The Granny Game (4 page)

“Can you stay all weekend?” asked Carly. “Then we'll have
two
grandmas in charge of us.”

Abby knew what Carly was up to. Sure as anything. Maybe Granny Mae could save them from more broccoli.

Grandma Hunter smoothed her apron. Again and again. She did that when she was upset.

Abby wondered what Grandma
Hunter would think of Granny Mae staying.

But Granny Mae didn't think twice. “Sure, I'll stay.”

Carly and Shawn hugged Granny Mae.

Abby sneaked Jimmy off to the washroom. She locked the door. “Let's see that yucky pant leg of yours,” she said.

Jimmy fussed and whined. “Who cares about broccoli spots!”

Abby ignored his complaining. “We have to get it out.”

Scrub-a-dub-a-dub!

Abby rubbed and rubbed. She used plenty of soap. She rinsed with hot water. Next, cold water.

Then she started all over again with soap. But she couldn't get the broccoli mark off.

“Look!” Jimmy said. “Sister make spot grow!”

It was true. The rubbing and scrubbing
had made the green mark spread.

“You'll just have to change clothes,” Abby said. “It's the only way.”

Jimmy's tongue stuck out at her. “I not obey sister,” he said. “You not make me!”

Abby sat on the edge of the bathtub. “Don't you remember what Dad said? I'm supposed to help Grandma.”

Jimmy smirked. “Grandma not need your help.
Granny Mae
help Grandma now.” He darted for the door.

“Hey, you can't go out like that again,” Abby said. “Don't you understand?” She tried to explain. “If Grandma Hunter sees those smudges, she'll know you didn't eat all your broccoli.”

“But Jimmy was sick!” he said.

“You faked it. You fooled Grandma . . .
all
of us. You hid the broccoli in your pocket,” she said.

Jimmy nodded his head. “I not know what to do.”

“Just
please
change your clothes,” she
begged. “And wash your dirty hands.”

Jimmy looked down at his hands and the ugly green spots on his pants. “Okay. Jimmy obey sister,” he said.

It's about time!
thought Abby.

She dashed down the hall to see Granny Mae.

SEVEN

“Let's celebrate!” laughed Granny Mae. She and Carly were dancing around.

“We'll eat cake and cookies and candy,” said Carly.

Grandma Hunter crossed her arms. “I don't agree with all those sweets,” she said. “We
did
just have supper.”

Granny Mae wrinkled her nose. “Well, if the kids just ate, then it's time for dessert.”

“Hoo-ray!” cheered Carly.

Abby glanced at Shawn. She felt like a total jitterbox.

Then Shawn joined Carly in a jig with Granny Mae.

“Excuse me!” Grandma Hunter made an attempt to be heard. “I'm quite certain the children are NOT hungry. And too many sweets aren't good.”

Rats!
thought Abby. She wanted to party!

Before Grandma Hunter could say more, Granny Mae opened her bag of sweets.

Carly and Shawn peeked inside. “Goody!” said Carly.

“Candy sticks and candy bars,” said Shawn. “Yummies for my tummy.”

Just then Jimmy appeared in the hallway. He'd changed jeans and washed his hands. Now he spied the sweets. “I want chocolate!” he shouted.

“No shouting indoors, please,” Grandma Hunter warned.

“Sorry,” Jimmy said. But he hurried over to get his candy from Granny Mae.

Abby took her time choosing a chocolate bar. Carefully, she unwrapped the paper and bit into it. Any other day, it would have tasted great. Today, she was too upset to enjoy it.

“Let's sit at the table,” Grandma Hunter suggested.

The kids headed for the kitchen.

“Let's relax in the family room,” Granny Mae said.

The kids turned toward the family room.

“No . . . no,” said Grandma Hunter. “We don't want to soil the nice furniture.”

Abby turned back to the kitchen.

“We'll be careful,” Carly said.

“We not make mess,” Jimmy said. But his mouth was already dribbling pink goo.

Abby turned back toward the family room.

“I think we better play it safe,” Grandma Hunter said. She waved for the kids to go into the kitchen.

Granny Mae nodded and followed.

By now Abby felt dizzy.

This way. That way.

Which
way?

After all, Dad had said, “
Obey your grandmother
.”

The problem was, he didn't say which one!

It was like a game where no one wins.

A granny game. No fun!

EIGHT

It was getting late. Bedtime at the Hunter house.

But Granny Mae said they could stay up.

And Grandma Hunter said to get ready for bed.

Carly and Jimmy obeyed Granny Mae and stayed up.

Abby and Shawn obeyed Grandma Hunter and headed for bed. Back and forth. This and that.

Who should they obey?

Eating broccoli is better than this!
thought Abby.

She brushed her teeth and dressed for bed.

Grandma Hunter came to tuck her in. So did Granny Mae.

“Ready to say your prayers?” asked Grandma Hunter.

Abby knelt beside Grandma Hunter. “I'm ready.”

“Why don't we
sing
your prayers?” Granny Mae suggested.

Grandma Hunter's head jerked up. “Whoever heard of that?”

“Why not?” Granny Mae said. “We'll join hands and sing in a circle.”

Abby didn't know what to do. She could see that Grandma Hunter was unhappy. In fact, Grandma looked terribly tired. Too tired to stand, hold hands, and sing “Now I Lay Me . . .”

But she surprised Abby and went along with it.

When the prayer was sung, Abby crawled into bed.

“Sleep tight, honey,” said Grandma Hunter.

“Don't let the bed bugs bite,” said Granny Mae. “If they bite, squeeze 'em tight. Then they won't bite another night.”

Grandma Hunter left the room.

But Granny Mae stayed. “Are you sure you're tired, Abbykins?” she asked.

“I better go to bed,” Abby told her.

“You could sleep in tomorrow. It's Saturday, you know.”

“I know,” Abby said. “It's just . . .”

“Just what?”

Abby paused. “I wake up real early. Mother calls me an early bird.”

“That's cool,” said Granny Mae. “We need early birds to catch worms. Good night, kiddo.”

“See you in the morning.” Abby snuggled down into bed.

Abby's dreams were all mixed up.

Granny Mae baked chocolate cake with candy sprinkles for breakfast.

Grandma Hunter cut up celery and carrot sticks for dessert.

“Choose your favorite food,” both grandmothers said in the dream.

First, Abby stared at the gooey cake. Then she looked at the raw vegetables. “I like both kinds of food,” she said. “Both grandmas, too.”

She didn't want to hurt their feelings. What should she decide?

She took a handful of carrots and celery. And she poked them into the chocolate icing on the cake.

“Double dabble good,” she said.

But she said it so loud, she woke herself up!

Abby sat up in bed. She rubbed her eyes.

The moon smiled through the window.

But Abby frowned back.

NINE

It was Saturday morning.

Abby opened one eye. She stared at the ceiling. She listened.

The house was quiet, except for a whirring sound.

Grandma Hunter must be up, cooking. Probably pancakes!

Abby leaped out of bed. She remembered what Granny Mae had said: “
The early bird catches the worm
.”

And . . . the early bird gets the first pancake!

She slipped into her bathrobe and hurried to the kitchen.

Shawn had beat her to it. He was already sitting at the table. Another early bird.

“Good morning, Abby,” said Grandma Hunter.

“Good morning,” replied Abby. “How'd you sleep?”

Before she could answer, Granny Mae was standing in the doorway. She had a curious grin on her face. “She slept the way everyone does . . . by lying down and blacking out.” Then she burst out laughing.

Abby couldn't help it. She laughed, too.

But Grandma Hunter was NOT laughing. She faced the window and smoothed her apron.

She's upset again
, thought Abby.

She sat at the table, next to Shawn. “What's for breakfast?” she asked.

Shawn whispered, “Dry potato cakes with
no
syrup.”

“Anything else?” asked Abby, worried.

“Oatmeal with leftover broccoli.” His face scrunched up like a prune.

“You're kidding, right?” Abby said.

Shawn shook his head sadly. “I say the truth.”

Just then Granny Mae went to the fridge. She pulled out a chocolate cake.

Abby gasped. It was the same one from her dream. Or nightmare. She couldn't decide which.