The Girl My Grandfather Never Met

The Girl IVIy Grandfather Never Met Greg Wright My wife was too swollen. Her pregnant belly threatened to expand into the next county, and her ankles were inflated beyond recognition. So, needless to say, when I asked ifshe'd like to fly across the country to visit my ailing grandfather, she respectfully declined. "Matt, darling, they'd charge me for two seats. I can see it now: 'In the event ofa water landing, please use the giant pregnant woman as a floatation device.'" Jodi said she loved me but she wasn't going anywhere. The neighbors agreed to feed her and take care ofher while I was gone, as ifshe were a pet. I was grateful that they helped out, though, because I hadn't been thinking too clearly since I'd heard that a major heart attack had hospitalized my grandfather. Throughout my childhood, Grandpa Chuck looked after me when things were too hectic for my parents. Typically, life was too hectic whenever my parents were home at the same time, and so I saw a lot of Grandpa Chuck. By the time I was ten, the sound ofmy dad grinding his teeth had become my cue to go to Grandpa Chuck's house. Grandpa Chuck lived only a few blocks away from us, so the two ofus were pretty close. Grandpa Chuck's was a fun place, full of scary, dusty rooms to explore, and Grandpa Chuck was a fun guy, always ready to play or tell me a story. He instinctively knewwhen I wanted more candy, and even through college, I'd never seen his candy dish empty. On the plane, I chuckled at the image of him pulling a candy dish out from behind his heart monitor at the hospital . "Well, looky here, Matty. I bought too many caramels, and I need somebody to eat them right away. Can you help me out?" The thought ofa heart monitor scared me. Grandpa Chuck was always a hale and hearty old man, and I didn't know how I'd react when I saw him weak and feeble. It was a vain hope ofmine that my grandfather would outlive me, achieving biblical old age birthday after birthday. I'd always imagined the Grim Reaper arm-wrestling Grandpa Chuck, and Grandpa Chuck winning. While I ate my airline peanuts, I was shocked more than saddened to think that after all these years, his own heart attacked him. 95 96GREG WRIGHT I called Jodi from the airport as soon as we touched down. "How you feelin', honey?" "Pregnant and sweaty." Probably hungry, too, I thought but had the tact not to say aloud. I told her I was nervous about Grandpa Chuck. She told me some comforting cliché that frustrated me. All the same, I told her I was gtateful for her support. While I waited in the car rental line, I felt incredibly antsy. My trip's whole purpose was to see my grandfather, and I believed I was racing against time to see him alive. My parents said that they could pick me up, but I wanted my own car so I could be free to leave at any time. I was too old to ask my dad for the keys. From the airport, I dropped my luggage offat my old house, only saying hello to my mom and dad, and I drove over to the hospital, hurrying into the setting sun before visiting hours ended. They had the same flowers in the hospital gift shop that they have in hospital gift shops everywhere. Still, I bought a big bouquet in hopes offighting off the hospital's antiseptic smell. My parents had given me Grandpa Chuck's room number on a scrap ofpaper, and I followed the hospital map to the right floor. I didn't know what to expect in his room. I held my breath and stepped in. Grandpa Chuck wasn't in the room. There was only a shriveled old man with tubes coming out of his nose and arm. Through half-closed eyelids, a flicker ofrecognition shimmered across his eyes. He gestured for me to come closer. "How you doih?" he asked. This old...