Granny called me today. Ever since her visit to the city our relationship as been like it used to be -- good. So I was shocked when she called me. We had been talking about at the same time on the same day every week.
At first I thought something was horribly wrong.
"Wrong? No, I feel all right," Granny said. "I do have something to tell you and you're the last to know."
I was still convinced she was sick or dying until she said it. "Fran, I've decided to move to a retirement community in Florida."
I couldn't believe it. "What? Why?"
"It's a number of reasons. I'm getting tired of winters. But mostly it's because I have no friends my own age to spend time with. I need that right now."
"But that's so far away. Isn't there somewhere closer you could move to?"
"I could, I suppose, but I know some of the ladies who live down there, so I won't be alone when I move."
"Oh." I sat there, not know what to say.
"Fran, are you there?"
How long had I sat there not saying anything? I wasn't sure. I shook my head even though Granny couldn't see me.
"Yes, I'm here. How can you leave? I need you."
"You don't need me, Fran. You're a grown woman with much life ahead of her."
"But I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too. But don't worry about me. I'll see you plenty of times before I go."
