Read Online The PIECES of SUMMER by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
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her granddaughters find someone special to spend the rest of their lives
with. Norma knew, deep down, that it wasn’t up to her, but she couldn’t help hoping
Susan and Anne would one day have a wonderful marriage like she and Henry had.
Well
, Norma reasoned,
it doesn’t hurt for me to hope
.
Anne and Susan arrived home just as Norma finished putting the sandwiches together.
“Oh, good, you’re right on time, because supper’s ready,” Norma said, turning to smile
at her granddaughters. “And we’re going to eat our meal in the backyard this evening.”
Susan grinned. “That’s good, ’cause I’m more than ready to eat.”
“Me, too,” Anne agreed as she and Susan washed up at the kitchen sink. “I’m really
glad we’re eating outside. After being cooped up in rehab all day, I’m in need of
some fresh air and sunshine. The only time I get to go outside is during my short
breaks or when I’m walking with Eddie for his therapy.”
“Well, let’s get started then,” Norma said. “If you two would like to carry the macaroni
salad and pitcher of lemonade out to the picnic table, I’ll bring the tray with paper
plates, silverware, and sandwiches.”
“I’ll grab a bag of chips and the pieces of bread for little George,” Henry said,
winking at the girls.
When they were all seated around the picnic table, Henry led in prayer. “Dear heavenly
Father,” he said, “we thankYou for the delicious meal set before us and for the hands
that prepared it. We also want to give thanks for the beautiful warm weather we’ve
had so far this summer, and for the many blessings You’ve bestowed upon us. Amen.”
He opened his eyes and smiled. Grabbing a sandwich, he announced with a twinkle in
his eyes, “Let’s dig in!”
As they ate in their pleasant backyard, a chorus of birds sang overhead, and several
butterflies flitted from one flower to another. The conversation was mostly centered
around Anne and Susan, and how things had gone for them at the hospital that day.
“It was even busier than usual in ICU,” Susan said. “A couple of new patients were
brought in this morning, and we were shorthanded besides, with one nurse out sick
and another on vacation.”
“Things were pretty crazy in rehab, too,” Anne interjected.
“How’s that Eddie fellow doing?” Henry asked.
“He’s making some headway with everything except his memory,” Anne replied, before
taking a drink of lemonade.
“Speaking of Eddie,” Susan quickly said, “if he keeps progressing, he should be well
enough to be released from the hospital in a few weeks. Only trouble is, he has no
place to go, so he’ll probably have to stay on, like so many other patients do when
they have no home or family.”
Henry slowly shook his head. “I read an article awhile back about that very thing.
Guess the hospitals can’t simply throw someone out in the street when they’re well
and have no place to go. So they often keep them there until some other arrangements
can be made. Of course, that means the hospital must absorb the cost of the patient’s
care.”
“That’s too bad,” Norma said. “It’s a shame to think about all the people right here
in our state who are homeless.”
“Susan and I were talking about Eddie on the way home.” Anne looked first at Henry
and then Norma. “We were wondering if you two might consider letting him stay here
in exchange for whatever work you might want to have done.”
Henry sat, rubbing his chin, but it wasn’t long before Norma tapped his arm and said,
“I think that’s an excellent idea. Maybe Eddie can help you paint the outside of the
house.”
“I don’t think he should do anything too strenuous,” Anne was quick to say. “At least
not until he’s a bit stronger.”
“Oh, you’re right, of course. Maybe at first he could just do some light chores—or
help with some yard work.” Norma nudged Henry’s
with. Norma knew, deep down, that it wasn’t up to her, but she couldn’t help hoping
Susan and Anne would one day have a wonderful marriage like she and Henry had.
Well
, Norma reasoned,
it doesn’t hurt for me to hope
.
Anne and Susan arrived home just as Norma finished putting the sandwiches together.
“Oh, good, you’re right on time, because supper’s ready,” Norma said, turning to smile
at her granddaughters. “And we’re going to eat our meal in the backyard this evening.”
Susan grinned. “That’s good, ’cause I’m more than ready to eat.”
“Me, too,” Anne agreed as she and Susan washed up at the kitchen sink. “I’m really
glad we’re eating outside. After being cooped up in rehab all day, I’m in need of
some fresh air and sunshine. The only time I get to go outside is during my short
breaks or when I’m walking with Eddie for his therapy.”
“Well, let’s get started then,” Norma said. “If you two would like to carry the macaroni
salad and pitcher of lemonade out to the picnic table, I’ll bring the tray with paper
plates, silverware, and sandwiches.”
“I’ll grab a bag of chips and the pieces of bread for little George,” Henry said,
winking at the girls.
When they were all seated around the picnic table, Henry led in prayer. “Dear heavenly
Father,” he said, “we thankYou for the delicious meal set before us and for the hands
that prepared it. We also want to give thanks for the beautiful warm weather we’ve
had so far this summer, and for the many blessings You’ve bestowed upon us. Amen.”
He opened his eyes and smiled. Grabbing a sandwich, he announced with a twinkle in
his eyes, “Let’s dig in!”
As they ate in their pleasant backyard, a chorus of birds sang overhead, and several
butterflies flitted from one flower to another. The conversation was mostly centered
around Anne and Susan, and how things had gone for them at the hospital that day.
“It was even busier than usual in ICU,” Susan said. “A couple of new patients were
brought in this morning, and we were shorthanded besides, with one nurse out sick
and another on vacation.”
“Things were pretty crazy in rehab, too,” Anne interjected.
“How’s that Eddie fellow doing?” Henry asked.
“He’s making some headway with everything except his memory,” Anne replied, before
taking a drink of lemonade.
“Speaking of Eddie,” Susan quickly said, “if he keeps progressing, he should be well
enough to be released from the hospital in a few weeks. Only trouble is, he has no
place to go, so he’ll probably have to stay on, like so many other patients do when
they have no home or family.”
Henry slowly shook his head. “I read an article awhile back about that very thing.
Guess the hospitals can’t simply throw someone out in the street when they’re well
and have no place to go. So they often keep them there until some other arrangements
can be made. Of course, that means the hospital must absorb the cost of the patient’s
care.”
“That’s too bad,” Norma said. “It’s a shame to think about all the people right here
in our state who are homeless.”
“Susan and I were talking about Eddie on the way home.” Anne looked first at Henry
and then Norma. “We were wondering if you two might consider letting him stay here
in exchange for whatever work you might want to have done.”
Henry sat, rubbing his chin, but it wasn’t long before Norma tapped his arm and said,
“I think that’s an excellent idea. Maybe Eddie can help you paint the outside of the
house.”
“I don’t think he should do anything too strenuous,” Anne was quick to say. “At least
not until he’s a bit stronger.”
“Oh, you’re right, of course. Maybe at first he could just do some light chores—or
help with some yard work.” Norma nudged Henry’s
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