Aurora Magazine 2017

“You’re nothing!” Grandpa said his eyes piercing and his fists clenched at his sides. “Look at you; you can’t even raise your own kid I have to raise her for you!” “Come on Jeanie, let’s go!” Daddy said grabbing her and walking out the door. He put Jeannie in the back seat and slammed the door. “Where are you taking that kid?” Grandpa shouted. “You don’t even have decent tires on that car.” I looked out the back window and saw Grandpa slam the front door to the house. Daddy drove in silence to the house. It was very cold when we walked into the house. The hair on my arms stood up underneath my coat. I could see my breath. “Sit here for a minute, I have to check our furnace.” After a few minutes, Daddy appeared with a defeated look on his face. “Furnace is broken.” Daddy said with a somber tone. I knew that this was not good news. Daddy heated up the oven and opened the door for heat. He wrapped me in blankets and we slept on the couch. I had to keep my coat and gloves on to stay warm. Daddy didn’t know I heard him, but I heard him softly crying. I fell asleep watching the snowfall outside the living room window. I woke up to the sound of Grandmas voice talking to Daddy. “Now John, Richard was drinking last night and he didn’t mean what all was said….” I heard Grandma say. I opened my eyes and rubbed them. “It’s much too cold here in this house for Jeannie to stay here. Please let her come back with me. Helen can bring the baby, too, when she is released. At least stay with us until the landlord fixes this furnace.” “I am only laid off, Eileen,” Daddy explained. “I am going to be called back soon.” “I’m sure things will work out,” Grandma said. “Looks like someone’s awake! Jeannie lets go get breakfast and your coming home with me.” I was so happy I sat up and threw my arms around Grandma. It was only a few months later when Mom and Dad told me that Grandma and Grandpa Gray had decided to move to southern Illinois to take care of great grandma Jennie. We were moving into Grandmas house. I was not very excited about this. The day we moved in, I looked up at the two huge picture windows in front. They seemed to be eyes staring at me.

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