The Last Time I Saw My Grandfather
It was a cold October Night when I walked into St. Peter General Hospital . I greeted the receptionist and asked if my Grandfather was awake. She called his room and a voice at the other end of the line confirmed that he was awake. He had been taken there after he complained about some minor heart and chest pains.
As I walked… (a luxury he could not afford, since he was moving around in a wheelchair.. ) into his room he was lying on his bed, his face pale, having his lunch. A small table was elevated right above the bed and on it was a plastic tray split in 3 parts. The first one contained mash potatoes with gravy, the second one some veggies and the third one had something that looked like chicken. When I arrived he looked up, his eyes were shining, like a child who tried ice-cream for the first time and smiled.
Hey… He said.
Hey… I replied.
There was an awkward silence in the room as I was thinking of what to say next. He beat me to it.
So, Any News... he asked.
Well,...The doctors Said… I started saying.
Who gives a damn about what the doctors said !
Well… I started to say again. I was interrupted for a second time.
I don't want to hear about hospitals,doctors or anything in relation to them! … he said.
OK, I Replied.
Tell me your news… He said.
Well I got a job, part time. It pays well…
Good, that is good to hear.
How is the the weather outside ? He asked.
Well, it was raining when we got here. So.. Would you like me to open a Window ? It is kind of dark in here..
NO!,NO!,NO WINDOWS PLEASE ! … He yelled.
OK, I said.
Do you remember the lyrics to the Christmas Song…. He asked, Even thought it was still
October, quite early for singing Christmas Songs.
Yes, Of course how can I forget you taught me that song….
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight…..
My song was Interrupted by a faint “Thank You..” coming out of my grandfather's lips and a constant high pitch sound, which made my worst fear come true. I was pulled out of the room by the cold hands of a nurse while my warm tears flowed down my cheeks.
My walk to the car took longer than it would normally take. From the minute I walked out of the hospital my dark round sunglasses were covering my eyes – protecting them from being visible by anyone who would inadvertent look into them - and my umbrella was moving to the sad rhythm of my shaky hands.
When I finally got to the car, I got in, closed the door and placed my umbrella on the passenger seat. I sat there…. my hand on the car key… staring at the rain. I remembered the hospital, my Grandfather, his eyes, him getting angry, the song, the sound coming from the heart rate monitor, the cold hands of the nurse…
I could not drive in this condition. I got out of the car, -completely forgetting my umbrella in the process-, got into the back seat -not caring that my suit was wet from the rain- and slept. I woke up after two hours, and decided it was safe for me to drive back home. It was still raining.
