She walks into the room, her arms at her sides, her legs bouncing up and down, and her mouth set in a bright smile. I watch her with a smile as I cook dinner.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyKM8HuzeT
She looks at me and asks, “Can I go up to the attic, Grandmother?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGWJh4H5vY
Grandmother. Never had I imagined that somebody would call me that.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPk9g5ieKJ
I nod. “Of course, Lila.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2DtSmne40
Her already-wide smile broadens even more and I chuckle as I watch her open the door and skip down the stairs, two at a time. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIMtcvMWj3
A few minutes later, I hear the pattering of steps and the panting of the little girl. Before I can even tell her that dinner is ready, she exclaims, “Grandmother! What is this?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvsYaPyzlb
“Yes?” I ask, with my back to her. But when I turn around, I am shocked to see what my granddaughter has found. I stammer in shock and disbelief, “I-I-I ...that's...oh wow.” 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPv3oMNOpv
My granddaughter stares at me in confusion. “What? What is it? What’s wrong?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42udWwpnRZ
“Where did you find that?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC6QHkO8fN
She shrugs, “In a basket in the back that also has a picture of you and Grandfather. And then I think there is another picture with you and the rest of your family.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWnID7nmhx
I walk over to her and give her a long, tight hug. When I step back, I whisper, “I found that and-” I smile. “-saved the world.” I laugh as I watch her face grow in delight. “It’s a gem that I found. I think I also have a map and a...a pendant.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI5EK6k5e4
“Grandmother, where did you get that? Where did you find it?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgfkFjgN6B
“Oh, oh, no. I didn’t find it. I was given it.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8erTYJU4zK
“Uh-huh. By who?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKfqMYnXu3
“And old man. His name was -” I search through my memory, trying to savor everything that I had carelessly tried to forget. “-Let’s see...I think it was Divinos Palladium. Yes, I think that was it.” I watch her wait for me to say more. But, instead, I declare, “Okay, okay. Enough. Set the table, Lila. Hurry up, or else you’ll get cold soup for dinner.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsPHDdD5b7
“Ew! I don’t want that!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdmk7PEcPk
“Exactly why you should hurry. Let’s go.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW8bqvS0xy
When we sit down and start eating, she asks me again, “So, is it true or not?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE0eYG77QA
I look up at her. “What?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMvunNWAdt
She sighs and I hold in a smile. “Grandmother! About the old man. Is it true or not? What about the gem? What’s that about?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ312K9doLtq
“Everything is true. Everything. Oh, fun fact, Lila. I because leader of the whole city after I got rid of the government.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODJa21cNpY
“Really? Tell me more!”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9QfifTVcy
I rub my eyes and look at the clock.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfguQrQ0qI7
6:30 p.m.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmbIMj6I3o
I try to think back to the time that I was talking to my younger sister and brother. Way back when I was younger. When everything and everyone was younger. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYWdzYrc8h
I smile. Yes, that’s it. It always works on the young ones.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjlv8l5HWS
“Grandmother?”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq4wAi0qLv
I look at Lila and bend down, putting my hand on her shoulder, looking her in the eyes. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmTNcQX86T
“It will take a long time to tell. It is a long story, yes. So maybe not today.” I look out the window and see the sun setting over the hills. My mind flooding with the priceless memories of my childhood with my parents and my siblings when they were four or five years old. And then I think of the old man. The wizard who was undoubtedly the most important person in my life. Even though no one may have known, I knew. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmsAiJuGQR
Smiling, I say, “Maybe later.” I look back at my granddaughter, her hair glowing against the sunset. “Now,” I playfully groan as I stand back up and look down at her, “Let’s get you to bed or else your mom will get mad at me for keeping you up.”408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Yfeafb2JK
As I walk up the stairs with the little bundle in my arms, I think, The old man. The adventure. The courage, and trust in him. The pressure and angst. But, it’s invaluable. And, hopefully, the children after me will experience everything that I did and more.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5S4Kzm7BB
Lila is already asleep, with her head on my shoulder. I walk into her bedroom and stop as I am about to close the door. With one last look out the window, I turn my back and close the door, laying my granddaughter on her bed.
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