I saw the rye bread
sitting on the counter
and the crumbs on the plate
next to the juice glass
that held a few drops
of Hamm’s.
This meant that Grandpa
had stopped by
for a headcheese sandwich.
I dropped my schoolbag on the bench
by the back door and
took off my loafers so as
not to mark the linoleum
Mom had just waxed.
I knew I would find a quarter and
a stick of Juicy Fruit on my dresser,
my standard visit gifts.
After Grandma died, and Grandpa was
so very sad, I saved my money
to buy presents for him.
For his birthday I gave him a framed picture
of Grandma holding Georgina,
the cat that lived to be twenty.
For Christmas I gave him a book
of black-and-white barn pictures.
On Valentine’s Day  I gave him a mug
with World’s Greatest Grandpa
blazoned across the front of it.
He told my mom I shouldn’t
waste quarters on him,
she  said that he should accept my gifts
and the joy I received in turn.
He acquiesced.
I wove a necklace from Juicy Fruit wrappers.
I wore it the day we took school pictures.
I gave him a 5X7 in a frame from Woolworth’s
to put next to Grandma and Georgina
and a wallet-sized copy
he could show to his friends.
Later, after the stroke
and his downward turn,
a nurse’s aide helped me put
the necklace around his neck.
He seemed very pleased with it.
I know I was.