A Saint for Life by Nicole Heck Page B

talkie?”
    “There’s your manners! I thought you had lost them somewhere!”
    She grabbed it and put it in my hand, turning it on for me, but just when I thought she was going to leave my room she sat down on my bed beside me.
    “Can I give you some advice?”
    “When don’t you, Jan?”
    “My name is Janice. Now, Gabriel—”
    “My name is Gabe.”
    “Oh, you are just something else, aren’t you? Well, sometimes Zoe doesn’t tell you things for your own good. She is your sister. She does a lot for you. If she asks you not to call her, you need to obey that. You understand that? Did she ask you not to call her?”
    She stared down at my phone questioning me.
    “Aw, come on. I just want to see where she is and who she is with.”
    Her hand reached out to grab it.
    “Do I have to take away the phone again?”
    “No…” I hesitated.
    “Good.”
    We used the walkie-talkies to communicate so I didn’t have to yell to her. She hated using it. She says she’s too old for a phone like I have, so this was the only way she could get things done downstairs when I wanted to lay in bed, which I’ve been doing a lot of lately.
    “Alright, I’m heading downstairs. Is there anything you need?”
    “Nope, I’m good! The games going to be on soon. Thanks, Gram!”
    She stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “I don’t really think you should call me that. That’s disrespectful toward your grandmother.”
    “But I didn’t even know my grandma, and you are like my grandmother. I’m sorry.” I sank in my sheets, and Janice headed back over toward me.
    “Oh, sweetie, it’s okay. I just…well, never mind. If you want to call me that, call me “grandma.” I won’t get mad.”
    I smiled, looked up at her, and rested my head on her shoulder. My neck started was getting too heavy to hold up myself.
    “I always wanted grandchildren. My only son never got married, though. But if I did, I would want them to be just like you and your sister.”
    “You are like our family now.”
    “Now, mister, don’t make me cry.” She rubbed my shoulder. I loved when she or Zoe did that. It felt good when my body hurt.
    “Can you tell me the truth if I asked you a question?” I asked.
    “Of course,” she replied.
    “Well, Zoe says I’m getting better, but I just have to take more medicine. I don’t feel like I’m getting any better.”
    “Your sister’s right. The doctors are giving you the medicine so you get better.”
    “But it makes me feel yucky, and my body really is starting to hurt more. Please don’t tell Zoe that, though. I don’t want her to worry anymore.”
    Janice looked like she was going to cry. “I won’t. I promise. But you have to promise me that you’ll get better.”
    “I’m trying. It’s just hard. I can’t even hold a book anymore.” I went to reach for the book next to my bed but as I tried to grab it my grip released.
    “I know, honey. But you just have to stay positive and keep praying that you will get better soon and you will . Now, is it almost game time?”
    “It is game time!”
    “I’ll go downstairs now. Will you be okay?”
    “I’ll page you if I’m not, but I will be.” I laid my head back down on the soft pillowcase as she turned the game on for me. I struggled with pressing the buttons.
    Zoe is lucky she gets to work there. I've never been to a Siena basketball game before. Well, I’ve never been to a basketball game in person before. I really want to go, though, instead of watching it from my bed. It's just not the same. I imagine it being awesome. It’s probably so loud there. I’d get a bag of popcorn and a soda and sit really close to the court. I would wear my Siena shirt and paint my face green like I see some kids do. Then I would cheer really loudly. Maybe one day I will get to do that. Maybe when I’m better.
    “What’s the score of the game?” Janice spoke through the walkie-talkie.
    “Siena is down by three with thirteen minutes left