To Grandmother's House We Go

200 Word Flash Fiction

“You don’t look happy.”

Bill turned to Donna.

“This is the first year I couldn’t fit into the sweater Grandma knitted me for Christmas 21 years ago.”

Donna patted Bill’s leg.

“She’ll understand, right?”

Donna rethought her statement.

“She’s gonna be disappointed, isn’t she?”

Bill grimaced.

“She might be downright pissed. She’s feisty.”

They pulled into Grandma’s driveway.

Bill wished he could make an excuse to keep his coat on.

Grandma opened the door.

“Hi, great to see you all! Coats in the guest room, and my famous meatballs are waiting for you on the coffee table.

“I outgrew the sweater, Grandma. Pandemic stress eating.

That’s ok, darling.” 

“You’re not disappointed?”

“Nope. But no pie for you.”

Bill laughed.

Grandma grabbed him by the forearm.

“It took me months to knit that sweater.”

Bill kicked his head back and stared at his Grandma.

“And I wore it proudly, every Christmas season for 21 years.”

“I knitted that thing to last forever,” Grandma said. “No pie for you.”

Grandma walked into the kitchen.

Bill tugged at Donna. 

“After dinner, ask Grandma  to wrap us a slice of pie to take home.”

Grandma walked into the living room.

“I heard that, Chubby.”

***

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