“Hi Penny, my grandmother wants to meet you. She would like you to come upstairs for a cup of tea and some brownies,” said Crystal with a smile, as Penny opened the door to her apartment.
Penny was amazed at the eager anticipation evident on Crystal’s face.
“I am kind of busy,” she said, but seeing the obvious disappointment on Crystal’s face, Penny immediately changed her mind. “Thank you ever so much. I would love to come with you for a cup of tea. It is so sweet of your grandmother to invite me!”
“I hoped you would accept her invitation. Thank you,” said Crystal, walking into the living room and sitting down on the chesterfield. “I know you are really busy unpacking, but I can wait while you finish what you are doing.”
Crystal immediately spotted the collection of antique jewelry in an open jewelry box on Penny’s coffee table. She gazed around the living room, wondering what else was in the rest of the unopened boxes that were scattered around the room.
“You have so many boxes,” said Crystal.
“I still have a lot of things to unpack, but I am not too busy to meet your grandmother,” said Penny. “I can work on those boxes later. It will take me a moment to brush my hair and change my sweater, though.”
“There’s no hurry,” replied Crystal quietly. “My grandmother is in a wheelchair and she is not going anywhere.”
To Penny, it appeared that Crystal was embarrassed about her grandmother's status, as she quickly looked away from her.
“My grandfather is going to a Council meeting.”
“I would like to meet him too.”
“If we hurry, he will still be there.”
“I will just be a moment.”
While Penny was changing, Crystal spotted a tiny, child-sized ring, in amongst the collection of old jewelry. She quickly picked it up and tried it on her baby finger. It fit perfectly. Moments later without any hesitation, she put it in her blue jeans jacket pocket.
“Do you like children?” asked Crystal, as they headed up the stairwell, several minutes later.
“Yes, I do,” replied Penny. “I like elderly folks too.”
Penny had already made the decision to help Crystal and was determined to do whatever was necessary to make a good impression on her grandparents.
“I am Ron. Sorry, but I am just on my way out the door,” said Crystal’s grandfather, a heavy-set, tall, dark-haired elderly man, as they entered the apartment. “Thank you for coming to visit my wife. She does not get many visitors.”
“Make sure you mind your manners, young lady,” he said to his granddaughter. “Remember to say please and thank you.”
“Be quiet!” he hollered at their tiny lap dog, now creating a ruckus.
"This is Tippy," said Crystal, picking the dog up.
Little did Penny realize that while she was visiting Crystal’s grandmother upstairs, Ron would be checking out her apartment, looking for things to sell in order to obtain money to purchase food for their family.
"Marie," hollered Ron. "You have a visitor!"
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