I took a lonely 78-year-old Vietnam veteran to my senior prom because he’d never attended his own — when grandma saw my date, she went pale.
I hesitated.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You usually do anyway.”
“Why no medals?”
Walter looked down at his suit.
“I wore a uniform when I had to. Tonight I’m going to prom.”
That, I could understand.
“Can I ask you something?”
***
Halfway there, I turned around and looked at my brother and Walter.
“Can we stop at Gran’s?”
Ben glanced at me in the mirror.
“How long?”
“Five minutes. Her knee’s been hurting, so she couldn’t come over for pictures.”
“Five Nikki-minutes?”
“Drive, Ben.”
“Can we stop at Gran’s?”
***
Walter reached for his cane the moment we pulled up.
“You don’t have to come in,” I told him.
“It’s polite to meet your grandmother, Nikki.”
Ben pointed toward the house. “I’m staying here. Gran will try and force-feed me again, and I’m not having any more of her pineapple dessert.”
I knocked, and Gran opened the door almost immediately.
“It’s polite to meet your grandmother, Nikki.”
“Oh, sweetheart. You look like a dream!”
I laughed as Gran turned me around and fixed a piece of my hair.
“You look so grown-up, my Nikki.”
Then I stepped aside.
“Gran, this is Walter. Walter, this is my gran, Penny.”
Walter moved into the doorway.
“Oh, sweetheart. You look like a dream!”
“Good evening, ma’am.”
Gran looked at him.
Her smile vanished.
“Gran?”
She didn’t answer.
***
Five minutes later, the wicker basket sat open between us.
“Gran?”
Walter stared at the envelopes inside.
“What is this?”
Gran lifted the top one.
His name was written across the front.
Walter’s hand shook as he took it.
“Rose?”
Gran sat opposite him.
“What is this?”
“Yes.”
I moved closer.
“Who’s Rose?”
Gran looked at me.
“My sister. She died a long time ago, honey.”
Walter reached for an old photograph tucked beneath the letters.
“She died a long time ago, honey.”
A young woman stood in a formal dress.
His face changed.
“She bought this for prom.”
Gran nodded.
“She only wore it for that photo. We were supposed to send it to you, but…”
Walter looked up sharply.
“She bought this for prom.”
“You knew?”
“I knew more than you did.”
