My grandma was terrible at keeping secrets.
She ruined more than one surprise party.
She died on Saturday.
We didn’t tell the younger kids right away.
It wasn’t because I didn’t want to tell them.
The opportunity just didn’t present itself with schedules being crazy.
In fact, I considered sort of preparing them for it on the way down to visit her on Friday night.
I thought about letting them know that we were going to visit because she was not doing well and I wanted them to have an opportunity to say goodbye.
And then I envisioned Number 4 yelling,
“MOM SAID YOU’RE GOING TO DIE SO WE CAME TO SEE YOU!!!”,
and, well, I opted not to say anything.
A friend of Number 4’s invited her over for a playdate on Saturday afternoon.
They came to pick her up while I was out shopping.
I know the mom sometimes reads the blog and sees the Facebook page…
About a half hour after they had gotten Number 4, I had a bit of a panic attack.
Shit. I hope they don’t say anything to Number 4 about Gma.
I texted the mom right away.
Phew.
She hadn’t said anything.
That night my husband and I were going to an ugly sweater party, so I didn’t want to tell them about it when we were going to be gone for the night.
Sunday morning I had an ugly hangover from the ugly sweater party.
And then I had to finish up shopping.
When I got home, my husband took Numbers 2, 3, and 4 to the Y to swim.
I figured we’d talk to them after they got home.
I kind of forgot that quite a few people who work at the Y follow the Facebook page.
Including Miss P, who is also the world’s best bus driver and kind of like an aunt to the kids.
And I forgot that she usually works at the Y on Sunday.
So when my husband came home later that afternoon he said to me,
“You might be getting a text from Miss P…”
Miss P works at the front desk.
So my husband proceeded to tell me how Miss P. gave the four of them a big smile when they walked into the lobby.
Oh shit, I thought.
And then he told me how she said,
“I’m so sorry about your grandma.”
And that Number 4 just looked at her.
And said, “What? What do you mean?”
We had told Number 2 about Grandma on Saturday. He was standing behind Number 3 and 4, waving his hands in front of him.
Ixnay on the andmaGray!
“IIIIIIIIIII’m sorry that… she’s…. sleeping all the time… aaand really… tired…” she said.
That was good enough for Number 3 and 4.
They had no clue.
“Nice save,” said the girl working at the desk with her.
My husband and I had a good laugh over that.
So don’t you worry Miss P.
Because Grandma would have related. And she would have gotten a kick out of that one too.
In fact, I bet she’s having a good chuckle about it,
wherever she is,
right now.
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