The Granny Game

by Beverly Lewis

  Shawn frowned at the broccoli. Then he stuck his finger down his throat.

  “Sick,” Carly said. “Really disgusting!”

  Shawn ran for the washroom, gagging.

  Abby shook her head.

  “Do something,” Carly pleaded.

  “Like what?” Abby said.

  Carly began to giggle. “Pour some sugar on the broccoli.”

  “Good thinking,” Abby said.

  She reached for the sugar bowl.

  FIVE

  Supper took forever.

  Abby wondered about Jimmy and Shawn. What was happening? Were they really sick?

  She drank her milk and cut her meat. She mixed bites of broccoli with mashed potatoes.

  At last, Jimmy and Shawn returned to the table.

  Grandma came, too. She looked worn out.

  “Oooh-aaagh,” Jimmy was still groaning a lot.

  Grandma sat down and sighed. She sipped her coffee.

  Just then Jimmy sneaked a smile at Shawn.

  Now Abby knew her brothers were faking. But she kept eating her broccoli. So did Carly.

  Grandma Hunter reached for the casserole dish. Next, she put a piece of meat and some potatoes on her plate.

  Abby wondered if Grandma would notice how sugary the broccoli tasted. “The supper’s very good,” she spoke up.

  “Yes, the broccoli’s nice and sweet,” Carly said.

  Jimmy sat up. His eyes were wide. “Sweet? Like candy?”

  “Sure, have a taste,” Abby said. “You’ll see.”

  Grandma’s eyes popped wide. But she was silent.

  Jimmy took one serving spoonful. ’Only one little bite,” he said.

  Abby held her breath. Would he like it?

  Jimmy tasted the vegetable. He chewed and swallowed. “Mm-m, good,” he said, rubbing his tummy. “Grandma put sugar in broccoli.”

  “Did you say sugar?” Shawn said and dished up a BIG serving.

  Jimmy cleaned his plate and asked for more.

  But Grandma Hunter didn’t say a word.

  Neither did Abby.

  After supper, Abby helped Grandma clean up.

  Jimmy hurried past them with his hands in his pocket. He headed for the back door.

  Why’s he acting so strange? Abby wondered.

  She went to the window and looked out. Jimmy was feeding the ducks, Quacker and Jack.

  Grandma came and peeked out the window, too. “Everyone seemed to enjoy my broccoli dish,” she said. “I’ll have to chop up some and put it in the scrambled eggs.”

  “Tomorrow for breakfast?” Abby asked. She hoped not.

  “It’s quite delicious,” said Grandma. “It’s tasty, even with no sugar added.”

  Abby’s heart sank. Grandma knew what she’d done.

  But besides that, Jimmy and Shawn would never eat eggs with broccoli. Not in a hundred years!

  “What about some pancakes instead?” Abby asked.

  Would Grandma take the hint?

  “Well, that settles it. I’ll make pancakes and eggs,” Grandma said with a curious grin.

  Abby could see it now. Nobody would eat the eggs. Not one bite. But the pancakes would disappear in a flash.

  Maybe Grandma would finally get the hint. Maybe she’d forget about broccoli!

  Grandma dried her hands on’her apron. She turned away from the window.

  Abby kept watching Jimmy. He was outside in the duck pen, feeding the ducks something dark and green.

  Is that what I think it is? she wondered.

  “Excuse me, Grandma,” Abby said. “I’ll be right back.”

  She darted out the kitchen door. She ran across the backyard to the duck pen. She stared at the green stuff in Jimmy’s hand. “That’s gross,” Abby said. “What is it?”

  Jimmy blinked his eyes fast. “I . . . I feed ducks leftovers.” He stared down at the broccoli.

  “But I thought you ate it,” she said. She gave him “The Eye.”

  Jimmy shook his head. “Very sorry, but I not eat all of it.”

  “But you said it was sweet, like candy,” Abby insisted. “You tricked us. Especially Grandma.”

  “Sugar not work with broccoli and cheese.” He kept offering the smashed-up broccoli to the ducks.

  “I thought sugar might change the taste,” she said. “I promised Daddy we’d obey Grandma. All weekend. I was trying to help.”

  Jimmy talked Korean to the ducks. But it was no use. They weren’t interested in leftovers. With or without sugar.

  This weekend was going to be the worst ever!

  Just then . . .

  AH-OO-GAH! Abby heard a familiar sound. It was Granny Mae’s silly car horn.

  What’s she doing here? Abby wondered.

  Jimmy wiped his hands on his pants. He came running into the house. “This Sunday . . . Grandparents Day!” he hollered.

  “Are you sure?” Abby asked.

  Jimmy grinned. “That why Granny Mae come. She come for Grandparents Day,” he said. “I see holiday on calendar.”

  “Granny Mae doesn’t pay attention to that stuff,” Abby said.

  “We see about that,” said Jimmy.

  Abby felt funny. Why had Granny Mae come?

  SIX

  Granny Mae rushed into the house. She was wearing her favorite blue jeans and a bright T-shirt. “Hi, ya, kids,” she announced.

  “What are you doing here!” Carly squealed with delight.

  Grandma Hunter gasped. “Carly, dear, that’s not a polite thing to say to Granny Mae.”

  “Sorry, Granny,” Carly said.

  But Granny Mae didn’t seem to mind. She was carrying a curious big bag. “I brought surprises for my grandkiddos,” she said.

  Shawn spied the bag of sweets. “Hi, Granny Mae,” he said, grinning.

  Abby was thrilled to see her, too.

  “There’s my Abbykins,” said Granny Mae, reaching for a hug.

  “Grandparents Day is this Sunday. Did you know that?” Abby asked her.

  “I had no idea.” Granny Mae shook her head. Her earrings dangled. Her bracelet jangled.

  “Happy Grandparents Day!” shouted Carly.

  “I see it first on calendar,” Jimmy said. He wiped his hands on his pants.

  “Come here, little pipsqueak darlin’,” said Granny Mae. She wrapped her long, thin arms around Jimmy.

  Jimmy giggled into the hug.

  Abby crossed her fingers. She hoped Grandma Hunter wouldn’t notice the broccoli stains.

  Grandma pushed up her glasses. “How are you, Granny Mae?”

  “I’m terrific, now that I’m here,” Granny Mae replied.

  The two grandmas hugged. But not for long.

  “Is everything cool?” Granny Mae asked Grandma Hunter.

  Grandma Hunter nodded with a little laugh. “We’re getting along fine.”

  “Well, I thought I’d come over and help out,” Granny Mae said. She looked at the kids. “Four kiddos can be a real handful.”

  “Can you stay all weekend?” asked Carly. “Then we’ll have two grandmas in charge of us.”

  Abby knew what Carly was up to. Sure as anything. Maybe Granny Mae could save them from more broccoli.

  Grandma Hunter smoothed her apron. Again and again. She did that when she was upset.

  Abby wondered what Grandma Hunter would think of Granny Mae staying.

  But Granny Mae didn’t think twice. “Sure, I’ll stay.”

  Carly and Shawn hugged Granny Mae.

  Abby sneaked Jimmy off to the washroom. She locked the door. “Let’s see that yucky pant leg of yours,” she said.

  Jimmy fussed and whined. “Who cares about broccoli spots!”

  Abby ignored his complaining. “We have to get it out.”

  Scrub-a-dub-a-dub!

  Abby rubbed and rubbed. She used plenty of soap. She rinsed with hot water. Next, cold water.

  Then she started all over again with soap. But she couldn’t get the broccoli mark off.

>   “Look!” Jimmy said. “Sister make spot grow!”

  It was true. The rubbing and scrubbing had made the green mark spread.

  “You’ll just have to change clothes,” Abby said. “It’s the only way.”

  Jimmy’s tongue stuck out at her. “I not obey sister,” he said. “You not make me!”

  Abby sat on the edge of the bathtub. “Don’t you remember what Dad said? I’m supposed to help Grandma.”

  Jimmy smirked. “Grandma not need your help. Granny Mae help Grandma now.” He darted for the door.

  “Hey, you can’t go out like that again,” Abby said. “Don’t you understand?” She tried to explain. “If Grandma Hunter sees those smudges, she’ll know you didn’t eat all your broccoli.”

  “But Jimmy was sick!” he said.

  “You faked it. You fooled Grandma . . . all of us. You hid the broccoli in your pocket,” she said.

  Jimmy nodded his head. “I not know what to do.”

  “Just please change your clothes,” she begged. “And wash your dirty hands.”

  Jimmy looked down at his hands and the ugly green spots on his pants. “Okay. Jimmy obey sister,” he said.

  It’s about time! thought Abby.

  She dashed down the hall to see Granny Mae.

  SEVEN

  “Let’s celebrate!” laughed Granny Mae. She and Carly were dancing around.

  “We’ll eat cake and cookies and candy,” said Carly.

  Grandma Hunter crossed her arms. “I don’t agree with all those sweets,” she said. “We did just have supper.”

  Granny Mae wrinkled her nose. “Well, if the kids just ate, then it’s time for dessert.”

  “Hoo-ray!” cheered Carly.

  Abby glanced at Shawn. She felt like a total jitterbox.

  Then Shawn joined Carly in a jig with Granny Mae.

  “Excuse me!” Grandma Hunter made an attempt to be heard. “I’m quite certain the children are NOT hungry. And too many sweets aren’t good.”

  Rats! thought Abby. She wanted to party!

  Before Grandma Hunter could say more, Granny Mae opened her bag of sweets.

  Carly and Shawn peeked inside. “Goody!” said Carly.

  “Candy sticks and candy bars,” said Shawn. “Yummies for my tummy.”

  Just then Jimmy appeared in the hallway. He’d changed jeans and washed his hands. Now he spied the sweets. “I want chocolate!” he shouted.

  “No shouting indoors, please,” Grandma Hunter warned.

  “Sorry,” Jimmy said. But he hurried over to get his candy from Granny Mae.

  Abby took her time choosing a chocolate bar. Carefully, she unwrapped the paper and bit into it. Any other day, it would have tasted great. Today, she was too upset to enjoy it.

  “Let’s sit at the table,” Grandma Hunter suggested.

  The kids headed for the kitchen.

  “Let’s relax in the family room,” Granny Mae said.

  The kids turned toward the family room.

  “No . . . no,” said Grandma Hunter. “We don’t want to soil the nice furniture.”

  Abby turned back to the kitchen.

  “We’ll be careful,” Carly said.

  “We not make mess,” Jimmy said. But his mouth was already dribbling pink goo.

  Abby turned back toward the family room.

  “I think we better play it safe,” Grandma Hunter said. She waved for the kids to go into the kitchen.

  Granny Mae nodded and followed.

  By now Abby felt dizzy.

  This way. That way.

  Which way?

  After all, Dad had said, “Obey your grandmother.”

  The problem was, he didn’t say which one!

  It was like a game where no one wins.

  A granny game. No fun!

  EIGHT

  It was getting late. Bedtime at the Hunter house.

  But Granny Mae said they could stay up.

  And Grandma Hunter said to get ready for bed.

  Carly and Jimmy obeyed Granny Mae and stayed up.

  Abby and Shawn obeyed Grandma Hunter and headed for bed. Back and forth. This and that.

  Who should they obey?

  Eating broccoli is better than this! thought Abby.

  She brushed her teeth and dressed for bed.

  Grandma Hunter came to tuck her in. So did Granny Mae.

  “Ready to say your prayers?” asked Grandma Hunter.

  Abby knelt beside Grandma Hunter. “I’m ready.”

  “Why don’t we sing your prayers?” Granny Mae suggested.

  Grandma Hunter’s head jerked up. “Whoever heard of that?”

  “Why not?” Granny Mae said. “We’ll join hands and sing in a circle.”

  Abby didn’t know what to do. She could see that Grandma Hunter was unhappy. In fact, Grandma looked terribly tired. Too tired to stand, hold hands, and sing “Now I Lay Me . . .”

  But she surprised Abby and went along with it.

  When the prayer was sung, Abby crawled into bed.

  “Sleep tight, honey,” said Grandma Hunter.

  “Don’t let the bed bugs bite,” said Granny Mae. “If they bite, squeeze ’em tight. Then they won’t bite another night.”

  Grandma Hunter left the room.

  But Granny Mae stayed. “Are you sure you’re tired, Abbykins?” she asked.

  “I better go to bed,” Abby told her.

  “You could sleep in tomorrow. It’s Saturday, you know.”

  “I know,” Abby said. “It’s just . . .”

  “Just what?”

  Abby paused. “I wake up real early. Mother calls me an early bird.”

  “That’s cool,” said Granny Mae. “We need early birds to catch worms. Good night, kiddo.”

  “See you in the morning.” Abby snuggled down into bed.

  Abby’s dreams were all mixed up.

  Granny Mae baked chocolate cake with candy sprinkles for breakfast.

  Grandma Hunter cut up celery and carrot sticks for dessert.

  “Choose your favorite food,” both grandmothers said in the dream.

  First, Abby stared at the gooey cake. Then she looked at the raw vegetables. “I like both kinds of food,” she said. “Both grandmas, too.”

  She didn’t want to hurt their feelings. What should she decide?

  She took a handful of carrots and celery. And she poked them into the chocolate icing on the cake.

  “Double dabble good,” she said.

  But she said it so loud, she woke herself up!

  Abby sat up in bed. She rubbed her eyes.

  The moon smiled through the window.

  But Abby frowned back.

  NINE

  It was Saturday morning.

  Abby opened one eye. She stared at the ceiling. She listened.

  The house was quiet, except for a whirring sound.

  Grandma Hunter must be up, cooking. Probably pancakes!

  Abby leaped out of bed. She remembered what Granny Mae had said: “The early bird catches the worm.”

  And . . . the early bird gets the first pancake!

  She slipped into her bathrobe and hurried to the kitchen.

  Shawn had beat her to it. He was already sitting at the table. Another early bird.

  “Good morning, Abby,” said Grandma Hunter.

  “Good morning,” replied Abby. “How’d you sleep?”

  Before she could answer, Granny Mae was standing in the doorway. She had a curious grin on her face. “She slept the way everyone does . . . by lying down and blacking out.” Then she burst out laughing.

  Abby couldn’t help it. She laughed, too.

  But Grandma Hunter was NOT laughing. She faced the window and smoothed her apron.

  She’s upset again, thought Abby.

  She sat at the table, next to Shawn. “What’s for breakfast?” she asked.

  Shawn whispered, “Dry potato cakes with no syrup.”

  “Anything else?” asked Abby, worried.


  “Oatmeal with leftover broccoli.” His face scrunched up like a prune.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Abby said.

  Shawn shook his head sadly. “I say the truth.”

  Just then Granny Mae went to the fridge. She pulled out a chocolate cake.

  Abby gasped. It was the same one from her dream. Or nightmare. She couldn’t decide which.

  Granny placed the cake right in front of Abby’s nose.

  Shawn’s eyes blinked fast. “Dessert for breakfast?” he said.

  “Eat it whenever you wish,” Granny Mae said.

  Abby couldn’t believe her ears. What would her parents say? But . . . wait! Dad had said to “Obey your grandmother.”

  Granny Mae was her grandmother. So maybe it was okay to eat chocolate cake for breakfast!

  Grandma Hunter brought over a platter of potato cakes. They were made from mashed potatoes. Last night’s leftovers!

  Ick!

  Next, Grandma brought over a huge bowl of oatmeal. Abby could see the teenytiny bits of broccoli. There was no hiding them!

  It was an easy choice.

  Abby had a piece of chocolate cake with her dry pancakes.

  Shawn had one dry pancake with his moist cake.

  Abby glanced at Shawn, then at Grandma Hunter. “I think we better wake up Carly and Jimmy.”

  The grandmothers agreed about that. It was a first!

  Abby, Shawn, and the grandmothers marched down the hall. “Good morning to you, good morning to you . . .” Granny Mae sang as they went.

  “The early bird catches the worm,” chanted Abby.

  “Better not be any worms in my chocolate cake,” replied Granny Mae.

  Shawn was laughing hard. “Wake up, Jimmy! Wake up, Carly!” he called.

  Carly was too sleepy to wake up. “I stayed up too late,” she said and rolled over.

  Jimmy said the same thing.

  Grandma Hunter shook her head. She wouldn’t have allowed Jimmy and Carly to stay up so late. Her eyebrows rose and stayed high on her forehead.

  “I guess I’ll have to eat the chocolate cake by myself,” Granny Mae announced. She said it loud enough for Carly to hear.

  That got them up. Jimmy first, then Carly.

  “Are we really having dessert for breakfast?” Carly asked. She rubbed her eyes awake. She must’ve thought she was dreaming.

  Jimmy ran to the kitchen. “Sugar very good for you,” he hollered. “Just like a vitamin!”