David Copperfield; the same but in reverse, I suppose.”
“What happened in David Copperfield?” he asked.
“The aunt wanted the baby to be a girl, and she was going to name it after herself. When a boy was born, she stormed away and didn’t come back. She hadn’t wanted a boy. I don’t know why I thought Chas would be a boy, but now I’m sure glad she wasn’t. No boy would ever take care of me the way my sweet Chas does.”
“She does have a gift with that, doesn’t she.”
“Yes, she does. What are you drinking there, young man?”
“Scotch whiskey. You want some?”
“No, I’ll stick to my brandy. Thanks just the same. You want some brandy?”
“Perhaps another time. Thank you.”
When Granny started getting sleepy, Jackson went upstairs and did read a book until he got sleepy himself. After having another drink he slept fairly well and woke up to pleasant aromas. With the thought that this could actually be a really nice day, he had to admit that maybe he did believe in miracles.
CHAPTER 6
Jackson went for his usual morning run before showering, then he found Chas busy in the kitchen, with Polly helping her.
“Good morning,” they both said at the same time when they saw him.
“Good morning,” he replied.
“Did you sleep well?” Chas asked.
“I did, thank you.”
“Comfy bed? All that?”
“I bet you say that to all the guys around here.”
“I do, actually. Your breakfast is on the sideboard. Simple and boring this morning, I’m afraid.” Then she added with the facetiousness that he’d grown to like about her, “I don’t have time to be a short-order cook for you when I’ve got Thanksgiving dinner to fix.”
“I like simple and boring.” He chuckled and corrected, “Or let’s say, I’m used to simple and boring. I’ll be more than all right. Thank you.”
“Dinner’s at two,” Chas said as if he might have forgotten.
“I’ll be there,” he said as if he were a child being nagged, and the women both laughed.
After breakfast Jackson visited with Granny for a while. When she asked him to help her with something, he was glad to comply, as long as it didn’t cause a problem for Chas. He slipped out to the kitchen first to ask. “Hey, Granny wants to be here in the kitchen with you for a while. She’s in a rather nostalgic mood, apparently. Do you have a problem with my bringing her in here?”
“No, of course not,” Chas said, “but I can—”
“I’ve got it covered,” Jackson said and hurried back to Granny’s room. According to her directions, he found a wheelchair folded and tucked in a large closet and got it ready for her to use, including a blanket that would prevent the chair from feeling cold to her. He liked the way she didn’t have any problem telling him exactly how she wanted things, nor asking for help with details like helping her into her sweater and putting her slippers on her feet. He figured a woman who had reached her age ought to know what she wanted and not have any qualms about expecting it. But of course, she did it kindly. He told her—not for the first time, “I want to be like you when I grow up.”
After lifting her carefully into the wheelchair, she said, “Oh, it’s nice to have a strong man to help. Chas and I manage, but we’re a bit awkward. We only use the chair for special occasions, because quite frankly I like my room.”
“And what constitutes a special occasion besides Thanksgiving and Christmas?”
“A doctor appointment, usually.”
“How exciting,” he said with sarcasm and tucked a blanket over her lap. “All set?”
“All set!” she said with enthusiasm.
“We could see how fast this thing’ll go up and down the hall, if you like.”
The old woman let out a delighted laugh. “That sounds very exciting, young man, but probably a little too exciting for me. It would likely stop my heart, and you’d have Chas crying over her dead Granny instead of fixing the turkey.”
“Perhaps
“What happened in David Copperfield?” he asked.
“The aunt wanted the baby to be a girl, and she was going to name it after herself. When a boy was born, she stormed away and didn’t come back. She hadn’t wanted a boy. I don’t know why I thought Chas would be a boy, but now I’m sure glad she wasn’t. No boy would ever take care of me the way my sweet Chas does.”
“She does have a gift with that, doesn’t she.”
“Yes, she does. What are you drinking there, young man?”
“Scotch whiskey. You want some?”
“No, I’ll stick to my brandy. Thanks just the same. You want some brandy?”
“Perhaps another time. Thank you.”
When Granny started getting sleepy, Jackson went upstairs and did read a book until he got sleepy himself. After having another drink he slept fairly well and woke up to pleasant aromas. With the thought that this could actually be a really nice day, he had to admit that maybe he did believe in miracles.
CHAPTER 6
Jackson went for his usual morning run before showering, then he found Chas busy in the kitchen, with Polly helping her.
“Good morning,” they both said at the same time when they saw him.
“Good morning,” he replied.
“Did you sleep well?” Chas asked.
“I did, thank you.”
“Comfy bed? All that?”
“I bet you say that to all the guys around here.”
“I do, actually. Your breakfast is on the sideboard. Simple and boring this morning, I’m afraid.” Then she added with the facetiousness that he’d grown to like about her, “I don’t have time to be a short-order cook for you when I’ve got Thanksgiving dinner to fix.”
“I like simple and boring.” He chuckled and corrected, “Or let’s say, I’m used to simple and boring. I’ll be more than all right. Thank you.”
“Dinner’s at two,” Chas said as if he might have forgotten.
“I’ll be there,” he said as if he were a child being nagged, and the women both laughed.
After breakfast Jackson visited with Granny for a while. When she asked him to help her with something, he was glad to comply, as long as it didn’t cause a problem for Chas. He slipped out to the kitchen first to ask. “Hey, Granny wants to be here in the kitchen with you for a while. She’s in a rather nostalgic mood, apparently. Do you have a problem with my bringing her in here?”
“No, of course not,” Chas said, “but I can—”
“I’ve got it covered,” Jackson said and hurried back to Granny’s room. According to her directions, he found a wheelchair folded and tucked in a large closet and got it ready for her to use, including a blanket that would prevent the chair from feeling cold to her. He liked the way she didn’t have any problem telling him exactly how she wanted things, nor asking for help with details like helping her into her sweater and putting her slippers on her feet. He figured a woman who had reached her age ought to know what she wanted and not have any qualms about expecting it. But of course, she did it kindly. He told her—not for the first time, “I want to be like you when I grow up.”
After lifting her carefully into the wheelchair, she said, “Oh, it’s nice to have a strong man to help. Chas and I manage, but we’re a bit awkward. We only use the chair for special occasions, because quite frankly I like my room.”
“And what constitutes a special occasion besides Thanksgiving and Christmas?”
“A doctor appointment, usually.”
“How exciting,” he said with sarcasm and tucked a blanket over her lap. “All set?”
“All set!” she said with enthusiasm.
“We could see how fast this thing’ll go up and down the hall, if you like.”
The old woman let out a delighted laugh. “That sounds very exciting, young man, but probably a little too exciting for me. It would likely stop my heart, and you’d have Chas crying over her dead Granny instead of fixing the turkey.”
“Perhaps
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