Shine Bright (Part Four)

Shine Bright (Part Four)


Part Four: Checking in

"Just checking in to see if your grandma arrived on time," a tall, freckle faced, red haired, young lady said, as Mandy answered the front door. "Your dad and mom get away ok?"

It was Doris at the door. She was a third year university student, who rented the downstairs apartment from Mandy's parents. Mandy nodded and took Doris into the kitchen to meet her grandmother.

Again, she almost tripped on the scatter rug.

Doris only stayed long enough to say hello and then left to go to work at her part time job.

"I will be around later on today if you want to get together," she told Mandy, knowing that Mandy was still upset about being left alone with her grandmother for Christmas. She had confided in Doris as her babysitter for years.

"I told your mom that I would have stayed with you," she explained quietly as she left. "But your dad wanted you to spend time with his mom and have you get to know her. You do understand, right?"

"Yes, but I don't have to like it," Mandy said, being totally honest with Doris. "But I will mind my manners," she promised.

"I have to run. See you later, ok?" Doris gave her a hug.

Her grandmother had not hugged her when she came in, just sent her outside for more boxes.

When she told Doris that, she was amazed when Doris replied, "Well, maybe you ought to give your gran a hug? After all this is as strange for her as it is for you. Right?"

Mandy walked into the kitchen this time, being more careful this time, not to stumble on the scatter rug. "I am going to move that rug," she decided, picking it up and tossing it in the back entrance to the kitchen. "After all, I am the woman of the house now, and I can do what I want, at least until Grandma starts running the show. That probably won't be very long."

The front doorbell rang again and when Mandy opened the door, a huge red and white floral bouquet greeted her. Behind it was a good looking, tall, young man wearing an elf's hat with a red and green outfit. "These are for you," he said, tipping his hat to Mandy after he handed her the arrangement. He turned to go back to his delivery van. "Merry Christmas!."

"Wow!" said Mandy. "Grandma, look at these! They are absolutely gorgeous. And here is a card...."

"To welcome you home," she read. "Sorry we can't be there to meet you, Mom. Have a Merry Christmas. With all of our love, Jeff and Sarah."

"They are not for me," Mandy realized, but was quickly ashamed, as she saw the tears welling up in her grandmother's eyes. Her son and daughter-in-law had sent her flowers as an apology for not being able to be there when she arrived.

"I really don't deserve flowers anyway," Mandy told herself silently. "I was really awful to dad and mom."

"These are for both of us to enjoy," her grandmother said gently, well aware that there were some tensions between Mandy and her parents. "Where shall we put them?"

The doorbell rang again and Mandy raced for the door, thankful that she had been smart enough to move the scatter rug. This time she almost knocked the tea pot off the table in her excitement. She hurried to grab it.

"Hey Mandy, want to go to the bookstore?" Hannah asked, as she opened the door. "I want to get some books for my dad for Christmas." Hannah had also turned eleven that year. "I can't, my gran just got here," explained Mandy. "I have to stay here and take care of her."

"Oh no, you don't, young lady," her grandmother said sternly, looking her straight in the eye.

"Just show me to my room and then I will have a rest, while you do your thing with your friend. I am fine all by myself. Besides which, I need to do some unpacking. We can spend some time together later. We need to make some plans for Christmas too, right?"

Mandy was more than relieved, as she still felt really awkward around her grandmother, as kind and gentle as she was. "You mean I can go Christmas shopping with Hannah? Are you sure?" she asked.

"Dear, I will be just fine by myself for a little while. I am not that old that I need to have a babysitter yet. Just show me my room, please."

Mandy did just that while Hannah surveyed the massive array of presents, boxes and luggage, lined up against the wall. "Your gran planning on staying forever?" she asked quietly, as they headed out the door together a few moments later.

"Maybe, oh who knows?" replied Mandy suddenly finding herself defending her grandmother. "And what's so bad about that if she does? She is my grandmother after all. Other girls have grandmothers who live with them."

"Have fun girls," her grandmother hollered from upstairs. "I'll see you both later! Maybe we can go out and get a Christmas tree then and we will decorate it together. I brought some popcorn. You two can pop it if you like."