My mother often told me, “Don’t sit on Grandpa’s lap.” I never understood why. One day, I didn’t listen to her and sat down anyway. Grandpa smiled, leaned close to my ear, and whispered, “Can you come sleep beside me tonight?”

Mom sat between us.

Suddenly, the first streak of light crossed the sky.

“I saw it!” I shouted.

Grandpa laughed.

Then came a second one.

Consult Surgical Specialists

 

And a third.

At one point, Mom rested her head on Grandpa’s shoulder.

And suddenly, I understood something I hadn’t even considered earlier that evening.

My mother wasn’t afraid of Grandpa.

She was afraid of losing him.

The next morning, Grandpa was taken to the hospital.

The surgery lasted more than five hours.

Schedule Safety Audits

 

I spent the entire time sitting in the waiting room, holding the small cap from his old telescope in my hand.

When the doctor finally walked out, Mom immediately stood up.

The doctor smiled.

“Everything went well.”