Aurora Magazine 2017

closet. I realized that Grandma had not seen the shadow hands! “I have to go up to the hospital and see about your mother” Grandmother said I shook my head in disbelief and rubbed my eyes. “Grandma, you didn’t see the hands?” I asked quietly. “I think you are seeing the shadow from my spider plants in the basement Jeannie.” Grandma laughed as she explained to me. “What you’re seeing is the light coming in from the window and it makes the plants shadows look like hands. While I’m at the hospital I want you to play in the living room and mind your Grandpa. Your Dad is going to be working late tonight so you’re going to stay with us.” While Grandma was gone, I sat on the brown living rug and played with my Barbie dolls. My favorite Barbie was a Barbie that was dressed in Western Clothes and I even had a jeep for her to ride around in. I had my grandparents dog, Fi Fi, to keep me company as well. Fi Fi was a small black poodle and she was my playmate. I would push Barbie in the jeep and Fi Fi would bark at me. Fi Fi also had a small ball that she liked for me to throw and she would bring back. I looked in the dining room and saw that Grandpa was sitting at the table pouring something out of a glass bottle into a small glass. “Grandpa, what are you drinking? Can I have some?” I innocently asked as I pulled up a chair to sit with him. “Jeannie, this here is a grown-up drink.” He mumbled. Just then we saw my father’s green Ford pull into the driveway. “Uh oh” I heard Grandpa say. “DADDY!” I shouted as my father walked through the door. He was dirty and looked very tired. His eyes looked sad. I ran to his arms and he picked me up and held me. “What ya doing off work so early?” Grandpa asked him. He took another drink from his small glass. Daddy hung his head low. “I was laid off today!” “What do you mean you got laid off from the steel mill?” Grandpa said angrily. “You have a kid and just had another one born!” “I haven’t been there very long so I was let go!” Daddy said quietly. He had his head down and eyes were looking at the floor.

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