Page 52 of Enough
“Hey, you two beauties!” she says, smiling brightly as we approach. “Now I know you said you wanted to take me to lunch, but I was in the mood to do some cooking, so I hope you don’t mind a big ole brunch!”
I smile as she hugs me tightly, not letting go until I pull away. I swear the woman would hold me for hours if I let her. She does the same to Gwen, and I notice Gwen stays there, holding on. Kay keeps her arms around her and pats her back knowingly.
After what seems like several minutes, Gwen pulls back and Kay lifts her chin. “Do you remember when I made you an honorary London, Gwenny?”
Gwen sighs. “Kay, I love you to pieces, but I don’t need or want to paint today.”
“Who said you were going to paint? I asked you a question. Now do you remember?”
“Yes,” Gwen responds like a child kicking her shoe in the dust.
“Well, we Londons don’t quit and we don’t throw in the towel. That goes for you, too,” she states, pointing her finger to Gwen’s chin.
Gwen scratches her head in frustration and releases a deep breath. She’s stubborn, but so is my Grandma Kay. They’re a match made in wrestling arenas, and today I have a front row seat.
“Now let’s eat before it gets cold!”
After small talk about the kids and my classes, and afterwe’ve all eaten way too much food, we start to clear the table.
As Gwen lifts a dish from the table, Kay states, “Woo wee that’s dirty, isn’t it, Gwenny?”
Gwen nods. The grease has crusted and it’s a combination of slime and hardened pieces of leftover bacon, cheese, and eggs from the casserole.
“Could you wash that for me?” she asks her.
Gwen nods and takes it to the sink as we continue to clear the table. I see Grandma Kay peer over at Gwen and then turn to me and wink. She’s up to something. It makes me smile.
Gwen scrubs the dish and seems to be making zero headway on getting it clean. “Hmm…” Kay says as she glances over her shoulder. “What should we do about that?”
Gwen sighs. “Maybe we should let it soak for a bit. It’ll loosen up the hard pieces and then it will be easier to wash away.”
“Why, Gwenny! How come I didn’t think of that? You know, sometimes when I look at a dish like that one, it seems like all hope is lost. I think I’ll never be able to cook on it again. But time, boy… it has a way of changing things. Sometimes a little patience and love can make everything seem better than it is when you first look at it. Don’t you think?”
Gwen nods and smiles as she wipes her hands on a towel. “Yeah, that dish will be back to itself in no time.”
“Uh hmm,” Kay states. She smiles at me and I smile back. When we turn to Gwen, it’s apparent she’s figured out Kay thinks she’s the dish.
“I’m not the platter, Kay. I can’t soak and be clean.”
“Can’t you? Do think Everly’s plate was clean a few months ago? Doesn’t she seem better and stronger from it?”
Gwen purses her lips.
“My dish has been dirty, burned, and crusted more times than I can remember,” Grandma Kay explains as she waves her hand in the air and places the butter and jelly back into the refrigerator. “But it’s amazing how time and some good soap wash everything away. Your dish will be clean in no time because you’re a fighter. I know you are. You have a fire in those eyes. It just needs to be relit.”
“Kay, I know you mean well, but I’m done. I’m tired of fighting my way through life. It’s just one piece of shit thing after another.”
“Aww, don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining, Gwen.”
I chuckle to myself. Grandma Kay grew up in the South, and she has some doozies hidden in that mind of hers.
Gwen can’t help but smile. “I’m not peeing on you!” She laughs.
“You’re angry and sad and I get that. But don’t tell me you’re not a fighter. Once a fighter, always a fighter. I wouldn’t have made you a London if I didn’t think you had the grace and determination to live up to it. Sometimes we get hurt, but there’s a lesson in everything. We just have to wash it off and try again. Now, enough is enough,” she says as she puts the last plate in the dishwasher. Let’s go for a walk. It’s a beautiful day, and these old bones need to get some exercise.”
I wrap my arm in hers as we all take off down the street. We pass a little girl writing on her sidewalk in chalk. She smiles happily when Grandma Kay passes by.
“Hi, Grannie!” She waves.
