Avery?

Where are you?

You hear… weird noises…

Perhaps this is the zoo?

******

You recall … last week?

Seeing … yes…, animals …

Wild and toothy… mild and .. uhm…, meek

… yes … meek.

*****

You hear footsteps …

Is your Mama doing break…

break.. breakfast preps?

*****

You hear a voice … weak… tired…, male …

Phlegmy …

Grampa? No … , uhm… I think …

No … your .. grampa is at Doctor … he fell …

*****

Why are you on the floor?

Did you lose … …

… Lost … Something…you lost …

Maybe by your door?

*****

You don’t see Herman …

Where is your favorite stuffed giraffe …

Or … no … that’s an… a, … gaffe? …

Your Grampa said Herman is … ratty? ..

… Very…men? …

Ver… men …?

Yes, you think… a vermin.

*****

Why are your cheeks damp?

Did you spill something …. >___< ?

You wipe … salty .. …

You wipe … fingers .. on night gown …?

*****

Is it bed time?

‘The bed is there,’ you think.

Maybe you can hear a story about the ….

hundred acre wood?

*****

Why do you think in rhyme?

Ooh … Winnie the Pooh…

You love Winnie the Pooh

And … Kristofer Robyn too…

… You hear … music …

Kristofer Robyn.

You had a bird once.

You named it Robin… You recall.

You Smile.

*****

Robin? You think there’s a sweet …

Robin >_____< outside your ….

Windyo … … window …

*****

You crawl to the window …

A bird… You think There’s a nest …

Eggs? …

Break… fast …

You smell … eggs …

*****

‘“Mama?” You call …

Your voice … why is your voice …

wavery …?

,.. Avery?? … >_____< … mind … foggy?

*****

You hear a knock…

Avery?, You think …

“Avery … is that you? …”

*****

You hear the voice … male …

“Yes…, it’s me,” you hear.

It says… “Can I come in?”

*****

“Yeessss,” you respond.

*****

Your door opens…

A man walks inside…

He looks … familiar …

Sad, … but…,

Familiar.

… Foggy …

*****

He has a … Tray?

The smell is .. yummy ..

Eggs? Pancakes? …

You lift your head and … smell …

You smile … hesitantly …

******

Avery puts tray on dresser by the bed …

It smells … delish ..

delicious…

*****

“Let me help you up Grandma,”

The man with the food says …

The man looks familiar.. friendly…

… Sad …

“Grandma? What’s out the window?, the man says. He looks, wistful. Then he smiles. A small smile, but …, a smile nun the less.

Nun?, you think. Alley? galley … Sal …, Sally. Sally Fields. She could fly. The Flying … Nun. You loved The Flying Nun.

You start to pretend you are flying like Sally. Soaring through the sky like your Robin…, Kristofer. Your elbow hits the wall. It hurts.

“Grandma, you okay?” Abe?… Avery says.

“Is it time for The Flying Nun?” You ask.

As he stoops to pick you up in his arms from by the window you touch his face.

“After breakfast,” he responds.

Gently, he lays you in the bed and sets up the food tray. Eggs, scrambled with crushed bacon. Not bacon bits. Crushed bacon. Fried crushed bacon just the way you love it. And.., pancakes with maple syrup. Your mouth waters as your nostrils take in the heavenly aroma.

“Butter toast?” you ask.

“Yep. With strawberry preserves. Just the way you like it Grandma.” The man tucks a napkin under your chin. “Oh. Do you need to go to the bathroom, Grandma?”

“Carefully, slowly, you take a physical inventory. “No dear boy. Grandma’s fine. Thank you.”

“Grandma?”

“Yes dear Phillip? My wonderful grandson.” You reply.

“Are you here? You Are HERE?” Phillip says wonderingly.

“Of course dear child. Where else would I be? It’s breakfast time.” You caress a stubbly cheek on his handsome face.”

“Right here Grandma. Just … You are here and I’m happy. I love you.”

“I love Herman. Have you seen my Herman?” you ask.

“No Grandma,” the man replies. “But; I’ll look around. Have a nice breakfast.”