Grandma's Heart

Chapter 1

IT was the school holidays and Beebo was packing his suitcase. Mustn't forget all the toys I'll need, he thought. And one shirt just in case ….

The whole family was going to the city to visit Grandma. It was always fun to go visit Grandma, mostly ‘cause she lived in the city. There was so much to do in the city – there were big buses to ride, and lots of cars and lots of places to go shopping. Most of all, Grandma had a big television in her house!

Beebo loved it. Plus … Grandma always bought lots of chocolates for them! YUMMMMMM!

“Beebo? Have you finished packing, sweetie?” asked Mummy cheerily.

Beebo rolled his eyes. He hated it when Mummy called him that. Beezy was giggling at the door.

“Yes, mum! I've finished packing,” replied Beebo looking pleased with himself.

“Well, this won't do …” said Mummy unpacking all of Beebo's toys and putting in more shirts and pants and shorts and leaving out all the really important stuff like his toys!

Beebo shrugged and went to get a lollipop before the long journey.

Chapter 2

“BEEEBO! BEEEEEZY! And little Milly all grown up!” Grandma was squeezing them all with bear hugs. It was only a few months ago that they'd seen her but Grandma looked thinner and older and she walked slower.

“Gramma!” said the boys as she fished out some chocolates from her pocket.

As soon as Grandma turned her attention to Mummy and Daddy, off sped Beebo and Beezy. They ran to Grandma's television to switch it on. Cool! In the city, everyone had television sets and the cartoons went on all day.

It was like paradise for Beebo. He had forgotten all about leaving his best friends Peeper and Sam back home. Chocolates and cartoons … it couldn't get any better than this!

After a while Beebo grew tired and bored. Mummy and Daddy had gone out with Beezy and Milly and left him alone to accompany Grandma.

I know, thought Beebo, I'll play with Grandma. Grandma was sitting in her chair reading. Now was his chance, thought Beebo as he sneaked up on Grandma.

This will be great. I'll startle her and she'll be so surprised!

“BOOOOO!” yelled Beebo.

Grandma seemed to jump out of her seat.

Beebo started laughing.

Then something strange happened. Grandma grabbed her chest and seemed to be in a great deal of pain.

“Gramma? Gramma? Gramma, I'm sorry. Please don't cry, Gramma. I'm sorry I did that. Gramma? I won't do it again. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Gramma?”

Beebo didn't know what to do. Grandma wasn't saying a word. She just sat there holding her chest. She couldn't even open her eyes. She looked as if she was in great pain. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

Just then Daddy and Mummy came home. Beebo knew he'd get it now. He was in trouble for making Grandma cry.

Mummy and Daddy seemed to know what to do. While Mummy rubbed Grandma's chest and spoke to her soothingly and told her to breathe slowly, Daddy ran to the kitchen to get a pill.

Mummy helped put the pill in Grandma's mouth, as Beebo, Beezy and Milly were very quiet watching everything in great fear. They were not sure what was going on but they knew it was something serious.

After a few minutes Grandma seemed better; tired but better.

“What happened?” asked Mummy turning to Beebo. She looked angry and upset at the same time.

“Don't get upset with Beebo,” said Grandma. “He doesn't know.” She was gasping and panting and breathing heavily.

Know what? What was it that Beebo didn't know?

Mummy just turned to Grandma and hugged her. She started sobbing. Beebo was in REAL trouble now.

Instead of scolding him, Daddy just asked all the kids to go watch television.

Beebo was sad. He loved Grandma and Mummy a lot and he knew he had made them both cry. But worst of all, he didn't know what it was that he didn't know.

Chapter 3

The next day, Grandma was all smiles, but she looked tired. She didn't walk around much, even inside the house. She took a few naps through the day.

It wasn't much fun, but Beebo didn't dare say anything because he knew that Mummy and Daddy still owed him a scolding. It was just a matter of time.

Beebo kept his eye on Grandma all day. She had to sit down a lot. She sat down on the way to the toilet. She sat down after coming out of the toilet. She sat down after her bath, panting and puffing a bit.

What was wrong with Grandma? What was it that Beebo didn't know?

Chapter 4

The next day, Daddy took Beebo and Beezy out. They went shopping in the big shopping mall. There were lots of people there and lots of things to look at but Beebo was still thinking about Grandma.

“Daddy?” said Beebo, “If Grandma comes shopping with us, she'll have to sit down a lot. Where will she sit?”

Daddy looked surprised. He didn't think that his six-year-old son was so observant. “Yup, Grandma is tired easily and she has to sit down a lot, Beebo. That's why if we take Grandma out we can only go to places that have seats where Grandma can stop and rest.”

“She can't come to this shopping mall with us?”

“She could,” answered Daddy, looking around. “But she'll have to sit downstairs and wait for us or at the restaurant. She can't go walking with us.”

“Why is Grandma tired all the time, Daddy?” asked Beezy.

Daddy thought for a while then he took the boys to get ice-cream. Sitting down at the restaurant, Daddy said: “Grandma's heart isn't very strong. As she gets older, her heart gets more tired. Remember how you're tired after running in the field?” Both the boys nodded.

“Well,” continued Daddy, “Grandma's heart is tired because she's old. She can't run around in a field, or even walk a lot. Short walks make her very tired. That's why she has to sit down a lot.”

“Is she gonna die?” asked Beebo.

“Well,” sighed Daddy, “one day she will die. We will all die. Peeper's father died in an accident, remember? Most people die when they get old and their bodies get more and more tired and their souls just want to go to heaven to rest.”

“Will Grandma miss us?” asked Beezy.

“Yes, I'm sure she will, but she'll also be happy to go to heaven to be with Grandpa. You never met your Grandpa. He was a very nice man. She'll be reunited with him in heaven and she'll tell him stories all about his grandchildren and what you and Beebo have been up to.”

“Even the story about how I made her cry?” asked Beebo.

“You didn't make her cry, Beebo. Grandma was in great pain because her heart wasn't working properly. Sometimes when the pain is so great, we all cry, yeah?”

“Yup,” said Beebo.

Chapter 5

The next few days Beebo and Beezy tip-toed around Grandma. They were constantly looking at Grandma to make sure she was OK.

Finally, it was time to go home. Beebo was sad to leave Grandma. He wanted to stay and look after Grandma. But Mummy said he had to go to school. Maybe, thought Beebo, I can study hard and become a doctor and make Grandma all better.

Mummy was very sad. She was crying and hugging Grandma a lot.

“But who will look after Grandma?” asked Beebo.

“Aunty Toffs will be coming back from her holiday today. She lives with Grandma. Remember her? She came to visit us last year,” said Daddy.

Beebo smiled. He loved Aunty Toffs. She was such fun. She'll know how to look after Grandma cause she's a nurse!

Beebo gave Grandma a big hug. “I'm sorry, Gramma. I hope your heart gets better.”

“It already is, Beebo!” said Grandma giving  Beebo a big hug and two kisses.