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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRnX3hDRKf
She looks at me and asks, “Can I go up to the attic, Grandmother?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EDXlE6e6k
Grandmother. Never had I imagined that somebody would call me that.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEXu5yFtex
I nod. “Of course, Lila.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijQG1dFHw5
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. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXOOYOTkU3
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?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerCzlZdCf6
“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.” 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90E3hV4W11
My granddaughter stares at me in confusion. “What? What is it? What’s wrong?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsX7zQR1u1
“Where did you find that?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW1fnHXJ9y
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.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH4C10M7SJ
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.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOXbAeyAdi
“Grandmother, where did you get that? Where did you find it?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtECUCYCYSW
“Oh, oh, no. I didn’t find it. I was given it.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VaBYpeRso
“Uh-huh. By who?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNw4pbpglH
“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.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdYgux6Ibb
“Ew! I don’t want that!”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUxzXSvjvB
“Exactly why you should hurry. Let’s go.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGLoXz6ufl
When we sit down and start eating, she asks me again, “So, is it true or not?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI17CnyXTpI
I look up at her. “What?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj53Ef2tABE
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?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc5R3zA2wZ
“Everything is true. Everything. Oh, fun fact, Lila. I because leader of the whole city after I got rid of the government.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxiprFfJBK
“Really? Tell me more!”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe2UkO8edl
I rub my eyes and look at the clock.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3BUyqtIY8
6:30 p.m.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIj4MPYmSp
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. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPPlroc0iO
I smile. Yes, that’s it. It always works on the young ones.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhEkCBE9Gy
“Grandmother?”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp0uLGdWky
I look at Lila and bend down, putting my hand on her shoulder, looking her in the eyes. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnY0QyoO4P
“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. 456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKHpcw8YB9
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.”456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaTjZsmcat
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabs2iN6YKB
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.
ns 172.69.17.149da2
and then Add to home screen.