3 Granny Snows A Sneak

by Julie Seedorf

  “Just the music Granny and don’t try to slip them in either,” Pastor Snicks warned, “Remember this is a church.”

  “Fine, fine. I won’t remember anyway what with staying at Franklin’s tonight with the entire family. I’ll probably be too tired for my own wedding,” complained Granny.

  “What are your plans for tonight, Pastor Snicks? Do you want to join us?” Franklin threw out the invitation generously, “I invited Delight and her daughter, too.” Turning to Granny he added, “I hope you don’t mind.”

  Pastor Snicks interjected, “I have plans of my own, but thank you for asking. Sometimes being a pastor can get lonely. We’ll see you, day after tomorrow. And Granny ….we’ll leave the hay from the manger scene for your goat. I assume she’ll be attending the wedding, too, along with the other furry creatures you call family.”

  Granny was about to reply when Pastor Snicks turned quickly and left.

  With a loud laugh, Franklin commented, “He made a quick getaway.”

  Turning to his family, he indicated it was time for all of them to leave to begin to celebrate their holiday.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  It was a good thing Franklin’s new house was so big. Between the people and the animals, it was chaos. Little White Poodle, Tank, Angel and Baskerville were examining the presents under the tree. Fish and Furball were trying to climb on the kitchen cupboards to get a taste of the turkey before it was carved. Butch and Penelope were engaged in a loud conversation with their children on the merits of living in a dorm versus an apartment, and Miranda, Thor and Heather were plinking on the grand piano in the corner of the parlor.

  Granny wandered through the house, checking out the decorations and the furnishings. All were tastefully done. On a scale of 1–10, when it came to high end, Granny would give it a 10. But could she live here in all this finery?

  Wandering into the dining room, she saw that the table was set for a sit-down meal with the finest china and silverware correctly placed around the table.

  Franklin hadn’t wanted any help with the meal. It reminded her of Ferdinand’s mother. Granny had thought she left those days behind. If they were at Granny’s house for Christmas, it would have been paper plates and cafeteria-style serving.

  Granny fingered the lace tablecloth before deciding to find Franklin in the kitchen to offer her help again. When she found Franklin, Delight was by his side and they were putting the finishing touches on the carved turkey. Delight was spooning the gravy into the bowls. “We’re just about ready, Hermiony. Will you get everyone seated?” Franklin asked.

  “Delight, I knew you were coming to dinner; I didn’t know you were making it.”

  Delight blushed. “When Franklin asked us to join your family, it was the least I could do to help Franklin. We worked well together; my weaknesses in the kitchen are his strengths.”

  “Where’s Ella? I didn’t see her with the others?”

  Delight frowned. “She has a new boyfriend and she’s spending Christmas with his family. I haven’t met him yet and I‘m suspicious. She doesn’t want me to meet him.”

  “I thought he was the long-haired kid who was helping Ella the night of the Christmas Flamingo Parade.”

  Delight shook her head and gave Granny a funny look, “No, that was Starshine’s fiancé, Lars. I thought you knew.”

  “No…I haven’t met him yet either; in fact, he was supposed to be here tonight but I haven’t seen him.” Granny turned to leave the kitchen, “I’ll get everyone seated.”

  Starshine was already standing in the dining room when Granny called the others in. “I thought we were going to get to meet Lars tonight,” Granny said as she indicated where Starshine should sit.

  “He went home for the holidays with his family. He’s supposed to be back tomorrow. I couldn’t go because I didn’t want to miss your wedding. I might get some ideas for my own.” Starshine gave Granny a big smile before turning to talk to Miranda.

  When everyone was seated, Franklin said a prayer of thanks before making a toast to his new family. “In with the old, in with the new, I’m so lucky to have all of you!” Franklin leaned forward and kissed Granny on the cheek. “I learned to rhyme from the best of them, Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt, soon to be Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt Gatsby.”

  Granny took one look at Franklin, raised her glass and her fork and said, “Dig in!”

  The meal continued with jovial conversation until Franklin asked, “Delight, I imagine you miss your husband Delbert. So sad that all that has happened recently must bring up some sad memories for you.”

  Delight picked up her wine glass and held it in front of her for a moment before answering, “You have no idea.” Taking a sip, she was about to continue when Granny interrupted.

  “No sad talk tonight, no mad talk tonight, just glad talk on this Eve night.” Granny threw down her cloth napkin and stood up from the table before Delight could continue. “Time to open presents.”

  Mayhem ensued as Angel handed out presents and the family teased one another about their gifts. Wrapping paper flew left and right giving the shysters something to chase while Mrs. Bleaty tried to eat the paper. Baskerville plunked down in front of the fireplace and went to sleep.

  No one noticed when Granny took Delight aside to remind her of their secret.

  “What did you do with the key?” Delight whispered, making sure no one was around to hear.

  “It’s taken care of. We’re going to forget about this until after the wedding. I don’t want anything to ruin Thor’s wedding.”

  “But Granny, that could be dangerous. Did you tell Mavis and George?”

  “No, they had already left for George’s kids down in Iowa. Besides, the fewer who know, the better it will go.” Granny hugged Delight as she left for the evening.

  Franklin came over to join Granny and they both watched as their children melded together in conversation as one big happy family.

  “See how great it is having this house?” He clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “I need your help. I want to get Hermiony moved before we go on our honeymoon so we are delaying our trip one day to move and since you will all be here for the wedding, I thought you could help us the next day.”

  “But, but––I haven’t agreed to move!” said Granny.

  “Hermiony, we’ll be married! We want to start fresh. This way I don’t have to sell my house, because Miranda wants to move to Fuchsia to be closer to me and Heather, so I told her she could have my house.”

  Starshine, hearing the conversation, joined them. “And, Mom, I didn’t tell you this yet, but Lars and I are moving to Fuchsia, too. He has a new job at the Pink Percolator. I’m going to become a writer so I can write from home. We were going to move in with you until we found a place, but this is perfect, we can rent your house, Mom!”

  Granny stared at Starshine. She glared at Franklin and she couldn’t think of a thing to say about the matter. Must have been the wine, she thought. “I ah, think it’s time for me to turn in. This old woman needs her rest and Angel should go to bed, too. She’ll be up bright and early to see if Santa left her anything.”

  Kissing Franklin on the cheek, Granny moved person to person, hugging each good night and walking down the hallway to her room, feeling all eyes upon her. Plopping down on the big comfy bed in what would soon be hers and Franklin’s bedroom, she wondered if she could find a place to build a secret closet. Laying back and closing her eyes, the last thought that went through her head was a picture of Silas Crickett holding her gift in his hand.

  A strange noise woke Granny from her deep sleep. Sitting up on the bed, she realized she’d fallen asleep in her clothes. Listening closely, she heard someone talking in the hallway outside of her room. Granny glanced at the clock on her cell phone. She hadn’t been asleep as long as she thought. It was 1:00 a.m. Moving to the door, she put her ear against it to see who was outside her room.

  “What do you mean you can’t get back
for Christmas? Lars, you promised me you’d be back tomorrow. Snowed in? Snowed in? Since when do they have snow in California? No, I didn’t hear you wrong; you said snowed in, not blowed in. You were talking about a sand storm? I thought you said snow! Where are you?”

  Granny stepped back from the door. Starshine was clearly talking to her fiancé, not realizing her mother was on the other side of the door. She guessed when she finally met Lars she would have to keep an eye on him for her daughter.

  The bathroom in the master suite beckoned and Granny decided to try the newfangled whirlpool tub. Maybe she could get some sleep then. She ran the water and turned on the jets. Watching the water bounce about in the tub was making her sleepy. She turned off the water and decided to shower in the morning. She donned her sedate pajamas that she had brought along so she knew wouldn’t shock her kids. Granny turned back the covers and crawled in and again fell into a deep sleep.

  Franklin was about to put the wedding ring on her finger in her dream when she heard her name being called. She never seemed to marry Franklin in her dreams.

  “Granny, Granny, come see what I got from Santa,” Angel’s excited voice penetrated the door. Granny grabbed her robe, slipped on her suede slippers and padded to the door. Angel was accompanied by all of Granny’s and Franklin’s array of furry creatures. They, too, were jumping and howling, meowing and bleating.

  “See, see!” Angel pointed to a picture in her hand. “It’s a pony. I’m getting a pony!”

  Granny took the picture and held it in front of her. “Why I guess it is. Who did you get that from?”

  “Santa, it says Santa. I also got a new bike, see?”

  Granny saw that the others also were coming out of their respective rooms from upstairs and downstairs. They gathered around the picture.

  Thor frowned. “Santa brought you a pony?”

  Heather looked at her dad. “Santa brought her a pony?”

  Franklin shrugged his shoulders and looked at Hermiony, “Santa brought her a pony?”

  Confused by everyone asking questions, Angel piped in, “He did, he did, he did! His name is Paint and he will be delivered in the spring. When’s spring, Granny?”

  Granny’s eyes misted over and a sudden catch in her throat prevented her from answering.

  Thor, seeing that his mother’s eyes were tearing up, put an arm around her shoulder. “Are you ok?”

  Granny cleared her throat and looked at Franklin. “Yes, ah, um, how did you, ah, I mean, Santa know that I also had a pony by the name of Paint?” Kneeling down to get to Angel’s height, she took the little girl in her arms. “This will be a very special pony. Mine was. I loved him with all my heart. He was my best friend and this pony of yours with the same name, will be your best friend too.”

  Granny stood back up, the tears escaping from her eyes. She looked at Franklin and mouthed the words, “Thank you.” Moving closer, so Angel couldn’t see, she asked Franklin, “How did you know?”

  Before Franklin could answer, the doorbell rang and they could hear carolers outside.

  The group opened the door so they could enjoy the music from the We Save You Christian Church Carolers. It was a Christmas tradition that those who could, spent Christmas morning wishing the citizens of Fuchsia a Merry Christmas with their gift of song.

  Pastor Snicks hollered out from the back row of the group, “Get your snowmobile ready, Granny, we’re supposed to get heavy snow tomorrow. Your guests might have to be escorted to the church on snowmobiles or they might get stuck there all night.”

  The Fiddlestadt and Gatsby group chimed back singing, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!”

  Bidding the carolers farewell, the families settled down to spend Christmas eating goodies, watching football and playing games.

  Watching her family enjoying themselves, Granny moved to Franklin’s side. “It’s almost four o’clock, Franklin; I think I want to go home and spend my last evening as a single woman quietly and by myself. Will you drive me?”

  Hearing that her mom was about to leave, Penelope stood up and walked over to Franklin’s bar. She passed out a glass of wine to all the legal drinkers in the room. “I want to make a toast to Mom and Franklin. Franklin, since you have come into my mother’s life, you have changed it for the better. She no longer seems to have as much of a memory problem.”

  Starshine lifted her glass, “She doesn’t need a cane anymore, only occasionally; you have put a spring in her step.”

  Thor stepped forward, a twinkle in his eyes. “Yes, Franklin, her memory is better, her step is quicker and remember, the key to knowing my mother is to look at what shoes she has on in the morning and what she holds in her hand.” He raised his glass.

  Starshine and Penelope said at the same time, “What?”

  “Time to go,” Granny said quickly, “I’ll toast and roast you tomorrow, Thor and Heather.”

  Watching Franklin and Granny leave, Thor commented, “Granny has left the building.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Franklin walked Granny to her door, carrying her bag for her. As Granny was about to unlock her door, she looked closely at it in the darkening light. “Franklin, I have hole in my door.”

  Franklin moved closer. “That’s not a hole, that’s a gunshot. Someone shot at your house! I better call it in.”

  “Franklin, Granny,” George hollered at them from across the street.

  “I thought you were gone?” Granny yelled back.

  Mavis came out of the house and she and George came across the street.

  “We came back for your wedding, and it’s good we did.” Mavis nodded toward the door as she spoke.

  “You know something about this?” Franklin asked, “I was just going to call it in.”

  George hung his head. “I shot the door.”

  “George I warned you, you could hurt someone.” Granny pounded a finger into his chest.

  “I was shooting at the guy who was trying to get into your house. It was the same one as before.”

  “Are you sure it was a guy and did you hit him?”

  “No, Granny, I couldn’t tell if it was a guy or a gal, but I didn’t hit him, I hit your door. He didn’t get in. I scared him first. All the lights were off in the neighborhood so he must have thought we were all gone and it was safe.”

  “All of you, stay here, I’m going to check the house.” Franklin waved them away from the door as he searched the outside of the house. When he returned he said, “It’s all clear! George is right; it doesn’t look like he made it in. But, Granny, you can’t stay here tonight.”

  Granny picked up her shovel cane that was sitting outside on the porch and stomped it down. “It’s my last night as a free woman and I’m staying here.” Granny announced giving them a don’t-mess-with-me look.

  “We’ll watch out for her, and Thor is across the street. Let him know what happened,” George advised Franklin.

  Reluctantly, Franklin agreed. Bending down to kiss Granny, he advised, “Lock your doors and keep your phone by your bed. Call Thor if anything happens.”

  “I’ve got my shovel cane, my knitting needle cane and my umbrella. What more do I need? Oh, and Franklin, that was a very nice thing that you did getting a pony for Angel. How did you know that Paint was special to me?”

  Franklin looked uncomfortable; he shuffled his feet, and looked up at Granny with a sheepish look. “I didn’t. I have no idea where the pony came from. I didn’t know that you had a pony named Paint that was special to you.”

  Granny thought about what to say. “Franklin, you are a good man––pony or not––and if any of you tell anyone you ever heard me say that, I will haunt you after I’m in that crypt that’s supposed to be mine. I loved the necklace with the umbrella on it that you gave me today. Good night. See you tomorrow.”

  Granny watched as Mavis and George exited the house. Granny issued an order before Franklin could follow them. “Stop, Franklin.”

  Franklin stopped and turne
d. Granny issued her second order, “But not before the wedding; it’s bad luck you know.”

  Issuing her third order in typical Granny style, “You can go now.” She shut the door after him, walked to her footstool and pulled out her bottle of wine, walked to the cupboard and pulled out her chocolate donut, opened the refrigerator and pulled out her ice cream and arranged them all on a tray.

  Making sure all the doors were locked, since the shysters, Baskerville, and Mrs. Bleaty were staying at Franklin’s, she carried the tray to her bedroom and set it down on the bed. She opened her hidden closet door and grabbed her flip-flops and put them by the bed. Digging some more, she pulled out one of her risqué books and set it on the bed. Remembering she had forgotten her chocolates, she dug around in her closet to find a box. Setting them on the bed, she pulled out her summer hot pink shortie nightie with the red hearts on it and put it on. Having everything she needed, she climbed into bed and was ready for a final single night binge when she remembered she needed to call Thor first. She didn’t want to have to think about the grave shenanigans on her wedding day.

  Thor answered immediately, “Are you ok? I can come right over. Franklin let me know what happened.”

  “I’m fine. I just wanted to know if you checked on Gram Gramstead.”

  “I did; she’s safely locked away. I thought someone told you that.”

  “Um, maybe––I don’t remember. And what about that private detective who ended up a stiff on your dad’s grave? Did you find out why he was investigating me?”

  “The theory is that you apparently applied for disability income a few years back before you retired and you’re still receiving that income. The insurance company got a call that you weren’t disabled and he was investigating and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  “I did? I’m disabled? They’re sending me money?”

  “We haven’t had time with all the stuff going on to check it out. Our main concern was his death which happened to be wrong place, wrong time. Mom, get some rest, we’re all getting married tomorrow. Forget about all this, we’ll take care of it.”