What Grandfather Didn't Say

There is a faint scene from childhood which

Visits me this morning. I see my grandfather

Coming up the stairs. My brothers and I are

Spending the day with him because, I believe,

Our mother was in the hospital and my father

Had to go to work. I’m making up reasons as

I go along, because I am not really sure why

We were with him. I do know that grandfather

Rarely spoke to us. He was a stoic and silent

Man for the most part, and he died that way

When my brothers and I were very young.

Usually when we visited him, he would give

Us each a quarter and then send us off to a

Neighborhood store to buy ourselves some

Candy. About that I am sure. As he came up

The stairs, I do remember him looking up at

Us and faintly smiling, but I can’t seem to re-

member any words. I do know that words can

Sometimes leave a lasting impression on a per-

son, especially when you’re young. But should

You have nothing with which to continue the

Story, you tend to fabricate what comes next.

Funny, I don’t even recall the candy my brothers

And I may have bought that day. I do know for a

Fact, however, that in the 1950s a quarter would

Have gotten a lot. I figure, had grandfather said

Something memorable to us back then, this story

I am relaying to you today would have a far differ-

ent ending. Grandfather never raised his voice to

Us. I suppose we figured if we didn't behave, he

Wouldn't give us a quarter. Then again, we may

Have been frightened at what he really may have

Had to say.

Chris Hanch  10-20-15