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Show 12-2 Grandmother sat by his bed. She was quiet now, even her hands quiet in her lap. Father and John were on the porch, and their distant voices were the only sound in the quiet blue room. The air was full with a bitter medicine smell. "Grandfather?" I touched his fingertips with mine. "What? Hmm? Oh, Annie, hello." Only his eyes moved. Then his fingers moved under mine. "How are you feeling?" "Oh, tired. This old man is tired. But it's good to be home." Grandmother brushed his forehead with her hand. "How's my best girl?" "Fine, Grandfather." "That's good. Come see me. Sleepy now." He closed his eyes. "Annie, come." Mother stood in the door. I turned and saw her, framed in the door, saw her look at Grandfather. Then she came in, bent over her father and kissed him on the forehead. "Welcome home, Dad." He smiled for one moment. Mother took my hand and we left my grandparents alone together in the quiet. We waited while Father wrote out instructions for my grandfather's medicine which was lined up across the kitchen table. I counted the bottles and shook them, wondering how he could stand to take so much. Then my parents and I walked home across the darkening street. Evening came sooner now as we moved to fall. This time a month ago, it was still too light for hide-and-seek on the street. Now the shadows were deep and rich. Time for adventure. "Can I go find Darby and Emily? It's still early." My friends had returned from Bible School last week and had rolled on the grass in an ecstasy of freedom. Bible School had not been fun. I was more than ever glad that I had not gone. I didn't tell them about what I had done while they were gone, about Andrew. |