Wave

 

Mama and daddy told me in the car that

we are

going to visit this other aunt, Aunt Emily,

but also to see “grandma”.

I am

so confused because we’ve been staying with grandma and grandpa,

in the big house.

That’s where I stay now

Since we got off the plane.

 

My new grandma is really strange

she can’t talk

or maybe she doesn’t want to.

My new grandma leans way over when she's sitting on her couch,

her arm waves up and down all the time.

Her face looks funny,

and 

her mouth is wrong, on one side.

It's scary.

but mama and daddy and Aunt Emily say

don't worry, they don’t think it’s scary, so I don’t.

Maybe only a little.

 

So I don't worry about my new grandma, like 

why does she do this?  Is she OK?  

Why is it so hard for her to talk and I can’t 

understand what she is trying to say?

She keeps moving her arm up and down, up and down, why – 
doesn’t it make her tired?

When my new grandma is trying to talk, 

daddy and mama and Aunt Emily do blah blah blah.

So I can’t hear my new grandma because they are so loud, and I think

what if she can talk 

she might be really quiet and then

but they are always loud.

I think her name is Grandma Joyce.

When my new grandma is trying to talk I 

look at her.  I look right at her eyes

so she knows I am listening.

 

Now I’m watching Clifford on my LeapPad, while grownups do blah blah blah.

(And next I will watch Cars)

When we come in Aunt Emily says

she’s my daddy’s sister she says

that old lady on the couch is her mama,

and my daddy’s mama

she gets low down when she says this so I can see

right in her eyes.

She brings little cars for me, the wheels didn't move, but they are still fun. 

 

This is another new aunt, Aunt Emily.

So many new aunts and uncles on this trip!  I see them

mostly at my grandma and grandpa’s house – 

that’s where I stay now, since we got off the plane.

All the new aunts and uncles and cousins, they 

bring me lots of new Cars stuff! Toys and books and shirts and stuff –

They all say “Hi Talia! Hi Talia! Hi Tally!” and give me lots of hugs and kisses.

And then they would give me a big present in a box.

 

Daddy stops talking to mama

and he puts his face near Grandma Joyce’s face.

He says --

I’m sorry we came late.

I’m sorry we can’t stay longer today.

I’m sorry it didn’t work out in December, I had so much going on.

I’m sorry it’s been so long.

 

Aunt Emily calls me over, she wants to play a game.

Aunt Emily is wearing a dress so I put a car in the top of her dress, 

where her neck comes out and she laughs, and she

pushes it down her dress a teeny bit, so it makes a bump. 

Then she says "Watch this Talia!"

She gets up and wiggles and wiggles, she shakes and

Then she shakes the car out onto to the floor!

This is so great! 

Her dress is really long so it takes

a long time for the car to come out!

She does it two more times again.

We all laugh and I laugh the loudest.

My grandma smiles really big, and her arm waves even more

when Aunt Emily does that game,

And when the car hits the floor we all say “whoa!”  Even Grandma Joyce!

 

Now I’m sleepy

Daddy eats a yogurt while the grownups do blah for a really long time, 

So I play on my LeapPad again.

I kiss Grandma Joyce goodbye. She is holding me tight,

Just tight enough.

and so my head can touch  hers.

Grandma Joyce is sitting in her special chair on wheels when

she hugs me so our heads are just right to touch,

already next to each other.

I like her smell. Our heads 

balance on each other’s heads.

I close my eyes,

Not scary at all.

We are hugging each other, my Grandma Joyce and I. 

 

Then mama says ok Talia, Grandma Joyce needs have her dinner now. 

Mama and I say bye, bye, bye, to Grandma Joyce.

Mama takes me to the bathroom, and before she

shuts the door I see

Daddy, bending, kneeling down,

so he puts his face next to Grandma Joyce’s face

and so talking very quietly 

and so looking into her eyes.

Grandma Joyce can’t even wave her arm,

she is so tired.

She looks like she wants to say yes.