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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLCnBaZX4p
She looks at me and asks, “Can I go up to the attic, Grandmother?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNPMa8c4lK
Grandmother. Never had I imagined that somebody would call me that.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Cb6qLfLdL
I nod. “Of course, Lila.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvcJATL5M0
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5C3qV0lTz
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?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDneaQKfB0Y
“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.” 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUUnwCZUQP
My granddaughter stares at me in confusion. “What? What is it? What’s wrong?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurreR4s83I
“Where did you find that?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr03ox4Naj
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR4u4GD6Sw
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz3Vcjh96I
“Grandmother, where did you get that? Where did you find it?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpWOTNk7O9
“Oh, oh, no. I didn’t find it. I was given it.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5HadPOFop
“Uh-huh. By who?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjTODDxmmO
“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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVNOJTFdf3
“Ew! I don’t want that!”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPCrG79z0j
“Exactly why you should hurry. Let’s go.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo4oZ4eJk8
When we sit down and start eating, she asks me again, “So, is it true or not?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2rktSFe1f
I look up at her. “What?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx1B47KX6n
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?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUodjZI0JQ
“Everything is true. Everything. Oh, fun fact, Lila. I because leader of the whole city after I got rid of the government.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii4dSjPkoP
“Really? Tell me more!”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOxl4SqrQS
I rub my eyes and look at the clock.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9WDxPUckr
6:30 p.m.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj509vpYZq
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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsD7Njr1pD
I smile. Yes, that’s it. It always works on the young ones.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOerYGUkbxW
“Grandmother?”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeIF5bsQz6
I look at Lila and bend down, putting my hand on her shoulder, looking her in the eyes. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnCBHWuNBJ
“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. 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS2YVJxYTT
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.”542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO423Idu7K
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.542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqXOVKuyjh
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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