Grandma’s Legacy
Chapter 1
Grandma was diagnosed with cancer, and it
was like nobody in the family wanted to deal
with her.
My aunt and uncle practically kicked her out
of their house.
My own parents told her she should just give
- up.
Aunt Carol’s husband even had the nerve to
say she should hurry up and die already.
I was the only one who would sneak over to
see her, bring her some decent food, and
save up to get her a window AC unit for the
save up to get her a window AC unit for the
summer.
Then Grandma dropped the bomb: she owned
a brownstone in Brooklyn and knew where
some antique silverware worth a fortune was
hidden.
Suddenly, everyone was all over her, acting
like they couldn’t live without her.
But when she passed, she left something to
all my relatives… except me.
- 1.
When it came time for Thanksgiving, nobody
in my family even wanted to go back to our
hometown.
く
Mom actually said, “What’s the point of
seeing that old woman? She’s not leaving you
a dime.”
My brother was sprawled on the couch, glued
to his video game, and Dad was scrolling
through his phone, pretending not to hear
anything.
Ever since Grandma got sick, the family acted
like she was bad luck.
But I couldn’t shake her kind face from my
mind, I just couldn’t leave her alone in that old
house.
“Dad, aren’t you going? Maybe we should ask
Uncle Mark and Aunt Susan? Grandma’s been
living with them, after all.”
Г
Dad waved his hand, still staring at his phone.
“Don’t bother me. Anyone who wants to go
can go. I’m busy!”
I sighed and called my uncle. It took him
forever to pick up.
The second I mentioned going home to see
Grandma, he acted like he was swamped.
“Your aunt and I don’t have time for that. We
have to take care of our grandkids. Besides,
your grandma isn’t bedridden. She can
manage.”
Then he hung up.
Aunt Carol didn’t even wait for me to ask. She
sent a text in the family group chat: “We’re
<
taking the kids to Florida for Thanksgiving.
Can’t make it this year!”
I was fuming. Before Grandma got sick, they
weren’t acting this way!
When Grandma was younger, she was a
factory worker, a real go–getter.
She practically raised all of us grandkids.
My parents dumped me on her when they
wanted to have my brother. If she hadn’t
insisted on getting me a birth certificate, I
wouldn’t even exist on paper!
Grandma treated all of us the same, spending
her retirement checks to buy us treats.
Back then, Uncle Mark, my dad, and Aunt
<
Carol all practically fought to have her live
with them.
Grandma was clean, cooked great, and was
smart. Having her around was like having a
free, live–in housekeeper.
Then she got sick, and suddenly she couldn’t
do anything for anyone. That’s when everyone
changed.
But she was still my grandma!
If they wouldn’t go, I would.
I drove out there, and found her digging up
carrots in the backyard.
She had lost so much weight, you could see
her cheekbones poking out. Her eves were
<
sunken, and she looked like a skeleton.
My eyes started to water. Grandma heard the
car and turned around.
“Honey, what are you doing here? Come on
in, it’s freezing!”
Her coat was ripped under the arms, with
cotton stuffing poking out.
I swallowed my tears, and carried the
groceries inside.
It was freezing in the house. Everyone has
central heating now; no one burns coal
anymore.
Grandma didn’t have heat and wouldn’t turn
on the window AC. She only had a hot water
く
bottle to keep her warm at night.
