Grandma

This story is dedicated to my Grandmother, Myrtle McBride, who passed away on March 17, 2006. I will miss you very much, Grandma and I love you. She was 87 years old.

“Fawn,” said Spot. “You’d better come here quick!”

“What is wrong?” asked Fawn, seeing the look on Spot’s face.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news for you,” said Spot.

Fawn sat down at the table. He knew Spot was going to tell him something that he did not want to hear and honestly, he really didn’t want to hear bad news but he knew that he would have to hear it sooner or later.

“Well,” said Spot. “I wanted to be the one that told you about this. It is Great-Grandma McBride. Fawn, she is gone.”

Spot stood in the middle of the kitchen clutching her apron tightly in her hands. Tears rolled down her face.

“You mean Great-Grandma died,” said Fawn, tears welling up into the corners of his eyes.

“Yes,” said Spot. “Great-Grandma had a stroke and was in a coma. She didn’t make it Fawn.”

“What is happening to our family?” cried Fawn. “We are losing everyone.”

I know,” said Spot. “We have lost Great-Grandpa Williamson and Nanny.”

Fawn cried for about a good hour over the loss of Great-Grandma. He was really going to miss her a lot. She was so kind to him and she always brought Fawn many good treats to eat.

For about a week after the bad news of Great-Grandma, Spot noticed that Fawn was beginning to show signs of depression. He was tired all the time. He snapped at everyone that tried to talk to him and the worst thing, he wasn’t eating.

“Fawn,” said Spot. “You haven’t eaten anything yet today. How about I make you some home-made fries.”

“No thanks,” said Fawn. “I’m not hungry.”

“Fawn,” said Spot, lovingly. “Look, don’t you think that Great-Grandma would want you to eat. You know she is watching over you from heaven. You don’t want to her to see you all depressed now do you?”

“No,” said Fawn. “It is not fair that Great-Grandma is gone.”

“I know,” said Spot. “However, you must think of Great-Grandma right now. She doesn’t want to see you depressed. You have to show her that you are strong. You can miss her and you can grieve for her but you must also keep up your strength. You must eat. Great-Grandma would love to see you eat something. You know what else she would like?”

“What?” asked Fawn.

“She would like us to remember the good times we had with her,” said Spot. “She would want us to keep the memories of her pleasant. She would not want us doting on her death.”

“You really think so,” said Fawn.

“Definitely,” said Spot.

“Okay,” said Fawn. “One thing I remember about Great-Grandma is the fries that she would cook for me! They were the best! Hey, I’m starting to get hungry.”

“An order of homemade fries coming up,” said Spot, smiling.