Seeing for the First Time

Ana's Gram was crazy. Like certifiably crazy. And she'd spent every summer since she'd turned six at her Gram's, with a front row seat to her Gram's descent into madness.

Year number ten with Gram and she still had nothing to do. Ana exited the small cottage. "Gram, I'm bored. Can I borrow your car?"

No answer. Ana headed to her Gram's favorite location, the garden out back.

Sure enough, she found her mom's mother covered in more dirt than her potted plants. With her long white hair in a tight bun, dressed in a T-shirt and black pants, Gram wore a relaxed as she pulled out weeds. "You're getting lax, Arianna."

Arianna? Who's that? Ana cleared her throat. "Gram, can I go to the beach?"

Gram patted her hands and wiped her forehead, leaving behind a streak of dirt. "You arrived yesterday and spent all day with your friends. Now you want to leave me all alone while you drive the two hours to the beach?"

Ana pouted. "Please, Gram? There's nothing to do here."

Gram sighed. "You could help me with my garden."

Ana grimaced and glanced down at her pale pink tank top and white mini skirt. Hardly working in the dirt clothes. "Can't Arianna help?" Ana muttered so her Gram couldn't hear.

"What's that, dear?" Gram had already gone back to work.

Ana cringed and felt guilty. "Let me change my clothes and then you can tell me what you need help with."

Gram beamed, and Ana felt even guiltier. Just because Gram saw and heard things no one else did, didn't mean Ana shouldn't spend time with her. After all, that's why she'd come to North Carolina while her parents traveled through Europe.

Ana ran into the cottage and changed into a T-shirt and jeans. She stood at the back screen door, wrestling her long curly blonde hair into a ponytail when she saw small red, purple, and blue lights flying around her Gram.

Ana rubbed her eyes and looked again. The lights were still there.

She gulped. Maybe being crazy ran in the family.

Ana opened the door and slowly walked over to Gram.

Gram looked up. "Is something wrong, dear?"

Ana shook her head.

Gram pushed back on her thighs. "Your face says differently. If you really want to go to the beach that badly, go ahead."

A small red speck landed on Gram's hand. Ana stared at it, afraid to speak, not wanting to draw attention to her craziness.

"Oh," Gram said with understanding in her soft voice. Her face broke into a wide smile that eased many wrinkles. "You can see the fairies, too."

Ana shook her head again. "N-no."