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Amber took her time in the shower, her relaxed mood dashed by Grandma’s strange behavior during the game. She looked at Amber like the things she said about the neighbors were true. They were made up! She and Jasmine used to play like that all the time, flipping through magazines and making up stories about the lives of the people they saw. As she put on her jeans shorts and Falcons t-shirt a foreboding thought came to her. Maybe Grandma was dying. She remembered how Grandpa changed before he fell sick. It was harder for him to remember things. Sometimes he would just stare at nothing and he didn’t know he was doing it. She remembered the day he had the golf cart accident. Grandma wouldn’t let him drive after that. Soon afterwards he took sick and died. Tears came to her eyes as she remembered the funeral, the entire family flocked around the burial site, her clutching Mama’s hand.
When she came out the room Grandma was standing before the stove with her blue jean apron on, putting the collards into the roiling concoction of water, salt, crushed peppers and fat back. Amber forced away her gloomy thoughts. This was her vacation. Grandma was fine.
“Collard greens? Alright!” Amber exclaimed.
Grandma turned and smiled. “This is why I’m glad you came. I don’t get to cook like this that often anymore. This food would sit around until I had to throw it out, but I know my Amber can put down some food.”
Amber rubbed her stomach. “Yes I can! Can I help?”
“Of course, baby. You get the rice started while I check on the roast beef.”
Amber’s eyes grew wide. “Roast beef, too? That’s it, I’m staying forever!”
Grandma laughed. “That’s the plan!”
Amber took out the burned bottom pot Grandma used for rice and went to work. Together they prepared a tasty dinner of rice, collard greens, roast beef, biscuits and sweet tea. They made their plates and took them into the family room, sitting down before the big screen TV, watching Jeopardy as they savored the meal. After the meal Amber washed dishes as Grandma prepared for bed. Amber changed into her pajamas then met Grandma at the sofa. They talked as they flipped channels, Amber telling Grandma all the details of soccer season, both of them attempting to bury the discoveries and apprehensions of the afternoon. It was close to midnight before they decided to sleep.
Amber brushed Grandma’s thick hair, a mane of dark tresses that barely showed grey despite her age. Her thoughts got the better of her and she decided to say something.
“Grandma, you’re alright, aren’t you?”
Grandma stiffened. “What do you mean?”
Amber continued brushing. “I mean, you’re not sick or anything?”
Grandma chuckled. “I’m fine baby.”
Amber’s hands began to shake. “I had a dream a couple of nights ago. It was about those stories you used to tell me.”
Grandma closed her eyes, her face pensive. “What did you dream?”
“I walked through the city. It looked just like you described it, all colorful and filled with high towers. I looked into one of the towers and I saw a girl that looked like you. A man came into the room and he looked like you, too. Or you looked like him; I don’t know. Anyway, both of you stared at me as if you could see me. It creeped me out so bad I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep.”
“Now why would you dream of Marai?” Grandma asked. “I haven’t told you one of those stories for years.”
“I know. Maybe I was just missing you.”
Grandma smiled. “I miss you too, sugar. That’s enough brushing. I think we both need to get some sleep. We’ll go to Sea Pines tomorrow and do some dolphin watching.”
“Cool!” Amber put down the brush and kissed Grandma on the cheek. “Good night, Grandma.”
Grandma kissed her back. “Good night, baby.”
She was headed for bed when the incident came to her.
“Grandma, there’s something else. Actually, a couple of things.”
“What is it, baby?”
She trudged back to the bed then snuggled against Grandma.
“Ooh, this must be bad,” Grandma said.
“You know how you told me not to wrestle unless it was absolutely necessary?”
Grandma pulled away from her. “What did you do, Amber?”
“Well, there were these girls from the other team that decided to get back at me in the rest room at the pizza place. I had to kind of put them in their place.”
“You didn’t hurt them, did you?”
“Their feelings but that’s all,” she said.
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Grandma said.
“Well, here’s the thing,” Amber said. “One of the girls was coming at me and I held my hand out to tell her to stop. My necklace got warm and she lifted off her feet then slammed into the bathroom door.”
Amber felt Grandma stiffen.
“You sure that’s what you saw?” Grandma asked.
Amber nodded. “I only told you because Mama and Daddy would think I was crazy.”
“I think it’s time for bed,” Grandma said.
“Really?”
“Yeah, baby girl. Grandma has some thinking to do.”
Amber got out of the bed. “Good night, Grandma.”
“Good night sugar.”
As Amber walked to her room she grinned. Something was going on, and Grandma knew about it.
* * *
GUILT KEPT CORLISS awake as she tried to find a way to spare Amber her duty.
“She must come to us,” her father’s voice intruded. “You should have told her today.”
“I gave her one more day of innocence,” Corliss said. “She has the rest of her life to be a Seer.”
“You will tell her tomorrow?” Her father’s voice sounded unsure.
“I will,” Corliss replied. “Tomorrow she will be yours.”