My Friend, Grandma Elena

My friend, Grandma Elena.

It was November 5, everybody is too busy preparing for Enrico’s 7th Birthday. As usual, Enrico is alone playing with his favorite big truck which is a friction powered blue truck with big wheels. He was playing with it, when he noticed an old lady from the garden looking at him through the window. The old lady was smiling and so does Enrico. Enrico went out to meet the old lady.

Enrico said, “Hi!”

And the old lady said “Happy Birthday, Enrico”.

He replied by saying “Thank you, what is your name?”

The old lady replied “You can call me, Grandma Elena”

“Grandma Elena” Enrico repeated.

Enrico went back of the house to get his toy and played with his new found friend. The big truck can very well run through the garden with its big wheels. They played and talked about the flowers and the plants until some of the guests arrive. Enrico was called inside the house to attend and meet his visitor.

A lot of kids came and played with Enrico. His mother too busy making sure everybody is eating and his father busy chatting and entertaining the visitors. After the party everyone is too tired and went straight to their beds.

Came Monday morning, Enrico’s life came back to normal. He would wake up with his parents already left for their respective offices. He would be prepared for school by his nanny. If Enrico would not want to eat, he can go straight to the school and leave the house with an empty stomach. He would have money to buy whatever he wishes but food is always at the back of his list. At his very early age, no one guides him. His parents too busy to even know that he is loosing weight because he seldom eats good food.

After school, life became quite different. Upon reaching his house, he saw Grandma Elena watering the plants in the garden. He approached her immediately, but before Enrico could even say a word.

Grandma Elena told him “Go and change your clothes and eat, then we will play. Bring all your new toys and we will play with all of it, please?”

Enrico replies “Let us play now, I will eat later”.

Grandma Elena said “Please?”

Enrico went inside of the house straight to his room and changed his clothes. After that he went to the dinner table and asked for food. The maid and the nanny were surprised of the sudden change in the boy’s behavior. But they never want to ask him, as he is used to shouting at them when they ask him questions. He ate and there after, pick up all his new toys including of course the big truck and went straight to the garden.

There Enrico and Elena played until sundown. After playing, Elena asked Enrico to keep his toys. Enrico wanted to refuse but he never did. He picked them all up and placed them in a box where all his toys are. At 8:00 o’clock which is usually his bed time, his parents are not yet in the house. He was forced to eat alone his dinner and went to bed. As often, the nanny tucked him in and left.

This has been the usual routine for Enrico’s life. The only difference now is that somebody is checking out of him, trying to work on his behavior, although Enrico used to be the spoiled son of a busy couple, he never felt in his heart the desire to fight back at Elena. Elena could have a way on kids that Enrico loved him and followed all her teachings. Enrico would always turn to her for help in his lessons even in his homework.

Enrico’s parents are too busy with their businesses and would always neglect the need of their only son. This is the reason why Enrico would have been a grossly misguided young boy if not for Grandma Elena, who is there for Enrico while his parents are not.

One Christmas Dinner, Enrico’s family is having, he saw Grandma Elena in the garden. He stood from the dinner table and went to meet Grandma Elena. He invited her to join them but Elena refused. Elena saw the frustrated look in his eye. She embraced him and said “Sorry, but I have to go now”.

Enrico left with a tear in his eye and went back to the dinner table. It must be that his parents are too busy discussing business that they never noticed Enrico’s very sad face. After dinner his parents gave him their gifts but Enrico never felt happy like other kids. His frustration that Elena did not join them for dinner is still there in his very young heart. A few minutes after he excused himself and went to bed.

In the morning when Enrico woke up, he smelled a very sweet and gentle scent of blooming flowers. He went down to the garden running on the stairs.

“Don’t run you might fall.” Grandma Elena said.

“Why do the flowers smell so good today, they were never like that before?” He uttered.

“This is my Christmas Gift to you, did you like it?” Elena said with the usual sweet smile in her face.

“I like it so much, thank you.” Enrico said as he sat on a bench.

Grandma Elena went near him and told him stories about Christmas and Flowers. They never noticed the time. And it was almost afternoon already. Enrico felt hungry and excused himself. He went into the dining table and asked to be served food. That exact moment his mother was coming out of the bathroom. She was surprised that Enrico asked for food without being bribed into it.

She said, I am amazed, you already know that kids should eat well.

The nanny replied in agreement.

Enrico said “If I do not eat well, she will not talk to me again.”

“Who?” his mother asked while walking back to the room.

She never heard of Enrico’s response.

Years passed and Grandma Elena never was away from Enrico to guide him during these critical growing years of his life. He would always talk about Grandma Elena to his friend and classmates. All them too eager to meet the old woman. But every time his friends would go to Enrico’s house Grandma Elena is always not there.

A few days before Enrico’s birthday, which he was unstoppingly chattering with Enrico. Enrico suddenly remembers that his birthday is forthcoming and he invited Grandma Elena to attend his birthday as all his friends would like to meet her.

“I am always here especially this birthday of yours; you might meet also my son and his family. Would you like that? Grandma Elena told Enrico.

Yes, I would love to, may be we could play. He said.

“But I might have to leave already” Grandma Elena said.

“But where are you going?” Enrico inquired.

She only responded by smiling and continued watering her plants.

Enrico told his classmates and his friends that Grandma Elena will be attending his birthday and that if they want to meet her, they could go as well. Everyone is so excited about the coming birthday of Enrico, not because of the feastly food but because they are meeting who Enrico describes as “His very loving and understanding friend, mentor and tutor who is as old as their Grandparents.

CAME November 5, his friends are early for the party but they did not mind. They are waiting for a special guest.

The kids are already tired playing and too much full with the food but the special guest has not arrived yet. Enrico is already feeling said and frustrated with all that is happening. He eyes always at the gate and the garden. He suddenly sat down in front of the garden and cried like a baby. This is his 13th birthday and his best friend is not around.

His father saw him and approached him. His mother chatting with friends just stared at his husband and his son talk.

“What is wrong with you, are you tired?” His father asked.

“She promised to be here. But she is not.” Enrico said crying.

His father thought for a while. “You’re already in love? My son is already a grown up!”

“No, Grandma Elena promised to be here.” Enrico continued.

As if a strong force Enrico’s father to sit down right in front of the sobbing Enrico. “Who is Grandma Elena?”

“My friend, she wants me to call her Grandma Elena.” Enrico answered.

“Do you know where is she leaving, I want to meet her.” Some thoughts that Enrico’s father would not like to entertain. He was thinking we are already in the 90’s and stuff like ghosts is impossible.

“I do not know where, I would only see her in our garden. Enrico replied.

That confirmed the father’s fear that something eerie is happening to his son. His knees shake and suddenly everybody became quiet when tears roll down the cheeks of Enrico’s father.

“She really loves the garden. She stays there most of the time.” Enrico’s father said narrating.

“Yes, last Christmas she made all the flowers smell so good and she said it was her gift to me.” Enrico smiled saying.

“Enrico” his father continued “My mother Elena Santiago, died in this garden when I was thirteen years old.”

Enrico suddenly felt a very cold air enveloped him while his father was talking.

“She had an accident with my toys left in the garden where we played most of the time. Her head hit a big rock and she died instantly.” The narration continued.

“Is that why I never saw her away from the garden?” Enrico said “and I never remember an instant she entered the house. But is it possible for her to talk to me?”

Enrico’s father embraced him and his mother did so too. Enrico threw his eyes on the garden where he usually plays and chats with his grandmother. There she was waving her hand as if saying “Goodbye, you met my son. I love you.”

After that she vanished and Enrico never saw her again. Enrico still misses his friend, but since he is already in his puberty stage. Loneliness was lessen by his new found friend and soon may be fall in love.

Things in their household were never the same. Enrico’s father always makes sure that during weekend, he gets to talk with Enrico, even for just an hour. His mother goes home earlier now to keep up with Enrico for dinner.

Grandma Elena had her way of saying to Enrico’s parents how to take care of their only son, Enrico.