Oh Grandma!

Ever since my high school graduation my Grandma and me really haven’t kept in touch. Yes we have chatted on the phone once in a while, but those were rare and only lasted for about 5 minutes. Sad I know. So one day after a long day of classes in college I decided to call her up and just say Hi. I dropped my bags onto the floor of my one bedroom apartment and grabbed my cell out of my purse. I flipped through the contacts list and spotted my Grandma’s number.1

I pressed Talk as I rummaged though the fridge thinking of things I should make for dinner tonight. As the phone buzzed numerous times I started to wonder if she wasn’t home. That’s strange; Grandma isn’t really the type of person who goes out much. She’s the type that sits on the rocking chair all day and knits oversized sweaters while her also oversized cat named Fluffy sits on her lap purring. I decided to count until ten till I hang up. I know it’s weird an adult counting to ten for her Grandma to pick up the phone, but its what I usually do if the person on the other hand doesn’t pick up. So I counted, and when I was at ten I heard a click.2

“Hello?” Said a familiar old voice. I felt a smile on my face. The memories started to flow into my mind. The times when we went to each other’s houses and shared stories, and shared laughs; way before I graduated high school.3

“Grandma?” I asked, even though I already knew it was her.4

“Who is this?” was her answer. I felt the smile on my face vanish.5

“You don’t know who this is? It’s me, Kristen! Remember you’re granddaughter?” I said staggered, as I pulled out cold lasagna from last night out of the fridge. I know my Grandma doesn’t have the best sort of memory, but how can she forget her own granddaughter? That’s pretty degrading.6

“Oh honey! Long time no talk! Why’d you call?” She said in her sweet honey voice. Why’d I call? As if I ruined her already boring life; I just wanted to say Hi, I didn’t fell like talking to her anymore.7

“Umm, well I just wanted to say Hi. Any updates in Calsway Eden?” I asked trying to sound as sweet as she did, while peeling off the top foil from the lasagna tray. Calsway Eden is where my Grandma lives. A small town in the middle of nowhere, where there are no secrets because everyone knows everyone. That town practically lives like one huge family. If you already hate your siblings I suggest that you don’t move there, its like you gained 20 more. I heard Grandma rummaging threw stuff on the other line.8

“Oh that’s so sweet of you Kristen. You know the Ockley’s family? They just had their sixth child it’s that great? It’s a girl too!” She said joyfully. Dang sixth child!? I feel sorry for the mother. I’ve never heard of the Ockley’s family in my life but I just played along.9

“Oh that’s great Grandma!” I said enthusiastically as I popped the lasagna into the microwave.10

“You should come over! And catch up with each other it’ll be great. Do you have classes this weekend?” She asked. I almost dropped my phone. This weekend? Wow just a Hi became a trip to Grandma’s house, I wonder what will happen if I say no? She’ll probably storm down to my house with her ancient car. I gulped as I looked down at my schedule: Sunday I’m free.11

“Sunday’s good.”12

“That’s wonderful, Sunday it is.” She said satisfied and hanged up.13

~~~~~~~~~~~14

I left around 10, knowing it’s an hour drive I brag my ipod with me and plugged it into the car. There was a bit of traffic but it didn’t bother me, I wasn’t desperate to go to my Grandma’s house. By the time I finished my play list I was at her house. A plain light blue house, with its paint already starting to peel. All the houses on the block looked the same.15

I didn’t feel the warm fuzzy feeling I usually get when I’m come here, maybe because I’m older? I don’t know. I crawled out of my car after I parallel parked on the sidewalk and walked up the cracked pathway to my Grandma’s house. When I reached the porch I knocked on the screen door a few times. I heard a Fluffy meow inside. Then the door opened.16

“Oh Kristen long time no see. Come in, come in.” She said welcomingly as I stepped into the house. She gave me a nice warm hug and sat me down on the couch.17

“Looks like nothing changed.” I smiled as I looked around the house. Everything looks exactly like I pictured it. With the sunken couches and rocking chair with the knitting utensils, the fireplace. She laughed a soft laugh.18

“Well you know me, I don’t like change that much. You must be starving want some food?” She said while she walked towards the kitchen.19

“That’ll be nice.” I replied. While Grandma rummaged threw the kitchen Fluffy crawled onto my lap. I looked down at it while it purred.20

“Wow Fluffy, you look fatter then before.” I said as I stroked its fur. And it got up off my lap, as if it understood me and sat on the floor. Okay…Then Grandma came in and set some bowls on the table.21

“Here you go dear.” She said as she placed a bowl in front of me.22

“Thank you.” I said as I grabbed my fork. I looked down at my meal, my tummy growling. It was Kibble ‘N Bits. Kibble ‘N Bits!? What the HELL!? Grandma has made mistakes in the past, but this was pretty appalling. I looked down at the bowl of kibble my jaw hanging and speechless; then I looked down at Fluffy. She had a plate of tuna.23

“Is it good?” She smiled as she sipped her coffee as if everything was normal.24

“Is it GOOD!? Grandma do I look like a DOG to you!?! Since when did people start eating Kibble? Because I’m pretty sure this is clearly made for pets.” I spat revolted. She stared at me confused, still holding onto her mug.25

“Hello!?” I waved my hand in front of her face then shoved the bowl in front of her.26

“I don’t understand.” She said staring at me perplexed. I looked at her dumbfounded.27

“Grandma are you under some new medication I should know about?” I asked bewildered. Then I saw a smile crawl on her face, leaving me completely baffled.28

“APRIL FOOLS! Ha, you should have seen you’re face!” She laughed uncontrollably. Then everything clicked, today’s April 1st? I checked my planner. She was right, damn I feel like such an idiot. I felt a chuckle escape my mouth.29

“Wow Grandma you’re good.”30