The Granny Game (3 page)

Grandma's big surprise was a broccoli casserole!

Abby didn't know what to do. Should she kick Jimmy under the table? Should she give him “The Eye”?

She frowned hard at her brother. She hoped he might look her way.

But he didn't.

Jimmy kept it up. “AAAUUUGH!” he hollered. “I hate broccoli!”

Shawn's eyes popped wide.

Carly's mouth dropped open.

But Jimmy was just warming up. “Grandma not love little boy from Korea,” he wailed. “Not . . . not . . . not!”

Grandma Hunter was on her feet. She hurried over to Jimmy and touched his forehead. “Are you sick, child?” she asked.

“Very sick,” he cried. “Jimmy very, very sick boy.”

It sounded like
velly, velly
.

Abby almost burst out laughing.

Carly and Shawn had trouble keeping a straight face, too. Abby had never seen Jimmy carry on like this.

Well . . . she had. Once before.

It was the night of Jimmy's first bath. He squealed and yelled. She thought he'd never stop. So Abby had gone to look for her old plastic duck. When she found it, she gave it to Jimmy. He stopped crying. Just like that.

Now Abby picked up her fork. She tried to ignore her loud-mouthed little brother. It wasn't easy.

He fussed. Louder and louder.

Shawn hollered something to him in Korean. But that made things even worse.

Jimmy pushed away from the table. He looked terribly white. He was holding his stomach. Like before Dad and Mother left for the weekend.

Only
this
time he looked sick. For real.

Grandma began to fan him with her napkin. “Oh, dear boy,” she said. “Let's get you to the washroom.”

Jimmy was nodding his head. “Yes, hurry, hurry.”

Abby couldn't believe it. Jimmy had made himself sick.

After Grandma left with Jimmy, Abby had a funny feeling.

Both Shawn and Carly were looking at her.

“What're you two staring at?” she asked.

“You're the oldest,” Carly piped up. “Why didn't you do something?”

“About Jimmy?” asked Abby.

Shawn's eyes were big. “Jimmy not really sick, is he?”

Abby didn't know. “He might be faking. I'm not sure.”

Shawn frowned at the broccoli. Then he stuck his finger down his throat.

“Sick,” Carly said. “Really disgusting!”

Shawn ran for the washroom, gagging.

Abby shook her head.

“Do something,” Carly pleaded.

“Like what?” Abby said.

Carly began to giggle. “Pour some sugar on the broccoli.”

“Good thinking,” Abby said.

She reached for the sugar bowl.

FIVE

Supper took forever.

Abby wondered about Jimmy and Shawn. What was happening? Were they really sick?

She drank her milk and cut her meat. She mixed bites of broccoli with mashed potatoes.

At last, Jimmy and Shawn returned to the table.

Grandma came, too. She looked worn out.

“Oooh-aaagh,” Jimmy was still groaning a lot.

Grandma sat down and sighed. She sipped her coffee.

Just then Jimmy sneaked a smile at Shawn.

Now Abby knew her brothers were faking. But she kept eating her broccoli. So did Carly.

Grandma Hunter reached for the casserole dish. Next, she put a piece of meat and some potatoes on her plate.

Abby wondered if Grandma would notice how sugary the broccoli tasted. “The supper's very good,” she spoke up.

“Yes, the broccoli's nice and
sweet
,” Carly said.

Jimmy sat up. His eyes were wide. “Sweet? Like candy?”

“Sure, have a taste,” Abby said. “You'll see.”

Grandma's eyes popped wide. But she was silent.

Jimmy took one serving spoonful. 'Only one little bite,” he said.

Abby held her breath. Would he like it?

Jimmy tasted the vegetable. He chewed and swallowed. “Mm-m, good,” he said, rubbing his tummy. “Grandma put sugar in broccoli.”

“Did you say
sugar
?” Shawn said and dished up a BIG serving.

Jimmy cleaned his plate and asked for more.

But Grandma Hunter didn't say a word.

Neither did Abby.

After supper, Abby helped Grandma clean up.

Jimmy hurried past them with his hands in his pocket. He headed for the back door.

Why's he acting so strange?
Abby wondered.

She went to the window and looked
out. Jimmy was feeding the ducks, Quacker and Jack.

Grandma came and peeked out the window, too. “Everyone seemed to enjoy my broccoli dish,” she said. “I'll have to chop up some and put it in the scrambled eggs.”

“Tomorrow for breakfast?” Abby asked. She hoped not.

“It's quite delicious,” said Grandma. “It's tasty, even with
no
sugar added.”

Abby's heart sank. Grandma knew what she'd done.

But besides that, Jimmy and Shawn would
never
eat eggs with broccoli. Not in a hundred years!

“What about some pancakes instead?” Abby asked.

Would Grandma take the hint?

“Well, that settles it. I'll make pancakes
and
eggs,” Grandma said with a curious grin.

Abby could see it now. Nobody would eat the eggs. Not one bite. But the pancakes
would disappear in a flash.

Maybe Grandma would finally get the hint. Maybe she'd forget about broccoli!

Grandma dried her hands on'her apron. She turned away from the window.

Abby kept watching Jimmy. He was outside in the duck pen, feeding the ducks something dark and green.

Is that what I think it is?
she wondered.

“Excuse me, Grandma,” Abby said. “I'll be right back.”

She darted out the kitchen door. She ran across the backyard to the duck pen. She stared at the green stuff in Jimmy's hand. “That's gross,” Abby said. “What is it?”

Jimmy blinked his eyes fast. “I . . . I feed ducks leftovers.” He stared down at the broccoli.

“But I thought you ate it,” she said. She gave him “The Eye.”

Jimmy shook his head. “Very sorry, but I not eat
all
of it.”

“But you said it was sweet, like candy,” Abby insisted. “You tricked us. Especially Grandma.”

“Sugar not work with broccoli and cheese.” He kept offering the smashed-up broccoli to the ducks.

“I thought sugar might change the taste,” she said. “I promised Daddy we'd obey Grandma.
All
weekend. I was trying to help.”

Jimmy talked Korean to the ducks. But it was no use. They weren't interested in leftovers. With or without sugar.

This weekend was going to be the worst ever!

Just then . . .

AH-OO-GAH!
Abby heard a familiar sound. It was Granny Mae's silly car horn.

What's
she
doing here?
Abby wondered.

Jimmy wiped his hands on his pants. He came running into the house. “This Sunday . . . Grandparents Day!” he hollered.

“Are you sure?” Abby asked.

Jimmy grinned. “That why Granny Mae come. She come for Grandparents Day,” he said. “I see holiday on calendar.”

“Granny Mae doesn't pay attention to that stuff,” Abby said.

“We see about that,” said Jimmy.

Abby felt funny. Why
had
Granny Mae come?

SIX

Granny Mae rushed into the house. She was wearing her favorite blue jeans and a bright T-shirt. “Hi, ya, kids,” she announced.

“What are
you
doing here!” Carly squealed with delight.

Grandma Hunter gasped. “Carly, dear, that's not a polite thing to say to Granny Mae.”

“Sorry, Granny,” Carly said.

But Granny Mae didn't seem to mind. She was carrying a curious big bag. “I
brought surprises for my grandkiddos,” she said.

Shawn spied the bag of sweets. “Hi, Granny Mae,” he said, grinning.

Abby was thrilled to see her, too.

“There's my Abbykins,” said Granny Mae, reaching for a hug.

“Grandparents Day is this Sunday. Did you know that?” Abby asked her.

“I had no idea.” Granny Mae shook her head. Her earrings dangled. Her bracelet jangled.

“Happy Grandparents Day!” shouted Carly.

“I see it first on calendar,” Jimmy said. He wiped his hands on his pants.

“Come here, little pipsqueak darlin',” said Granny Mae. She wrapped her long, thin arms around Jimmy.

Jimmy giggled into the hug.

Abby crossed her fingers. She hoped Grandma Hunter wouldn't notice the broccoli stains.

Grandma pushed up her glasses. “How are you, Granny Mae?”

“I'm terrific, now that I'm here,” Granny Mae replied.

The two grandmas hugged. But not for long.

“Is everything cool?” Granny Mae asked Grandma Hunter.

Grandma Hunter nodded with a little laugh. “We're getting along fine.”

“Well, I thought I'd come over and help out,” Granny Mae said. She looked at the kids. “Four kiddos can be a real handful.”