Nana's house (standard:drama, 974 words)
Author: Liz	Added: Feb 18 2002	Views/Reads: 3468/2278	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A young girl watches the world all from her grandmother's front porch.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

favorites.” 

Two more caramels would be placed in my hands. 

“ Is that right? Daisies are the white flowers this Mr. Clemintine would
bring.” 

“ Clements.” 

“ Whatever.” 

Once Glen brought my mother daisies. But she had been gone. So me and
Glen had sat on the porch steps and played marbles. the daisies wilting 
in the hot sun. We played marbles till it was too dark too see anymore. 
Mother still hadnt returned. Glen picked up the wilted flowers and took 
off the tie he was wearing and shoved it into his breast pocket. Nana 
came out onto the porch and the screen door slapped shut softly. The 
kids playing stick ball in the street began to clear out. The evening 
air seemed too quiet down. Nana had her glass of beer in her hand and a 
can in the other hand. She held it out too Glen. 

“ Maybe you should have a drink before you go Glen.” 

He had smiled. 

“ That sounds great.” 

I had sat on the steps hugging my knees and looking up at the stars as
they had talked in low voices. When the beer had been drunk Glen took 
the wilted flowers and playfully tugged one of my braids. 

“ Be good earthquake.” 

“ I will.” 

Nana and I both watched him walk up the sidewalk slowly to his house at
the end of the street. As on cue the bright headlights of Mr. Clements 
car shone on us. Nana stood and picked up her pack of cigarettes. 

“ Let’s go Maddie girl.” 

I hopped up the steps. Later tucked into bed I heard Nana and my Mothers
loud angry voices. I could hear them shouting about decisions and 
choices. Grown up things. Rolling over and covering my head with my 
pillow I went into a deep sleep. At breakfast the next morning I ate 
some of the caramels Glen had given me. Mother drank a glass of juice 
and waited for Clements. Nana stood by the stove smoking and cooking 
eggs. Mother forgot too kiss me as she left. 

When Glen rapped on the screendoor before noon. he didn’t ask where my
mother was. He saw my face and knew she was gone. Instead he handed the 
daisies to Nana and pulled out a bag of brand new marbles for me. We 
played marbles till well into the evening. When Nana was inside getting 
the cold beers I turned to Glen. 

“Sorry she isn’t here.” 

He tugged my braid. 

“ Someday we will met up.” 

I grinned. Maybe someday they would. This time as Glen and Nana drank
the cool beer in the spring dusk I went out and played hide-n-seek with 
the Tanner kids from next door. Seeing them two on the porch watching 
me was almost perfect. Almost. 


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