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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjtxtlp8CM
She looks at me and asks, “Can I go up to the attic, Grandmother?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVeS2BWik9
Grandmother. Never had I imagined that somebody would call me that.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwZDZBVNn6
I nod. “Of course, Lila.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHL8akksOf
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. 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tJkOI0VGF
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?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0lOxVwBRl
“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.” 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiUWrnk5CD
My granddaughter stares at me in confusion. “What? What is it? What’s wrong?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv5G8Iilew
“Where did you find that?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjIkJ5s4YY
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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtuFMkLIh8
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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBjCokWV34
“Grandmother, where did you get that? Where did you find it?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVWFedPcyi
“Oh, oh, no. I didn’t find it. I was given it.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU8ObX1wuB
“Uh-huh. By who?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a5ur64CQn
“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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPq6qwRigi
“Ew! I don’t want that!”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw2hjG3H7H
“Exactly why you should hurry. Let’s go.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kSJXTwcjf
When we sit down and start eating, she asks me again, “So, is it true or not?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4I9N2hJEo
I look up at her. “What?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y3YSDG6lD
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?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggTFlt3Mzu
“Everything is true. Everything. Oh, fun fact, Lila. I because leader of the whole city after I got rid of the government.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweeyoUKKB0
“Really? Tell me more!”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiyGtn8Otk
I rub my eyes and look at the clock.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcMlyfihf8
6:30 p.m.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hcnqrEY3R
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. 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0WZkLpUQk
I smile. Yes, that’s it. It always works on the young ones.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OViMRpNqN
“Grandmother?”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvbhGlEVlz
I look at Lila and bend down, putting my hand on her shoulder, looking her in the eyes. 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnRT95wIvw
“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. 423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpPDyAfeGD
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.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoFTviJMKD
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuzFRMpb6p
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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