The people in our neighborhood will always eat in places like Saucepan Lynn’s. And I like it that way. Grammy will never go for pedicures or enjoy shopping for pretty dresses. She’s probably always going to cut her hair over the sink instead of going to a fancy parlor. But none of that stuff says a thing about her. Not the things that matter. I’m going to stop thinking about the ways I wish Grammy were different and love her for who she is, just as she loves me.

After lying here for a while, thinking of Grammy and Papa Joseph and all of the memories, I get up, go to the picture wall, and peel off one of Grammy. I take the seal frame out of the drawer and tuck her picture inside. When I put it back down, I finally have a picture next to my bed that makes me happy.

Chapter 49

THE SHELTERING TREE

Like the way you can smell a summer rain, you can smell the excitement in our little neighborhood. We’re all excited for Olive’s big surprise.

Ruby is wearing her new glasses as she pushes open the screen door.

“Hey, those glasses look awesome, Ruby!”

“Delsie! I can see everything. But I like the trees the best.”

I’m confused. “You could see trees before, right? Trees are huge.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know trees had leaves. I thought they had green blotches.” She jumps off of her porch. “I just can’t stop looking at them now!”

Esme calls her, and she bolts. Watching her run, one thing is for sure—she isn’t clumsy at all. I’m sure it’s a relief to see clearly.

Ruby bounces to Olive’s and Esme follows. The two of them are in charge of keeping her busy while we prepare the surprise. Getting into the car, Olive seems like a crab that’s been caught and dropped in a pail.

When the fire truck arrives, Saucepan Lynn folds her arms as she looks up at the giant pine tree in the middle of our neighborhood. “Well, you weren’t kidding when you said it was big, Delsie. Now I understand why a regular ladder wouldn’t do.”

She looks down at all of the boxes of Christmas lights. “This is a crazy idea, but I gotta say, I like that you and Ronan think big. Now, let’s get started,” she says, motioning to the other firefighters.

A while later, Ronan and his father arrive. Ronan bursts out of their car. “Hey!” he yells. “We did it! We got the keys!” He holds them up like a trophy.

“Hooray!” I shout, and Henry comes over.

“Welcome to the neighborhood,” Henry says, shaking hands with both of them. Gusty asks for the keys and Ronan tosses them to him. Then the two men head over to Ronan’s new house.

“Man, that’s one megalodon-sized tree!” Ronan says, looking up. “What’s it going to take? Ten million lights?”