Bob began to relax; the beer did that for him. Beer and thinking of Grace. He pulled a hassock closer, stretched out his feet, rested his head on the back of the chair, and closed his eyes. For as long as he lived, he would try to live fully, to love well, and to tell those he loved that he loved them.

Suddenly, something was pulling on his leg, punching him in the stomach. Reflexively, he flailed his arms, shoving the “thing” away.

23

This Kind of Thing Doesn’t Happen to Me

Bob awakened to Melissa’s screams. The little girl clung to her father and wept while Russell tried to quiet her and to explain that she must never pounce on Grandpa or anyone when they were sleeping.

“It scares them. It scared Grandpa, and he woke up too fast. He didn’t even know it was you.”

“He pushed me away,” Melissa said between sobs. “He hurt my arm.” She rubbed her arm.

Bob scrambled from the chair and scooped her into his arms. “My darling, baby, I’m so sorry. I was sleeping like a rock. You know how rocks sleep, don’t you?”

She shook her head.

“They sleep very quietly and very deeply. You startled me, and I’m so sorry that I scared you. Give me a big hug and a kiss, honey.”

The child wound her arms about his neck. Her cheek against his cheek was wet, and he dried her tears with his big handkerchief.

“A rock can sleep?” she asked.

He nodded solemnly. “Everything sleeps, animals, people, even rocks.” He winked at Tyler, who leaned against the wall of the house, his hands crossed, disbelief on his face.

Tyler was at that age when his father’s and his grandfather’s clay feet were becoming apparent. He rolled his eyes. “Where’s Granny Grace?”

“I was going to ask you that very question. I haven’t the foggiest idea where she is, but I imagine she’ll be home soon.”

“You people need cell phones so you can contact one another. Suppose one of you got sick, or had a car crash, or something?” Tyler asked.

“You’re right. You’re right, of course. We do indeed. We’ve been talking about getting cell phones, again,” Bob replied.

“Don’t harangue your grandfather.” Russell put his arm about his son’s shoulders, but Tyler moved away. Unfazed, Russell said, “Tell you what, we’ll drag your grandparents kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century. We’ll get them new cell phones, and this time we’ll teach them how to use them. What do you say to that?”

Tyler grunted something that sounded like yes.

Melissa, always needy of attention, pinched Bob’s ears. “Grandpa, Grandpa, look at me. I can wiggle my nose like Samantha the good witch on television. She’s pretty, Grandpa. Do you like her? I love her.”