Not Left Behind

“Grandmama!” she called up the stairs. After a moment, she continued, “Breakfast is ready! I made your favorite!”

Silence.

Sighing, Sadie trundled up the staircase. Her grandmother’s bedroom door was open. She poked her head in, and knocked.

“Grandmama?”

The bed was made up, and the adjacent bathroom door was cracked open. Sadie approached the door, and gave it a gentle push.

“Grandmama?”

There was the slightest scent of lavender, giving the small room the feeling of a spring garden after a shower. Sadie felt an anxiety that she hadn’t been completely aware of dissipate. It wasn’t that unusual for her grandmother to get up early, after all.

Opening the bedroom window, she peered out. Squinting, she saw her grandmother sitting on the ground next to her flower garden. She was still as a statue. A new anxiety bloomed.

Trying to not borrow trouble, she made her way back down the stairs. With a thoughtful glance, she made sure the gas burners were turned off as she passed through the kitchen, and out the back door.

“Grandmama? Are you alright?”

Her grandmother’s cheek was wet.

“What’s the matter?”

“The gnomes have gone. They promised to take me with them, but they’ve gone.”

Wrapping her arm around her, Sadie guided her to her feet.

“It’s alright Grandmama, I’m sure they’ll be back tomorrow,” she said, leading her back to the house.

Internally, Sadie chided herself for forgetting to return the garden gnomes after she’d given them a much needed hosing down.