Granny:(quietly)I am now a lonely old lady, but I have never told you who your grandfather is. Today, on this gathering—
Mia: (shocked) What gathering! Grandma, you're literally on a hospital bed and you're seriously, and you call this a gathering? The doctors don't even know if you can make it past the next three days. Please, don't leave us.
Granny: (smiling softly)I am going to see my husband. My time has come. I am going to meet the love of my life—your grandfather, your mother's father—so don't be too harsh.
Mia: (eyes wide open, trembling and scared) But my mum and I have never seen either my grandfather or her father. Wait! Did you say you are going to meet him? Is he dead? Since when? How long? Why didn't you tell your daughter—my mother? Why? She thought my grandfather was a deadbeat!
Mia :(voice breaking) Wait! Grandma why are you saying you are going to meet him, don't tell me you are planning on giving up this treatment or you don't feel you are going to make it!
Granny: (reassuring)Don't worry about me ! I have lived a long time already and I know when death is near, besides,We have gone to see your grandfather grave many times. We even went last year in January.
Mia: (pausing,quietly speaking) So that's my grandfather? The love of your life you keep mentioning? But you never explicitly said he was my grandfather or my mother's father. Why?
Granny:(gently) Do you want to know the full story?
Mia and Grey: (together) Yes, why not?
Mia: ( startled, scared and shocked) Ahhhhhh!, oh my gosh,Grey! Where did you come from? You scared me.
Grey: ( smirking)I was at the door 20 minutes ago when you started pacing around, asking Grandma questions about Grandad. I must say, you are quite lively. But what are you doing! Grandma needs to rest. Why are you questioning her? She needs to recover soon so that she can keep making us our favorite food, right Grandma?
Granny: ( shakes her head, smile softly)I am afraid not.
Grey: (grinning) See what you have done now! Grandma has refused to make our favorite food because of you. What are you going to do about it?
Mia: (frowning,angry) That's not what Grandma is talking about. I think you know that, but you don't want to accept that reality.
Grey: (defensive) Whatever that reality is, I refuse to accept it.
Granny: (calmly, softly) Okay, you two, stop arguing and Sit down!
Mia and Grey: ( apologetically together softly) Sorry, Grandma.
Granny: (sighing) Let me start the story from 45 years ago.
Mia: (curious) Why 45 years ago, Grandma?
Grey:( irritated, annoyed) Why are you interrupting with these stupid questions, Mia? At a time like this?
Mia:(confused) I just want to know the reason why she picked this particular timeline. Don't I have the right to know? Shouldn't I ask?
Grey: (rolling his eyes) I think you have an idea why. Just let Grandma continue the story. Even if you don't have an idea, everything will come to light later as Grandma's life story progresses.
Grandma: (calmly) Grey, stop bickering. Mia, do you want to know why?
Grey: (adamant,calmly) Grandma, she already has an idea. She's just asking stupid questions. She doesn't really need to know that.
Mia: (challenging)What's your problem, Grey? Why are you always butting in? I really want to know that.
Grey: Oh yes, you do. (Rolling his eyes.)
Grandma: (commanding)That's enough,("cough,cough"). Grey Stop arguing with your sister(calmly).Don't say another word, both of you.
Mia and Grey: (together silently) Ok, we will stop.
Grey: ( annoyed)But warn Mia to stop asking stupid questions. It might delay the storytelling.
Mia: (baby voice, softly, defensive) ummmn,Grandma, Grey always picks on me. So do the other guys. Maybe it's because I am the only girl.
Grandma:( softly and slowly, smiling) Mia, you might not like them picking on you, but you gotta appreciate them because one day you might miss them. They are your brothers.
Mia: ( high baby voice,grumbling) Grandma, don't side with them. They pick on me most of the time for nothing and just for fun.
Grandma: ( soft, calm)Well, what can I say? Grey, tell your brothers to stop picking on her. You got it?
Grey: (playful) Hmmmn 🤔, we will discuss that at the council of brothers.
Mia: (shocked,surprised) You guys have a council? Why? Just to pick on me?
Grey: (smirking)I don't know about that!
Grandma: (calm) Ok, that's enough, both of you. We have diverged from the story to another topic.
Grandma: (recollecting) Mia, the reason why I decided to start from 45 years ago was because I met your grandfather, my husband, there.
Mia:(eyes wide open, shocked)Wait, you married him!?
Grandma: (calmly)Yes, and I am still married to him.
Mia: But there is no ring on your finger.
Grandma: ( calm) That's because we chose not to wear one. You see, your grandpa felt that I might be tied down after his death ☠️, so his last wish was to make sure his death didn't hold me down.
Mia: (quietly) That's sad.
Grandma: ( remembering/ recollecting) You know, I met him at the lounge of an hotel, in 1965, I thought we would meet again but our paths crossed. I was in 20's that time, 23 years of age, your grandpa was 25 years.