Whenever my grandmother visited from the coast my plans fell apart. I had planned to see Rose on Saturday, but I had to cancel because my grandmother was taking me to dinner. She always took me to the same place, this Italian restaurant near my house with only 5 tables and an old fat hostess named Sheryl. Sheryl and my grandmother knit together and they had become friends so my grandmother always went to her restaurant. It was Saturday night and like always the place was empty except for Sheryl and the chef. As we walked in Sheryl smiled and then opened her mouth wide.
“My gosh Owen,” she said to me while looking at my grandmother, “you’ve gotten so big.”
“Hasn’t he Sheryl?”
“He really has. Let me see if I can take you guys tonight…”
The place was empty, but Sheryl looked through her book for old times sake.
“Oh good, the Rosenthal’s just cancelled, couldn’t get a babysitter, I can sit you at table 4?”
“Perfect.” My grandmother said and then grabbed my arm and pulled me to the table.
Sheryl put two menu’s on the table and asked me if I was still in school with her nephew Jack.
“Yes, I am. He’s a fine soccer player”
“That’s what I have heard. And he has a girlfriend?”
“I didn’t know that Sheryl, but I’m sure, all the boys have girls now.”
“It’s really changing isn’t it.” She looked at my grandmother who was going through her purse for her reading glasses. “Have a nice dinner.”
Sheryl walked outside and lit a cigarette. She took a drag and then threw it on the ground.
“Well Owen, I thought she was never going to shut up. She’s lovely, truly, but she talks too much, and she gossips too, you heard her talking about her nephews girlfriend. Owen, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
I was choosing between rigatoni bolognese and halibut. “I’m sorry grandma?”
“I am just wondering why you are out with your grandma on a saturday night when you could be looking for a girlfriend?”
“Grandma you’re my girlfriend.” I said, I thought I was quite clever.
“You always know what to say. What are you going to get Owen?”
“The halibut.”
“Me too. Let’s order.”
My grandmother called over Sheryl who was stepping on a cigarette outside. She came in and walked over to our table.
“It must be true Owen.” She said.
“I’m sorry.”
“Jack has a girlfriend, her name is Rose. He told me about her in a letter.”
“Actually Sheryl I’ve been going around with Rose.”
“Oh that’s what it was, he wrote that you had a girl.”
My grandma took off her glasses and looked at me.
“You have a girlfriend Owen?” She asked.
“Not really Gram, we’re just friends, but I’ve been going around with her. I’ll have the halibut.”
“Good choice Owen, and grandma?
My grandma put her glasses back on and looked through the menu.
“I’ll just have a coffee, decaf, thank you Sheryl.”
Sheryl walked to the kitchen and put in our order. Once again my grandmother took off her glasses.
“I don’t like the sound of this Rose girl.”
“Why not Gram?”
“Well do you like her?”
“I think.”
“That’s exactly why Owen, you should know, girls like to know a boy likes them.”
“Why’d you just order coffee?”
“I’m thirsty, and I couldn’t decide what I wanted.”
“I was actually going to see Rose tonight.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Cause I wanted to have dinner with you.”
“Oh Owen, go see Rose. I’ll have your halibut, and Sheryl is enough company.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
I got up from the table and kissed my grandmother. Sheryl was outside and I told her I had an emergency but that my grandmother was staying. She offered me a cigarette but I turned it down. There were three at her feet, half finished.
I walked to the back of the restaurant where the park was and walked through the park to Rose’s house. When I got to her house Jack answered the door, and I guess Sheryl was right, Jack was dating Rose. I went home and fell asleep hungry.
