Chapter 14

Well, the sickness was getting worse and the treatments weren't working as people thought. So it was time to give Grandpa a hospital room. Luckily thanks to his famous trade, nearly everything was paid for. The only thing that isn't is entertainment so luckily he has a tablet to keep himself busy. It's mostly got kids but he can still read the news, check his e-mails, watch movies, and such so he won't be bored. The family would visit him nearly every week, and Mary would visit him every other day thanks to Abby. In fact, Abby, her parents, and their partners would join Mary on the visits to keep her company. On one of these trips, Mary came by with Abby and her father and stepfather and went to see Alexander. After they signed in and pass all the checkpoints, they went to his room. They knocked first and then went inside. On the bed was Grandpa and he was reading a book with his glasses on. He looked up and saw them. He also saw that Mary was carrying a big bag of something. "Hey, guys. Long time no see." He said.

Mary walked up to his bed and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey, grandpa. Hope you don't mind a bit of company." She sat on the chair next to him.

Grandpa said, "I don't." He turned to Abby. "Hey, Abby. You brought your dads here?"

Abby said, "Just to drop me off for a bit. We're on time constraint this time. Only 2 hours." Abby waved at the adults and they left the room so the three will be alone.

Grandpa asked, "Only 2?"

Mary said, "We have a big project at our schools and we need to get them done before we practice our ballet."

Grandpa said, "Oh another show. Is it Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty?"

Abby answered, "Neither sir. So far the big wigs are stuck with either Cinderella by Sergei Prokofiev, Coppélia by Léo Delibes, or A Midsummer Night's Dream by George Balanchine. Though they're trying to dodge copyrights from Shakespeare so they might dodge the last one."

Mary said, "That and they're doing a voting poll about which ending for Swan Lake. From what I can tell they're in their 7th year on that debate. Hopefully, by the time we're 8 years old, we can finally do it. There's an age limit to be one of the small swans."

Abby said, "Remind me again why you don't want to be the lead again."

Mary said, "There's a weird trend for those that want to be White Swan and I don't think our company wants to join that trend if you know what I mean."

Abby nodded in remembrance. "That and we don't know if there is gonna be 1 actress that will play both swans or 2 that can be one or the other."

Grandpa said, "If they want to dodge fatalities and the strain on the body they'll choose the latter." Then Grandpa noticed the bag. "What you got there Poppet?"

Mary pulled the bag up. "Went through a crocheting frenzy. I made you a couple of things."

Abby muttered, "That weighs almost 50 pounds."

Mary rolled her eyes as she opened it. "I made you an infinity scarf, a couple of beanies, a small backpack, men's slippers, baskets, a bookmark, a coat, mug cozies, a plant jar cozy, a tote bag, a couple of ornaments, blankets, pillow covers, mittens, washcloths, little characters, hot water bottle cozy, nesting baskets, fingerless gloves, dream catchers, coasters, back scrubber, tissue box cover, walker organizer, and index card holder."

Abby and Grandpa's eyes were nearly popping out of their heads. Grandpa said, "You weren't kidding about the frenzy."

Mary said, "Once I started I couldn't stop. Nearly every month I would ask Aunt Dorothy to send me yarn. That's what happens when one's parents give a crocheting/knitting bible a birthday present to sway me away from ballet. I'm already counting the days before I get a sewing one."

Grandpa groans. "They're still doing that?" Mary nodded. "But they had a fun time during their Nutcracker performance."

Mary sighs. "Yeah well, it's up to the point if I should even get the tickets for them anymore."

Abby said, "I asked my mom and dads if there's anything I can do, but it's immoral to blackmail them as you did with her butch cousins."

Grandpa said, "Please don't say that Abby. They're tomboys, not butches. We don't want to relive the oldies about kids getting bullied for liking other things."

Abby said, "I'm sorry. It's just that, their father is…"

Grandpa stopped her. "I know what you mean. But that is enough. I saw a commercial not too long ago where there was a little girl that was into bugs and the planets but her mother wouldn't let her and just focus on make-up and nearly chastised her for her hobbies. I don't want that while I'm alive nor any of my family members."

Abby said, "I'll keep that in mind, sir. I'll try."

Grandpa said, "But I will allow smack talk to those that needed it. So you can still talk smack about her cousins. Just no homophobes please." Abby nodded. Grandpa turned to Mary. "As for you, what am I gonna do with all this stuff you made me?"

Mary asked, "How long have you been here already?" Grandpa smacked behind Mary's head like Gibbs from NCIS. "Besides I couldn't stop doing all this since you came in here. My siblings had to pry the needles away from my hands in order for me to stop. Luckily my hands aren't hurting me."

Grandpa said, "Yet. Out of curiosity have you tried making stars yet?"

Mary shook her head. "I've tried but they always look like flowers in the end."

Abby said, "That's because you're using baby yarn. Have you tried regular yarn yet?"

Mary said, "I will once I'm done with the hall I already have. Right now I'm renting grandpa's crafting room."

Grandpa groans. "I can already imagine what it looks like. Just thinking of all those strings makes my head spin." Then he started to laugh. "All you need now is a dozen cats." That caused the three to laugh a bit more. He then went back to look at all the stuff she made. "Have to admit though, this is great crafting stuff. Ever thought of doing quilts?"

Abby said, "That's actually my hobby." She sat up on the bed. "My great-grandma and I would make quilts together along with my mother and grandmother. Mom and I even made an anniversary quilt for great-grandma and great-grandpa before they passed away."

Mary asked, "What did they do with the quilt?"

Abby said, "There were no double wide coffins for them so they cut up the quilt and they were buried with it. They died at the same time but they made it to their 80th I think."

Grandpa asked, "80 years of marriage?"

Abby replied, "They got married at 16 to complete a deal back in the old country from what grandma said. Poo on the dealers since they were planning to get hitched the whole time. They just needed an excuse. 2 years later, they had grandma. They agreed to wait until they were 18 to have kids."

Mary said, "I think they won you and Omi out grandpa."

Grandpa said, "On the marriage part, no kidding."

After 2 hours, it was time for the girls to go home. Once they left, Grandpa got the tablet on and decided to play some games. As he played, he got a little cold so he put on some items to keep him warm. It wasn't until he finished a level he realized that he put on a coat, a scarf, and fingerless gloves that Mary made. "Mary, you think of everything." He said.