Young Writers Society

Hey, Grandma…I realize it’s been a while since I’ve spoken to you…but I’ve had a lot to do these past few years. Today I was looking out the window, and I saw this bird, flying along-side the car. It was a blue-jay, your favorite.

It reminded me of you.

The seventh Harry Potter book came out today, I remember when you read me the first two. Hearing your voice made them all that much better. Then we read the third one on our own…I didn’t like that one so much. And then over that summer I was reading you the fourth one. But I lost the book, I don’t remember the end of it…do you?

I lent one of my friends the sixth book the other day, you would like that one.

Have you seen any blue-jays lately? It was the first I’ve seen in this area. Normally there are just those loud annoying parrots.

Remember the parrots at the stable where you took me to learn horseback riding? And the hair extensions we put in my hair. Mom didn’t believe that the water horses drink makes hair grow really long. I thought it was brilliant though. We laughed for hours.

I managed to sit still today, for a while to. I know, Ethan told me. He asked how I managed not to move for so long. Do you know what I said?

“It’s the princess lessons from Grandma.”

He looked at me like I was crazy. I thought you would like that. I remember that, though. The princess lessons. Having to sit still for five minutes was hard. What if you had an itch?

“Princesses don’t have itches,” you told me.

I think they do. Everybody has their itches. It just a matter of scratching them.

I don’t know why I’m writing this though. I suppose it was the blue jay that reminded me of what Mom said. On that day she came up to me and said, “Beckie, remember what grandma’s favorite bird is?”

“Blue jay,” I replied quietly.

“That’s right. Next time you see one, I want you to think of Grandma.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because, Grandma always said that she would come back as a blue jay, just to watch over you.”

I think it was you, Grandma. A blue jay, come to watch me live my life. My own guardian. And I remember, I don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten. The lessons, sewing, horseback, sitting still. I remember the zoo trip when we got lost and followed the signs home. I remember sitting through re-runs of Martha Stewart with you, just so I could watch The Price is Right. I don’t think you would like Martha now though, people change too much. I watch the old episodes, though, especially the thanksgiving ones…those were your favorites.

And I remember piano lessons, and reading Bell Teal, and Harry Potter. Now I find myself wondering…

Grandma, do blue jay’s like Harry Potter? I’d really like to finish the fourth book.