By: Bonnie J. Crosman

Grammie is an elderly lady of about sixty with almost pure white hair. She is pleasantly plump and has a stern looking face. She is sitting in her daughter's living room watching Lawrence Welk while babysitting her eldest grandchild who hates that show.

Grammie is hard of hearing so the grandchild runs around upstairs making noises that Grammie cannot hear. The grandchild is teasing Grammie behind her back. She is not cruel - she is just a kid. Grammie is strict and doesn't play with the grandchild. She just sits and watches her program.

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Grammie is babysitting again. The grandchild is in the back yard climbing the tall maple tree after she has been asked not to. Grammie looks out the back window and doesn't see the grandchild. She walks out onto the back steps and yells to the grandchild. The grandchild doesn't answer. She looks up into the tall maple tree and her breath catches in her throat. She hollers for the grandchild to come down out of the tree and the grandchild back talks to her. She yells at the grandchild again and the grandchild finally concedes and comes down. Grammie doesn't spank her but sends her to her room until her mother comes home.

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Yet again, Grammie is babysitting. This time the grandchild is sick. Grammie lets her watch cartoons all day and feeds her chicken noodle soup, toast and Fresca. This makes the grandchild feel good inside despite the fever she is running. The grandchild loves to go to Grammie's when she is sick because Grammie takes good care of her and makes her feel loved.

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Grammie is getting older and it is time to move into a nursing home. She doesn't want to go but she knows it's the best thing. Her husband has long been dead and her three grown children cannot care for her twenty-four hours a day. She needs someone to help her with her food, dressing and medication. The grandchild goes with her to the nursing home - she is now sixteen years old. She feels bad for Grammie but gives her only a quick hug goodbye. Over the next five years she will only visit a few times. Grammie will be lonely.

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The grandchild is getting married today. She is waiting at the back of the church when Grammie is wheeled in. The grandchild runs over and hugs and kisses Grammie. Grammie doesn't recognize her and doesn't know where she is. The grandchild is sad but doesn't let it bother her day. The next day Grammie is asked how she enjoyed the wedding and she responded by saying, "Who's wedding?"

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The grandchild is now living in Hawaii and hasn't seen Grammie in over 3 years. She gets a phone call from her mother telling her that Grammie has passed away. The grandchild is very sad and feels guilty about the way she treated her as a child. She wishes she could get home for the funeral but it's too expensive. Over the next year she has nightmares about the way she treated Grammie. Then one night, Grammie comes to her in a dream and tells her it's okay and that she forgives her. The grandchild wakes up crying but feels much better.

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The grandchild is now back from Hawaii. It is a beautiful Sunday afternoon and she drives to the graveyard by herself. She is carrying a single red rose. She thinks about Grammie as she walks from the car to her grave at the top of the hill. As she kneels before Grammie's headstone tears fill her eyes. She whispers "I'm sorry Grammie. I love you." and places the rose on the grave. As she stands to leave a warm breeze blows through her hair and she smiles. She knows Grammie has heard her.