Grandmother's Gifts

     Kyle raced into his grandma's kitchen with panic on his face. He carefully opened his hands to show his grandmother a small bird.

     Grandma, on my way home, I saw an older boy from my school throw a rock at this bird. I yelled at him to stop! After he left, I watched the bird for a while hoping it would fly away to safety, but it kept toppling over. Do you think anything is wrong with it?

Annie loved music because her grandma was always singing. 

Granny’s voice sounded as lovely as crystal bells ringing.

If Annie was sad, Granny sang silly songs for a while.

Her songs showed Annie a frown was just an upside down smile.  

One day Annie was surprised to find her grandma crying.

Songs will cheer you up, sweet Annie whispered without prying. 

Annie sang a song that she had learned from her grandmother,

a song Granny often sang to Annie and her little brother. 

     After her granddaughter Abigail had be put to bed the first evening of her visit, the phone rang. Would you like to adopt another baby girl? the lady on speaker phone asked. Daddy, Mommy and Grandma looked at each other with joyful smiles on their faces.

     Of course! Daddy answered. What do you need us to do to make that happen?

     Nay Nay Flo noticed that Kiana was in tears as she ran outside. She followed her niece to

see what was wrong. Are you okay, Kiana? she gently inquired.

     No, how could I be? she said with deep frustration. Why did Mama Curly embarrass me like that in front of the whole family, Auntie? Kiana asked her father’s sister. It was bad enough she gave me an ugly old pair of her “granny panties” for my birthday that were ten times bigger than I wear, but just now for the fourth time today, she asked me if she gave me a birthday present! That made my cousins double over in laughter at my expense!

     Your grandmother, Mama Curly, can’t always control what she does or says anymore, sweet cakes. She has what doctors call Alzheimer’s disease. Although her present didn’t show it, you know she loves you very much. 

     What is Alz…whatever you called it, Nay Nay Flo? Kiana asked her aunt.

     Nadine sat next to her Grandmother Agnes in the prayer circle. She listened respectfully. Grandmother Agnes was known as a prayer person. When the prayer ritual ended, Nadine proudly took the hand of her grandmother. Grandmother Agnes smiled at her and lovingly squeezed her hand as the others left one by one. Nadine could feel her grandmother’s strength and gentleness. 

     Nadine was proud of her grandmother. She knew their tribe sent Grandmother Agnes all over the world to pray. Can you teach me to pray, Grandmother Agnes? Nadine whispered. 

That is a gift handed down from our people, she replied as she reached up to get something off the top shelf. Nadine noticed the top of the box said PRAYER. 

     Stupid Legos, Nick shouted angrily as he swatted them across the room.

     What did you do that for? Grandma asked. Now you have a mess to clean up.

     They make me so frustrated, Nick replied. Every time I almost get something good built they start to topple over!

     After Nick had put all the Legos back in the box, his grandmother sat down on the floor next to him and calmly said, Let’s try building something together. We’ll warn each other if it’s in danger of falling over, so we can reinforce it before it does.

     Good idea, Grandma, Nick said with relief and his shoulders relaxed a little. Here start with the green ones. I like to build with one color at a time. 

    Ruby sat next to her grandmother as her mother left for work. Her right fist punched at the embroidered pillow on her lap. As the door closed, she turned to her grandmother and whispered in Chinese, I hate her! Why does she leave me alone with you every day, PoPo? Why doesn't she love me enough to spend time with me?

     Grandma could hear her grandsons Adam and Andrew fighting in the family room as she entered her daughter’s house. It definitely sounds like the ‘terrible twos’ have struck, she laughed.

     The “terrible twos” times two!” her daughter sighed. It’s even worse with twins!

     Mine! Andrew shouted as he grabbed a blue “animal pal’ dog from his brother.

     No, mine! Adam countered as he struggled to grab it back.

     Grandmother spotted a purple elephant counterpoint nearby. I know the answer to this tug-of-war! This is your toy, Andrew. I gave the purple elephant to you and the blue puppy to Adam this past Christmas. Please give Adam his puppy so you can give your elephant a big squeeze, but first can Grandma have a hug?

Every birthday, every Christmas, even Easter, 

Julien would ask for a baby brother or sister.

If it is meant to be, it will happen. You can be sure.

Are you set to be a big brother? Mama would whisper.

One time Julien’s response was, Well, Mom, actually

I’m practicing by taking good care of my new puppy.

And when I’m finished with him, I’ll put my used toys away 

So they’re not a danger to our little baby someday.