Return to Neverland

Chapter 7

Grandma had finally moved in a couple months ago and school was crawling back into our lives. I could feel it nipping at my ankles, warning me that soon enough I'd have to deal with teachers, homework, and getting up early once again.

Mom liked to buy school clothes separately. She would spend the first day with Charlie, then Jamie, and then me. I was eating slowly, listening to Mom talk excitedly about where we should go to buy what.

That's when Grandma offered to come with us.

We hadn't really taken Grandma anywhere. I couldn't blame my parents, either. After the madness with the water, we would be keeping a tight lid on on that. I swore that Mom was going to say no and we were just going to leave right then, but instead Mom smiled and said, "Of course you can come, Mom."

So there we were, in the car discussing plans. I was placed in the passenger seat because it would be too risking having Grandma ride up there. We never knew what could happen.

Grandma was acting unusual, though. Almost happy. She had this serene look on her face as she stared out the window. She didn't talk, but she didn't start looking everywhere as if someone was watching her and was about to pounce at any second, either.

We went from store to store and Mom took nearly everything off the racks for me to try on. She didn't even look at the size. She just ripped it off with one swift motion and handed the hanger to me. Already holding five on each arm, I placed the hangers next to the other ones and followed her to the changing rooms.

When we did find clothes that I liked, Grandma insisted on paying. I didn't realize that she brought money over. There she was, though, with a wallet full of cash ready to pay for everything. I felt bad, but at the same time proud. She handed me the large bags, smiling and then wobbling to the car. It was the closest thing to sanity I had seen from her in over three months. Something deep inside of me was scared, but I pushed it down and enjoyed every ounce of it before it was poured out of the cup and filled up with a gallon of craziness.

We were finished just after lunch. Charlie attacked my bags once we got home. She picked out the new clothing, checking out the clothes that she would wear when she was my age. I chuckled and watched her. Jamie and Dad were probably playing outside or in Jamie's room.

On Sundays, we usually had these weird game nights. Before dinner, we would get ready for bed and play Monopoly or Uno. Grandma didn't stay in her room and wait for the food calls. She sat down in the living room and watched as we played Phase 10. Dad even taught her how to play, and soon we were all playing while Mom cooked dinner.

After Dad and I won a game each, we were called to the table. It was a perfect timing, too, because Jamie was already starting to complain about us 'always winning because we cheated.' Every time he did this, Dad called him 'The Sore Loser.' Jamie didn't like it, but he's been called it so many times that sometimes I could swear that he didn't even notice.

"Dinner is absolutely delicious today," Grandma commented. Mom stared at her shock for a second and then said thanks. It was spaghetti, which Grandma had never complimented on before. She usually just ate quickly and left. Charlie found this a perfect time to start talking about what we missed while we were buying school clothes. Jamie and Charlie had gone to the grocery store with Dad and gotten candy bars, which Mom shot Dad a look for doing it. Dad just smiled and winked at me.

I kept looking Grandma's way. She was eating the spaghetti carefully, eating slowly. As weird as it was, I could even see her hands shake less than usual. Instead of her dim cloudy eyes, they were a clear bright blue. I had never realized how pretty her eyes were, even if she was aging.

Grandma would smile and laugh as we talked. She even waited until everyone was done eating to help us set the dishes in the sink. As her act continued, I grew more suspicious. Her generosity and kindness seemed too sudden, I knew that it couldn't have possibly been so easy to find her sanity.

We washed the dishes and Grandma watched, waiting for us to find a way for her to help. Mom just talked to her about Massachusetts, commenting on the weather and people. Some things were good and others were bad. I continued to look at her skeptically, staring at her as if a leprechaun was going to suddenly pop out of her head.

"Grandma?" I asked. I was startled by my own voice.

"Yes?" Grandma replied. I knew that it was too late to stop. I took a deep breath and allowed the question that I had been pondering about be free.

"Why are you so happy today? Is today a holiday?" I chewed off a fingernail and tried to ignore my parent's stares. Grandma stopped talking for a second and smiled at me. It was as if she was trying to melt me under her stare. Grandma took a dish from Dad and set it on the drying rack.

"I'm going to Neverland."