My fingers

“Nanny and Granddad are here, Jimmy. Come out to the living room and join us.” I was lying on the sofa, watching The Flintstones. I didn’t want to move from my comfortable position and Gilligan’s Island would soon be on. I had a big crush on the Professor and I didn’t want to miss the episode.

“Ah, Mom, do I have to?”

“Yes, Jimmy, they’re your grandparents. Come now!”

I trudged out to the living room. Granddad sat in his usual chair, posture perfect, but leaning down to pet the dog. Heather had a thing for him. I think she liked his voice or something. Nanny sat on the sofa, her gnarled fingers even worse than last Thanksgiving. I went over and gave her a hug.

Nanny pointed to the coffee table. “Jim, look what I brought for you.”

A gift, I thought? Excited, I looked down and saw some music, a Beethoven sonatina. I tried to hide the disappointment that it wasn’t a Matchbox car.

“Thank you, Nanny! I’ll take it to my teacher and play it for you the next time you come to visit!”

I was all set to reverse gears and head back to the den – the Professor and his tight whities would be on in two minutes – when she asked me to play it for her now. “Go on, I’d like to hear you play.”

I trudged over to the piano and eked out what I could sight read from the Beethoven sonatina. Not too hard, I thought. G minor never gave me too many problems. When I was done, Nanny and Granddad clapped. I turned around and saw tears in Nanny’s eyes. The Professor could wait.