “My Eyes Adored You” by the Four Seasons.

* * * * *

With the dryer part secure in the cab, and his belly full of coffee from his stop at the Co-op, Jack pressed the lock button on his keychain and the Dodge emitted a quick chirp. He glanced at the sky as he walked across the parking lot to the doctor’s office. There were still no signs of rain, although clouds were building in the west. Hopefully Kelly would be going by now as there didn’t appear to be much moisture last night. Besides, it was almost noon. He nodded towards the old man for whom he held the door open, and mumbled hello as he entered into the doctor’s office.

As he stepped toward the desk, he had to fight off the urge to turn and bolt. It was too late now. The young blonde receptionist had caught his eye. Jack removed his cap. He introduced himself and told the girl that Dr. Hornung had asked to see him this morning. He quietly took a seat and the familiar hunger sensation overcame his shortness of breath. Glancing around the office, his eyes were drawn to the painting of an old John Deere tractor framed on the wall. His father had had a tractor just like that one. Staring at the picture, without truly seeing, Jack reflected on all the machinery that he had owned. He was drawn out of his reverie when the receptionist announced that Dr. Hornung would see him now. He stood and inhaled a massive breath. He exhaled slowly as he walked towards the doctor’s office at the end of the hall.

* * * * *

Back in the truck, Jack sighed as he placed the pamphlets on the console. He didn’t have time for this now. He would read up on it later. He grabbed the cell phone from its cradle and dialed Kelly’s number. Kelly’s wife, Yvonne, answered.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Yvonne. It’s Jack. Is Kelly there?”

“No. He and Dale have just started combining. Do you want me to two-way him?”

“Naw, it’s not that important. Thanks, Yvonne.”

“No problem.”

Jack disconnected and replaced the cell, turned the keys in the ignition and waited for the plugs to be ready. He turned the ignition all the way and the diesel rattled to life. He needed to get home quickly, but first he was going to check in on his mom. She was in the nursing home and, although she was non-responsive, Jack checked in on her every week. He hadn’t been there for over a week now and he was suddenly struck by the urge to visit her. It couldn’t be for long though. He had work to do!

* * * * *

He was almost out of town when the cell phone rang. It was Jeanette. He knew that waiting was difficult for Jeanette, but he didn’t want to talk about it just now. She had asked Jack if he wanted her to come along that morning, but Jack had insisted that he go alone and if there was anything to worry about, that they’d fight it together. He always dealt with stresses internally. He didn’t want to trouble others with his problems.

“Hi Jack. How did it go?” she asked tersely.

He paused momentarily before answering. “Good. I found the part, so I’ll be able to fix the dryer,” he answered. Unconsciously, he held his breath and waited for Jeanette’s response.
She knew him too well after forty-four years together. She sensed his discomfort and knew that something was wrong and that he wouldn’t want to talk over the phone. She didn’t get upset at this lack of communication. It was Jack’s nature. She loved him.

“So when are you going to be home?” she asked.

“I’ve got a couple of things I have to do, but I’ll be home for lunch. I might be late. Is that okay?” he asked.

She wanted Jack to come right home, but she answered in a slightly exasperated voice, “Sure, that’s fine. I’ll see you soon and then we can talk, okay?”

“Sounds good,” Jack replied. Both of them listened to the emptiness for a moment before Jack quietly added, “I love you.”

Jeanette was taken aback. Jack was never one for affirmations. “I love you too!” she whispered as she realized that the kitchen was rapidly blurring. She quickly disconnected so that Jack wouldn’t know.

* * * * *

For a farmer, the pinnacle of the year coincides with the completion of harvest. It marks the fruition of the year’s planning, sowing, spraying, waiting, watching and worrying. It provides that one fleeting moment where one’s sense of pride and accomplishment outweighs the fears and uncertainty of modern day farming. It is truly a moment to celebrate, yet it always results in combined feelings of exhilaration and exhaustion.

For Jack, the exhaustion hit early. He was not done. Not yet. But the end was looming.
Jack was cognizant of the building clouds. Across the oceans of stubble, Jack could see the storm brewing. After meeting with Dr. Hornung, and after the doctor discussed the test results and explained to Jack the implications of stage-four colon cancer, Jack confronted him and asked outright how long he had. He needed to know. The response was not unexpected. Jack had known that he was not quite right for some time, but he had always contrived excuses for the various ailments. Now, faced with the harsh reality that he “should get his house in order”, Jack was overcome with a sense of urgency. Last night, he had told Jeanette that Kelly could finish the combining. Now, he needed to complete the harvest. Himself.

As he passed his home road, he glanced to the south and caught sight of his yard –their yard! It had really changed over their time together. His thoughts momentarily switched to Jeanette. Poor Jeanette, she didn’t deserve this. He averted his watery eyes from the yard and focused on the road, intent on reaching the west quarter. Nothing could distract his now singular vision. He drove on towards the darkening clouds.

* * * * *

Jack was able to convince Kelly to get off the combine for the last round. Thankfully that was still left to do. Thankfully that was all that was left to do, as the western sky loomed black and foreboding in the distance. Jack only had a limited time before the storm.

Dale took Jack’s truck back to the yard as Kelly went with the grain truck to unload the grain in advance of the storm. Watching them drive out of the field, Jack felt the familiar pangs in his abdomen. This time he knew. He could not pretend that it was hunger. He inhaled slowly. When he exhaled, the tightness that had amassed in his muscles exploded and a sensation that culminated in an uncontrollable tremor coursing through his body. He was aware of his hands shaking violently as they rested on his knees. He didn’t have time for this. Not now! He gripped his knees firmly, and inhaled slowly as he willed himself to settle down. There was work to be done.

The struggle to regain his composure was interrupted when Kelly called Yvonne on the two-way. Jack turned to the east and watched as the tail lights of Kelly’s grain truck disappeared in the distance. Kelly told Yvonne that Jack was going to combine the last few passes while he and Dale were going to unload the grain into the bins. He informed her that he and Dale would be in for supper after they were done. Jack knew that Jeanette would have the two-way on, so now she would know that he was going to finish on the combine. Kelly’s voice emerged from the two-way and broke Jack’s reverie.

“Be careful out there Dad. We wouldn’t want to lose you to the lightning!” he laughed. “If you don’t get it all done before the storm, it can wait.”

Shivering uncontrollably, Jack brought his hands up to his face and uttered a brief prayer for strength. After the prayer, he placed his hands on his lap and he surveyed the console, checking all of the switches and gauges. Under his trembling left hand, he felt small, warm, circular imprint on his palm. It was his wedding ring! Using both fumbling hands, he managed to wrestle the ring from his pocket. It was a cardinal rule in farming to not wear your wedding ring, due to the inherent dangers of working with machinery. Today, he didn’t care. He placed the ring between his right thumb and forefinger and slowly guided it onto his ring finger. Warmth immediately flooded his body. As he inhaled, calmness descended. He exhaled slowly. In the distance, he could see a flash of lightning. The storm was coming soon. He had to get going. His hands deftly passed over the controls as he engaged the header. Under Jack’s familiar guidance, as if it were an extension of his body, the combine lurched forward. Soon Jack’s harvest would be complete.