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.458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAXpTslwjX
She looks at me and asks, “Can I go up to the attic, Grandmother?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2StE4Aa78
Grandmother. Never had I imagined that somebody would call me that.458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ7t7bm5Ed
I nod. “Of course, Lila.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG7uEHCRTk
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. 458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWT0YabwRi
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?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4SS9hhUOC
“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.” 458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBee1IxAws
My granddaughter stares at me in confusion. “What? What is it? What’s wrong?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqV2BEd1bga
“Where did you find that?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbb0BXeTwR
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.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaVvReJDV6
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.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zzxLdyENr
“Grandmother, where did you get that? Where did you find it?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy4Rktzk61
“Oh, oh, no. I didn’t find it. I was given it.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfxqCusAXt
“Uh-huh. By who?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IVyB4Ldil
“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.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaYrdVBqiR
“Ew! I don’t want that!”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFSPwErTwD
“Exactly why you should hurry. Let’s go.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47rlm48IgR
When we sit down and start eating, she asks me again, “So, is it true or not?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGHDP4wCmf
I look up at her. “What?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1G3HHJTMo
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?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuBDtNEecB
“Everything is true. Everything. Oh, fun fact, Lila. I because leader of the whole city after I got rid of the government.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEDcQkYdlj
“Really? Tell me more!”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV8wU897Pm
I rub my eyes and look at the clock.458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aGNDhCWXq
6:30 p.m.458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoS8GRUE5cS
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. 458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIiG90oNF0
I smile. Yes, that’s it. It always works on the young ones.458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vLuflJram
“Grandmother?”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC2i43Hi8u
I look at Lila and bend down, putting my hand on her shoulder, looking her in the eyes. 458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKdAw37RUH
“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. 458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNoEgFYpRn
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.”458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEa4la2R9n
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.458Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1GlB0hDJk
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 172.69.17.196da2
and then Add to home screen.