Member-only story
A Taste for Life Weekend Challenge
Simple Pleasures
Inspired by the Weekend Challenge
The sun burns my nose. Grandma told me to wear a hat, but I didn’t listen. Or maybe I forgot. Sometimes when Grandma talks to me, I forget to hear, because my heart hurts so bad.
“Cancer’s back,” Momma said months ago. “Grandma won’t fight it this time. She said she’s tired and misses Grandpa.”
White curtains on the front window ripple and Momma’s face peeks through. Her stare tells me to get inside.
“Dinner time,” Momma says. Her lips pull downward.
We go to the bedroom, Momma and me. Grandma’s propped up in her bed with three pillows against her headboard. Her skin is fair as snow and frame delicate as flakes. She rests her eyes as Momma fusses over her.
I plop onto the red chair in the corner of the room, the one with the itchy cushion.
Momma sets a tray in front of Grandma.
“Here you go,” Momma says, just above a whisper.
I sit up straight and gawk at the bowl on the tray. My mouth waters. “Me too?” I put on my sweetest smile.
Momma’s attention turns to me. “You too,” she says.
