People You Keep
A fun episode with something to think about.
“Bada boom, bada beesh…”
When I heard the above words, an involuntary sigh left me.
I closed the main door gingerly, trying desperately not to make a sound.
I just wanted to go to my room and avoid everything and everyone and mainly the women singing weird words while baking brownies.
My favorite.
They smell so divine…ooh, like a warm hug. If I could just get my hands on one without her noticing…
“Don't even think about it!” my Gran suddenly said and I jumped so high, I contemplated entering a long jump contest for a moment.
Did I say my grab-and-run brownie plan out loud?
Oh no…busted.
I plastered a serene smile on my face and slowly turned towards her.
Her happy face turned into a scowl upon seeing me.
Ugh, I was not a good actor so I walked past her towards the kitchen, knowing an interrogation was on the way.
“Who made you cry!?” she suddenly appeared next to me while I tried to erase any residuals of my sorrow fest, rubbing my face.
“I don't know what you're talking about, Gran.” I tried, knowing full well I was caught.
She just rolled her eyes. I ignored her and moved to get my hands on some brownies and milk to help me during this grilling session.
She just stared at me, giving me time to come out and just vent to her like I always did, and eventually after a brownie or two, I started talking.
“You know, Percy, that girl I introduced to you yesterday as my new friend?”
Gran squinted her eyes, “yeah? what did she do?”
My heart felt heavy and a long sigh left me, “She started ignoring me suddenly and then made fun of our home, food, and my attire at the cafeteria, today. She didn't know I was listening though, I really thought I made a good friend.”
I slumped my shoulders and drank some milk but not before clinking my glass with my gran's glass filled with juice.
Grandma hugged me and took both of my hands into hers, “You know, when I married your grandpa, I made sure that his family didn't know that I earned…what! It's true!”
My gran is one of the biggest authors in the world but writes under a pseudonym, so nobody knows about her writings except her immediate family. I shrugged and waved my hand for her to continue.
She turned towards the wall and stared at it like she was going back in time, “I had some people in life who were very close to me but when I first brought them to my house or into my inner circle, I’ve seen changes in their demeanor….like you did today, kiddo- ”
I just gawked at her with my mouth open which she closed, all while sharing her past chronicle.
“ -You see, people judge, well, mostly, and when my friends visited my home for the first time and saw the half-broken chair, the slow-running fan, and non-speaking English parents, some of them immediately became my bullies and so, I’ve cut them out of my life.
Choppity chop!
But then there were a few who just loved me for me and not anything else.”
“Wow, you’re so lucky,” I murmured.
She pinched my cheeks, smiling,
“so, when I got married, I wanted to know whom I was given to deal with. Whether they judge, based on money or anything else the plan failed for obvious reasons. Your grandpa had no control over his mouth whatsoever.” She rolled her eyes although I could see a small smile playing on her lips.
“So, what kind of people should I be friends with?” I asked her, enjoying my brownie.
She looked deep into my eyes and said,
“The people who’d give equal respect to the principle and the peon.
The people who wouldn’t judge for the way you dress or talk or live.
Those are the people I’ve held onto, the people you ought to keep in life.”
Wow, I think my nine-year-old brain just became a little bigger and brighter. No wonder she’s a good author.
For a moment both of us were silent, and then I gave her a big hug.
“Thank you, gran. I'll always be the person who treats everyone with equal respect and kindness and I'll choose friends like that too. I just wish I could find people like that soon.”
She squeezed me tight and kissed me on the cheek. “you're a good kid and don't worry, we just moved here, it's all new and it may take time but I know you'll have good people in your life. I could sense it.”
The next moment, there was a knock on the door. I moved to open the door and when I did, I saw a girl, wearing a purple frock with two pigtails and a pretty, gap-toothed smile which made me smile too. “Hey! I’m Bee! I and my pops are your new neighbors and I saw you at school today. Wanna play together?”
When I looked back at my grandma she winked at me, smiling like she knew a secret that I didn't.
I turned towards the girl and opened the door wide, welcoming my new friend. Little did I know at the time, we were going to be BFF.
I should've guessed when my Gran smiled cheekily that it was all her setup.
