Renewal

“We gotta get goin’ sweetie, your gramma’s expecting us.”

“Okay, daddy, I’m almost ready.”

God, almost ready was her mother’s favorite put off . . . miss you Shelly . . . and losing her 2 years ago was very hard on Chelsea. At 4 they don’t understand. Crap, at 30 I don’t understand . . . only 28 . . .

“That’s an interesting outfit.”

“Gramma loves the spring, she says it’s a sign of re— something.”

“Renewal, sweetie. Life renews itself after a winters rest.” . . . this will not be a renewal . . .

“Anyway, I think she’ll like the colors.”

“What does it mean?”

“Yeah, the green top is for the new leaves, the yellow shorts for the flowers and the red socks for— other flowers. Gramma always says she loves my colors. Grandpa too, he always loves what I wear”

“Yes sweetie, they do. They’ll both think it was for grandpas early birthday.” . . . how will we tell her . . . first mother now grand father . . .

“Why’s he having an early one? Why can’t I have an early one?” . . . don’t even want to think about that . . .

“You’ll have to ask him, sweetie. Where’s your bag? You’re spending the week remember?”

“Packed in my room like you said.”

“Get in the car love, I’ll be right there.” I grabbed her favorite pillow too, she’ll need it.

. . . damn you Frank . . . why wait . . . could have cured . . . everywhere now . . . pig headed old fart . . . taught Shelly . . . “How’d you like to live with gramma?”

“I live with you.”

“I’d be there too.”

“Okay.” . . . need each other . . . Sell mine hers bigger . . .on-line business . . . god Clair just us now . . .

“We could move up to grammas farm, you love it there.”

“Great and grandpa can teach me how to drive a tractor.”

“You can talk about that with him baby.”

“Not a baby anymore, I’m 6 now.”

“Yes dear.”

“Love you daddy.”