Sample text for If I forget, you remember / Carol Lynch Williams.
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An Excerpt from If I Forget, You Remember
"Look," Jordan said, holding the plate out in front of her. "I made dinner
for you, Granny."
Granny rocked hard in the chair. She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.
She seemed so strange to me, almost like a little kid.
Jordyn leaned forward and with the fork moved around bits of lettuce and
tomato.
"Elyse made the salad, Granny, see?"
"Poison." Granny said the word with such force that Jordyn jerked backward.
I saw beans jump on the white Corella plate. "Don't you think I know what
is going on? It's a plot against me."
"What?" Jordyn asked.
I felt my body tense up like I was getting ready for a race.
Granny pointed from me to Jordyn, her gnarled hands making jabbing pokes
at the air.
"I know what's going on. You can't fool me. I wasn't born yesterday, you
know."
Jordyn nodded but her mouth had dropped open now and couldn't seem to
stay shut, even though it opened and closed a few times.
"You're trying to kill me. I've seen it on 20/20. People murdering
their elderly family members."
Jordyn nodded again. "I will not be duped," Granny said, and with her
slippered foot she tried to kick Jordyn in the leg. Jordyn hopped back
and then turned and walked to where I was. We both retreated to the table,
even though we had finished our food long ago.
"Poison." Granny said again. "I will not be duped."
I looked wide-eyed at my sister. Her blue eyes were huge. I began to giggle.
"Don't laugh, Elyse," Jordyn said, but she grinned too. After a second
we were both laughing.
"Poison." Granny's voice floated around the corner.
Jordyn and I wheezed anew. When was the last time I had laughed with my
sister? It felt so good, like something was breaking open inside of me,
pure and clean.
Mom came into the kitchen. "The doctor said depression is normal for Alzheimer's
patients." She sat down at the table with us and I covered my mouth with
my hand. I laughed through my nose, snorting.
"Poison," Granny crowed from the front room.
It felt like my guts were being laughed loose. Jordyn slapped at the table,
making the forks jump.
"What?" Mom asked. But neither of us could tell her.
"So you're in on it, too, Sarah," Granny said from the doorway. She turned
in a huff and left the room.
Library of Congress subject headings for this publication: Grandmothers Fiction, Alzheimer's disease Fiction, Authorship Fiction, Summer Fiction