Eleanordidn', likewheresheputthesugar, whentopayherbills, andwhattimetobereadytobepickedupforgroceryshopping.
“What' swrongwithGrandma?” Eleanorasked.“'trememberthings.”
“Grandma'sjustgettingold, ”Mothersaid.“Sheneedsalotofloverightnow, dear.”
“What'sitliketogetold?” Eleanorasked.“Doeseverybodyforgetthings? WillI?” “Noteveryoneforgetsthingswhentheygetold, 'sdisease, .”
“Oh, Mom! That'sterrible! She' llmissherownlittlehousesomuch, won'tshe?”
“Maybe, butthereisn'' llgetgoodcarethereandmakesomenewfriends.”
'tliketheideaatall.
“Canwegoandseeheroften?” sheasked.“I' llmisstalkingtoGrandma, evenifshedoesforgetthings.”
“Wecangoonweekends,” Motheranswered.“Wecantakeherapresent.” “Likeicecream? Grandmalovesstrawberry, icecream!” Eleanorsmiled.
“Strawberryicecreamitis!” Mothersaid.
ThefirsttimetheyvisitedGrandmainthenursinghome, Eleanorwantedtocry.
“Mom, almostallofthepeopleareinwheelchairs,” shesaid.
“'dfall,” Motherexplained.“NowwhenyouseeGrandma, smileandtellherhowniceshelooks.”
.
EleanorhuggedGrandma.“Look, ”shesaid, “webroughtyouapresent —— yourfavorite, strawberryicecream!”
GrandmatooktheDixiecupandthespoonandbeganeatingwithoutsayingaword.
“I' msureshe'senjoyingit, dear,” Eleanor'smotherassuredher.
“Butshedoesn'tseemtoknowus.” Eleanorwasdisappointed.
“Youhavetogivehertime,” Mothersaid.“She'sinnewsurroundings, andshehastomakeanadjustment.”
, butshedidn'tsayanything.
“Grandma, doyouknowwhoIam?” Eleanorasked.
“You'rethegirlwhobringsmetheicecream,” Grandmasaid.
“Yes, butI'mEleanor, too, 'tyourememberme.”Sheasked, throwingherarmsaroundtheoldlady.
Grandmasmiledfaintly.
"Remember? 'rethegirlwhobringsmeicecream.
, inaworldofshadowymemoriesandloneliness.
“Oh, howIloveyou, Grandma!” ' scheek.
“Love,” shesaid.“Irememberlove.”
“Yousee, dear, that'sallshewants,” Mothersaid.“Love.”
“I' llbringhericecreameveryweekendthen, andhugherevenifshedoesn'trememberme,” Eleanorsaid.
Afterall, thatwasmoreimportant —— torememberloveratherthansomeone'sname.
