My Grandparents

‘Your Grandpa Edward and Grandma Elaine were two of the finest people to ever grace this Earth.’
Uncle Remington began.
‘They always told Mary and I that they fell in love at first site.
Daddy was working as a supervisor in a candy factory on the third shift.
He met Mama when she was hired for the fancy pack department.'


‘They were married less than three months later and bought a little house on the outskirts of Veronaville.
Daddy was an orphan and grew up in various foster homes. Mama was raised by a puritanical spinster aunt.
Having a true family life was something that was important to them both.’


‘They wanted children, but after many years of trying, they went to a specialist.
The doctor discovered that my mother had a few irregularities that made it hard for her to conceive.
He prescribed a series of treatments and soon your Grandmother was a first time mother at age thirty-five.
She and Daddy were thrilled when they welcomed my sister into the world.
Four years later, they decided that Mary needed a younger sibling.
This time the specialist wanted to try another newer medication.
My mother did all she was instructed to do by the doctor and was soon pregnant again.
Months before I was born, the medicine my mother had been prescribed had been recalled.
Babies were being born with multiple birth defects and developmental disorders...there weren’t many that survived. My mother was frightened by the news.
She and my father prayed a lot about the matter and decided not to have the pregnancy terminated.
I was born and as you know my heart had not formed normally.
I wasn’t able to leave the hospital until I was almost three years old.
The only reason I was released was because my mother finally snapped and brought me home.
She hated that Mary could not come visit me in the hospital. She also hated being a part time mother to her.
The doctors weren’t giving her any real hope that I would survive, so my parents decided they would rather me pass away at home among family, than in a cold antiseptic hospital.’


I felt tears sting my eyes. No wonder Mommy fussed so much over Uncle Remington.
‘By the time I was ten, I had a few experimental surgeries, but the last one enabled me to live a more normal life.
I could finally get out of bed and start experiencing what most people take for granted.
My medical condition was very expensive. Daddy cheerfully took on another job.
Your Grandfather was such a kind, quiet, soft spoken man. Mama, Mary, and I were his whole life.
He would have done anything to make us happy. He wanted us to have everything we needed.
Your Grandmother Elaine sometimes had to play the tough, but she was a real sweetie too.
Mama was so kind and patient. She also found part time work to keep the bills paid.
Both my parents tried their best to make sure they didn’t neglect Mary, but to be honest, I was such a spoiled little dren. It took a lot of energy to put up with me.
I was bad enough when I was bedridden, but once I was mobile, I was hell on wheels.
I don’t see how Mary could have ever stood to be around me.
I know I’ve stolen a lot from her, just being born, but she was always a loving second mother to me.
I’ll always be grateful for that.’


‘When Mary started high school, she really started to feel the burn of being poor.
Like most teens she desired pretty fashionable clothing and trinkets.
She had an after school job, but most of her check wound up being used to pay household bills or groceries.
It seemed like my medicines and health care sucked away every spare penny we had.
I was blissfully unaware for a very long time that I was even to blame for our low income status.
Because both parents worked, we were ineligible for any government help.
There were a couple of doctors that waived their bills and a few charitable institutions that stepped up to help, but we still had bill collectors breathing down our backs.
Luckily, my mother was a wonderful seamstress. She could draft a pattern from just looking at a picture.
She made most of Mary’s dresses by hand.
My sister never complained, but I’m sure just once she wanted to walk into a department store and buy something new.
I think I got my interest in sewing from my mother. I wanted to create all the stylish looks Mary truly desired.’


My Uncle took a long pause. He seemed a bit drained.
‘Are you all right, Uncle Remington?’
‘I’m fine, Darling...It’s just this blasted cold. Maybe another cup of coffee is what I need.’
‘How about some orange juice?’
My Uncle’s look was knowing. He knew who put me up to that.
‘Just another cup of coffee will be fine.’ he insisted firmly.
I jumped up to get him another cup.
His cough was sounding even worse too.


When I handed him his cup, he sipped at it thoughtfully.
It seemed he was back in the past.
‘So, how did Mommy meet Newman?’ I asked to prompt him.
‘When Mary turned sixteen, some of her friends told her about the Miss Teen SimCity pageant.
They thought with her wholesome pretty looks and beautiful singing voice that she had just as good a chance of anyone to become Miss Veronaville. The cash, prizes, and scholarship fund excited her so much, that my normally shy sister agreed to do it.
The competition was fierce. There were girls that had been doing the pageant scene since childhood.
My sister didn’t even make it as a finalist.
Dex Newman was one of the celebrity judges in that Miss Veronaville pageant.’
My Uncle scoffed then.
‘Back then he was a wanna be actor and a swim suit model. He wasn’t the big time talent agent he is now.
Anyway, Mama still took us out to celebrate.
Mary, bless her heart, was a good trouper about the whole thing. She never let any set back keep her down.
While we were waiting on our burgers, guess who ‘just happened’ to walk in?’
I all ready knew the answer to that one.
The same person who ‘just happened’ to drive by the coffee shop while Helen was there.


Coming Next: More on Newman and Mary's relationship.