GRANDMA

By Jasper Jezz C. Ledesma

Jasper is a very active 10-year-old boy. He always likes to play ball and street games with his

friends, ride a bicycle, and run around the house. He often screams when he gets excited with the games.

Rey, Rollen, and Jummar are his friends. They often play hide and seek inside the house, climb the stairs

and jump from one place to another. But things changed when grandma arrived at his house.

“Jasper, grandma will stay with us from now on,” his mother, Esther, told him. Her grandmother

came from the province of Golden Davao Oriental. Because of her old age, she stopped working as a health

worker. She cannot stand up straight, have to take medicine every day, and starts to loss her clear vision.

She is as not strong as she was before. Jasper’s mother took the responsibility to take care of her.

She walks slowly with her cane. When she saw Jasper, she smiled and said, “Jasper, I am so happy

to see you.” Jasper smiled at her. “You have grown taller compare before,” she followed up. Jasper gave

a faint smile to grandma and kiss her hands. “Grandma, what happened to you hair?” “Ugh! This? This

only happens when you grow old like me,” she replied. “Okay! I have to go grandma.” “Where?” grandma

asked. “To my friends,” Jasper replied. Jasper then walked away and played with his friends.

The night is on its way and his grandma start cooking their food. Jasper is just sitting on the couch

while he’s watching cartoons on their television. “Jasper? Have you eaten adobo before?” grandma asked.

“Yes grandma!” he replied. “For sure you will eat a lot when taste this food I cooked,” grandma bragging

the food to Jasper with a smile of her face. “Let’s wait when your mother is home” grandma talk while

mixing the ingredients. A minute later, Jasper’s mom came. “Okay! Esther let’s eat! We are waiting for

you!” grandma asked. “Sure mom!” Esther replied. “Call your sisters Jasper?” grandma command Jasper.

Jasper climb up the stairs and call his sister. As they were on the table, grandma asked Jasper to pray.

Jasper is shocked. “Ha! Why me?” He said with intimidation. Jasper’s mom bigger her eyes to him and

Jasper have no choice. His prayer goes like this. “Lord thank you for the yummy meals, for fruit, bread,

and cheese, thank you for the family. Lord thank you for this fine food cooked by our grandma. Please

bless it to our turn.” After the prayer, they laugh and eat happily.

Morning comes, with grandma in the house, many things would have to change. Jasper is no

longer allowed to play inside the house. He should not scream. He should avoid being loud and noisy. He
and his two younger sisters, Jan Mae and Angel, were told by their parents to be more considerate with

grandma. Jasper and his sisters start to be sulked. “I don’t understand why there are so many restriction,”

Jasper though as he sulked in a corner. “How I wish that Grandma would go back to the province.”

The following days became irritating to Jasper.