The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 8 

Taking Care of Grandma

After breakfast, I looked at Timmy, “Why don’t we go see if Grandmother Gleason needs anything.  You can take a book and read her a story while I paint a picture of the two of you.  Tanner, do you want to go with us?”

“Ron asked me to go shopping with him this morning. He’s looking to buy a new computer.  His crashed on Thursday and his parents are going to spring for a new one.”

I went to Mother, “Timmy and I are going to go check on Grandmother Gleason.  Timmy is going to read her a story and I’m going to do a painting of the two of them.   Is there anything that you want us to take to her?”

Mother went to the freezer and refrigerator and pulled out several containers.   She put the things in an ice chest.  “Brian, it would be great if you and Timmy would fix her lunch and eat with her.  I’m worried that she isn’t eating enough.  I’m sure she gets tired of me nagging her all the time.”

Timmy and I walked to Grandmother’s condo even though it was five blocks away.  We couldn’t very well ride our bikes with all the things we had.  I had called ahead of time and told Grandmother that we were coming, so she would be ready for us.”

As we were walking, Timmy was talking a mile a minute, “Daddy, said we were going for a carriage ride next weekend.  I don’t want to have anymore of those escargot things or frog’s legs.  Where are we going to stay?”

“Timmy, we’ll make the arrangements when we get home.”

Timmy was on a roll, “Dad, are we going to take Ron with us, since he and Tanner like each other?”

“Timmy, that might be a little much.  We need to talk to our Dad and Mother and see what they think.  We’re going to have some things that we need to do, that Tanner and Ron don’t need to know about yet.  Maybe Grandpa Nappy will send us a message and tell us what we should do.”

Timmy and I both heard, “Ron, should not go with you, this time.  He can go skiing with you when you go at Christmas time.”

Timmy looked at me with a questioning look.  I shook my head yes.

When we arrived at Grandmother Gleason’s condo, she was waiting for us.  I put the things for lunch in the freezer and refrigerator and went to set up my easel and paints.  Timmy was already seated on the sofa next to Grandmother Gleason, telling her about the football game and how almost everyone on our team got sick.”

Grandmother was alert and responding to Timmy with questions.  Timmy pulled out his book, “I brought a book to read to you.  There are some big words so you’re going to have to help me.”

It was almost eleven thirty before I stopped painting and I had the start of two great paintings.  When Timmy would come to a word that he didn’t know, he would look up at Grandmother Gleason and she would take her magnifying glass and tell him what the word was.  I went to fix lunch and retuned to get my diners.

Timmy was good because he was able to get Grandmother Gleason to eat everything that I had fixed her.  In fact the two of them had desert, which I chose to bypass.  I did the dishes while Timmy and Grandmother went back to the living room.  I could tell that Grandmother was getting tired, so I decided that Timmy and I should leave.

“Grandmother, Timmy and I need to leave now.  We have some things that we need to do.”

As Timmy and I were walking home with our things he looked at me, “Daddy Brian, what do we gotta do.”

“Timmy, Grandmother Gleason was getting tired, and she needed to rest.  You were wonderful therapy for her.  Today was the most alert that I have seen her in some time.  She even ate all her food, which she usually just picks at.”

When Timmy and I walked into the house, Mother was on the phone, “Yes, Grandma Gleason, I’ll make sure I tell the guys.  We’ll pick you up for dinner tomorrow night.”

Mother hung up, “What in the world did you do to Grandmother Gleason.  That’s the first time she has called me in over three weeks,  She even invited herself to dinner tomorrow night and wants to have the frozen salad with Bing cherries and chicken divan.  She wants to know when you can come back.”

Timmy shrugged his shoulders, “I can go almost any day after school if someone takes me.  I know you won’t let me walk that far by myself.”

Mother looked at me, “Brian, you are going to need to go to the board meeting on Monday night.  People are calling for Coach Henderson’s resignation.”

I wanted to make a smart aleck remark, but decided it would be inappropriate around Timmy.  I went to my room and was working on the two paintings of Timmy and Grandmother when Tanner and Ron arrived.  I looked up, “Hi guys, did you find a computer?”

Ron answered, “Yes, but that’s not why I’m here.  I told my Mother about the paintings that you were doing of Tanner and me and she wants to see them.”

I shook my head, “Ron, why would you tell your Mother about the paintings.  If they bother you that much, I’ll trash them.  Call your Mother and have her come over.  I’ll be glad to show them to her.  I don’t understand why you’re so upset.”

Ron pulled out his cell phone and made a call. “Brian, said you could come and see the paintings.  He said he’d trash them if we would feel better. … Okay, see you in fifteen minutes.”

I started to straighten the room and Tanner asked, “Why are you cleaning the room?  Are you going to show Ron’s Mother the paintings in here?”

“Guys, I certainly don’t want to embarrass you.  Morgan and Lauren are home.  Would you like for  them to see them?  The only persons who have seen the finished products are my Dad and Timmy.”

I had the paintings set up with a cover over them when Mother and Mrs. Woodruff entered, “Brian, the door was open so I figured it was safe to come in.  Mrs. Woodruff says you have some paintings that she would like to see.”

I flipped the cover off of the two guys on the park bench.  Mrs. Woodruff looked at it for a short time before she spoke, “Guys, I see nothing wrong with that painting.  It shows two very handsome young men who are well endowed being lazy.  Brian, I’d buy it, if I could afford it.  The collectors are going to snatch it up in a second.  Brian, you amaze me.”

I moved to the second painting that no one had seen except Dad and Timmy.  When I uncovered it, both Tanner and Ron turned white.

 Mrs. Woodruff got up as close as she could to look at the painting.  “Brian, your attention to detail is amazing.  You even have the birthmark on Ron’s right buttock.  Guys, you should be proud to have a friend who can paint like this.  Brian, where are these going to be on display.” 

“I was planning on taking them to England next weekend and have them on display at the Johnson gallery.  Mr. Johnson keeps clamoring for more works.”

Mrs. Woodruff saw the two paintings I had started of Grandmother Gleason and Timmy.  “Brian, who are these two people?”  

“My brother, Timmy, and I went to spend the morning with our Grandmother Gleason today, and I started them while Timmy was reading to Grandmother.  I have the basic details outlined, so all I need to do now is fill in the final touches.  I wish I’d had more supplies with me because there were some other beautiful opportunities for paintings while we were eating.”

Mrs. Woodruff turned to Ron and Tanner, “I think it is time for you to quit bellyaching.  What Brian has done is very tasteful.  It is the person who is viewing his works that would be making them otherwise.  Ron, you need to get your butt home and clean up your mess before your Grandparents arrive.”

After everyone had departed except Tanner and me, Tanner commented, “I guess I got told that I was a stick in the mud.  Brian, are you really going to London next weekend?”

“Yes, and so are you.  We can’t take Ron with us this time, because we need to do some things that he can’t be part of.  I’ll email Vicky and tell her to find you a date.”

Tanner hugged me, “Brian, I’ve already told you that I think I’m gay.  I don’t need a date.”

“I’ll tell her to find a queer if that’s what you want.  There are lots of them in London.  I think it would be best if you had a platonic date with a good looking chick, so that we can make heads turn when they come for the Homecoming Dance in two weeks.”

Tanner fell back on the bed, “How’s Ron going to feel if we do that?”

“I’ll have Vicky round up another girl to bring along so Ron can play like the straight guy he isn’t.  Let’s go see if we can do something to help the parents.”

When we got downstairs, Dad and Mother were talking.  “Is there anything you would like for us to do?  We’re bored.”

Mother looked at me, “Brian, the last time you were bored was when you were five.  Since you guys are bored, why don’t you mow the yard.  The lawn service has stopped for the year, but the grass forgot to stop growing.”

Tanner and I went to the garage and we gassed up the lawn mover, the edger and the weed whacker.  I looked at Tanner, “What do you want to do, the edging or the mowing?”

“Brian, I’ll mow, I never used those other fancy gadgets.  In fact, I had to mow the Oliver’s yard with a push mower so you’re going to have to show me what to do.”

Tanner and I were working and Timmy showed up.  He touched me, “Daddy Brian, can I help?”

“Timmy, why don’t you go get a paper bag and pull the weeds in the flower beds so they look nice.”

It was really a hot afternoon for October, so I took off my shirt and stuffed it inside the band of my walking shorts.  Tanner did the same thing and Timmy did likewise.  We were just about finished with our yard when Mr. Leavitt, from next door came over, “I don’t suppose that you guys could do our lawn today. Our great grandsons were supposed to do it but it looks as if they forgot.”

“Sir, we’d be glad to do it.  After we finish here, we need to get some fluid, then we take care of it.”

I figured that we would do the Leavitt’s yard for nothing because I knew that Dad and Mother held the Leavitt’s in very high esteem.”

When we finished their front yard, Mrs. Leavitt came out on the front porch, “Guys, take a break, here’s some lemonade and some cookies.  You guys are going to be exhausted.”

Timmy spoke for us, “Thank you, Ma’am.  It is really hot this afternoon.”

We had our snack and did the Leavitt’s back yard.  We were walking back to the house to put the tools away when Mr. Leavitt approached us, “Guys, we didn’t expect you to do the yard for nothing.  It was a major job, since it hadn’t been mowed in three weeks.  It looks great.  Brian, make sure that your brothers don’t spend their share of this all in one place.”

“Thank you Mr. Leavitt, I’ll make sure they don’t waste it..”

When we walked into the garage to put the tools away, Timmy smelled the air, “Daddy Brian and Tanner, we smell.  We need to go take a shower before anyone else smells us.”

Timmy was right, we did smell pretty ripe.  We made it up the stairs without encountering anyone and I put the money that Mr. Leavitt had given us on the dresser before the three of us climbed into the shower together.

We were getting dressed when Dad knocked on the door, Timmy went to answer, “What’s the matter, Daddy?”

“Timmy, nothing's the matter.  I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful job you did on the lawn and flower beds and to give you a reward.  Mr. Leavitt called and said how pleased they were.”

Dad handed Timmy some money and Timmy put it with what Mr. Leavitt had paid me.

Dad wasn’t finished, “Tanner, please take Timmy and Brian to Grandmother Gleason’s house.  Becca has fixed a casserole so Grandmother Gleason has some hot food for dinner.  Timmy, you need to make sure that she eats it.”

When we arrived at the condo, we went into the kitchen.  I introduced Tanner to Grandmother.  She scrutinized him carefully and commented, “So you’re Timmy and Brian’s new brother.  You must have to beat away the girls.  Timmy said you scored a touchdown last night.”

I set a place for Grandmother to eat and fixed her food.   She had a large piece of lasagna, a small tossed vegetable salad with home dressing and a warm muffin.  When I put the food in front of her, I asked, “Grandmother, what would you like to drink?”

“There is an opened bottle of red wine in the refrigerator.  Would you please get me a small glass of it?”

I did as she requested and Timmy and Tanner kept her entertained.  I could hardly wait to tell Mother that Grandmother had eaten all the food that I had fixed for her.  I was sure she wouldn’t eat  the gingerbread with cool whip on top, but she did and even asked me to fix her a cup of lemon herbal tea.

After Grandmother had eaten, I could see that she was getting tired.  “Timmy, take Grandmother to the living room so she can sit in her recliner and watch the news while Tanner and I take care of the cleanup.”

When Tanner and I went to the living room, Timmy was sitting on the arm of Grandmother’s  recliner.  I kissed Grandmother, “Grandmother,  we’re going to leave now.  You get some rest and we’ll see you tomorrow.”

I was pleased to see that both Timmy and Tanner also kissed her.

When we were in the car, Timmy asked, “Daddy Brian, how old is Grandmother?”

“Timmy, I don’t honestly know.  I think she’s ninety something?”

Tanner asked the obvious question, “If she's that old, why is she living by herself?   What if something should happen to her?”

“Guys, we need to ask my parents these questions.”

When we arrived at the house, everyone was waiting for us so we could eat. We quickly went to the bathroom, then went to the kitchen and helped Mother put the food on the table.  Derek was still there, so we had to watch what we talked about.  We had the same meal as Grandmother had except that we had warm French bread instead of a role and everyone helped themselves to the salad.

As we were eating, Morgan asked, “Brian, did you get a chance to talk to the parents and your friend, to see if we could go skiing at the chalet in Switzerland, yet?”

“No Cat, I haven’t had an opportunity to check it out yet. We’ve been rather busy, today.”

Dad looked at me, “Brian, I think you need to sit down with your Mother and me.  It appears that we have some things that we need to discuss.”

Timmy looked at Dad, “Daddy, are we in trouble or something?”

Dad grinned, “No youngest Benson boy, nobody is in trouble.  At least not yet.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes:  I have a feeling that Beau is curious as to what Brian is up to. 

I am very pleased to see that grandmother Gleason is doing so well.

Brian is becoming quite a fine young man, isn't he?  It looks as if there are some very good things coming Tanner's way, as well. 

I am ready for more.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher  

Posted: 01/29/10