magazines…,” he says, shuffling some bags around in his hands.
I’m completely in awe of his thoughtful and kind gesture. I gently remove my hand from Grampy’s so I can rise to greet him. My legs are wobbly from sitting for so long, and immediately the pins-and-needles feeling starts from my knees to the tips of my toes.
“It feels good to walk around a bit,” I say, accepting Fletcher’s offering, “Please, come in.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I say, unpacking the bag with the food. Inside is the biggest burger I’ve ever seen, along with a vat of fries. I arch an eyebrow in Fletcher’s direction.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I ordered the first thing on the menu.”
“This is way more than I’ll ever eat. Will you share it with me?”
“What? Okay, you just lost cool points,” Fletcher whispers.
“How so?” I ask, cutting the burger in half and pouring half of the fries onto an opened napkin. I push the hospital cart that I’m using as a table next to Fletcher, and I take a seat beside him on the sofa.
“Do you know how impressive it would be for you to finish that entire burger?”
“Seriously, that’s what you find impressive?” I ask.
“That’s not all that I find impressive, but yes, I think it would be pretty kick ass.”
Grinning as I shake my head, I give him a look before devouring my portion of the meal. I look down at the empty containers.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Thank you for all of this.”
“I’m glad I could help. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, I’m good. I’m going to hang around here with Grampy. He’s been sleeping since this morning,” I sigh.
“Rest is good.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I guess I should get going,” Fletcher says, lightly resting his palms against his thighs.
Internally, I struggle with asking him to stay. I really don’t want to be alone, but asking for help is not something that comes naturally to me. “Uhm, it would… I would…”
Fletcher looks confused for a second before he figures out what I’m unsuccessfully trying to request. “I could stay a little longer if you’d like.”
A sigh of relief escapes, “Yes. Thank you.”
He shifts to find a more comfortable position on the sofa, one where he gets a better view of me. “Tell me about your grandfather.”
I get into a similar position. “Where do I start? Let’s see. He grew up in Cameron Parish, started working at the age of thirteen, and besides my dad, is pretty much the only positive male role model in my life. My dad was gone a lot because of his work, and Grampy was there whenever I needed him. After my parents died, I moved in with him for a while, but his condition deteriorated to the point that I was no longer able to leave him alone.”
“What did he do for a living?”
“He worked as a contractor.”
Fletcher nods his head. “I used to work for a contractor before I went into the army.”
“How long have you been out? Uh, discharged? Whatever you call it.”
“Six years, and I had a medical discharge.”
“Medical discharge?”
“Yeah, it’s a really long story best told on another day.”
“I understand. Thanks for serving.”
Fletcher grins, “You’re welcome.”
“Moonshine?” Grampy’s frail voice calls. I’m at his bedside in an instant.
“Yes, Grampy. I’m still here.” Fletcher looks confused. “It’s a nickname,” I quickly explain.
“Who’s visiting?” Grampy inquires.
“This is my friend, Fletcher. He brought me some supper and stayed behind to keep me company. Did we wake you?”
“No. Send him over.”
“What?” I ask, uncertain of what I heard.
“Send him over,” Grampy repeats.
“Uhm, okay. Fletcher, my grandfather would like to talk to you,” I say, shaking my head and shrugging my shoulders. Grampy shoos me away when Fletcher reaches his bedside, so I stand
I’m completely in awe of his thoughtful and kind gesture. I gently remove my hand from Grampy’s so I can rise to greet him. My legs are wobbly from sitting for so long, and immediately the pins-and-needles feeling starts from my knees to the tips of my toes.
“It feels good to walk around a bit,” I say, accepting Fletcher’s offering, “Please, come in.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I say, unpacking the bag with the food. Inside is the biggest burger I’ve ever seen, along with a vat of fries. I arch an eyebrow in Fletcher’s direction.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I ordered the first thing on the menu.”
“This is way more than I’ll ever eat. Will you share it with me?”
“What? Okay, you just lost cool points,” Fletcher whispers.
“How so?” I ask, cutting the burger in half and pouring half of the fries onto an opened napkin. I push the hospital cart that I’m using as a table next to Fletcher, and I take a seat beside him on the sofa.
“Do you know how impressive it would be for you to finish that entire burger?”
“Seriously, that’s what you find impressive?” I ask.
“That’s not all that I find impressive, but yes, I think it would be pretty kick ass.”
Grinning as I shake my head, I give him a look before devouring my portion of the meal. I look down at the empty containers.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Thank you for all of this.”
“I’m glad I could help. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, I’m good. I’m going to hang around here with Grampy. He’s been sleeping since this morning,” I sigh.
“Rest is good.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I guess I should get going,” Fletcher says, lightly resting his palms against his thighs.
Internally, I struggle with asking him to stay. I really don’t want to be alone, but asking for help is not something that comes naturally to me. “Uhm, it would… I would…”
Fletcher looks confused for a second before he figures out what I’m unsuccessfully trying to request. “I could stay a little longer if you’d like.”
A sigh of relief escapes, “Yes. Thank you.”
He shifts to find a more comfortable position on the sofa, one where he gets a better view of me. “Tell me about your grandfather.”
I get into a similar position. “Where do I start? Let’s see. He grew up in Cameron Parish, started working at the age of thirteen, and besides my dad, is pretty much the only positive male role model in my life. My dad was gone a lot because of his work, and Grampy was there whenever I needed him. After my parents died, I moved in with him for a while, but his condition deteriorated to the point that I was no longer able to leave him alone.”
“What did he do for a living?”
“He worked as a contractor.”
Fletcher nods his head. “I used to work for a contractor before I went into the army.”
“How long have you been out? Uh, discharged? Whatever you call it.”
“Six years, and I had a medical discharge.”
“Medical discharge?”
“Yeah, it’s a really long story best told on another day.”
“I understand. Thanks for serving.”
Fletcher grins, “You’re welcome.”
“Moonshine?” Grampy’s frail voice calls. I’m at his bedside in an instant.
“Yes, Grampy. I’m still here.” Fletcher looks confused. “It’s a nickname,” I quickly explain.
“Who’s visiting?” Grampy inquires.
“This is my friend, Fletcher. He brought me some supper and stayed behind to keep me company. Did we wake you?”
“No. Send him over.”
“What?” I ask, uncertain of what I heard.
“Send him over,” Grampy repeats.
“Uhm, okay. Fletcher, my grandfather would like to talk to you,” I say, shaking my head and shrugging my shoulders. Grampy shoos me away when Fletcher reaches his bedside, so I stand
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