If This Works

I am walking home like I do everyday. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I'm headed to Grandmother's house. Which is all the way up a steep hill. It's worth it though, the view is amazing on a clear night.

It's still fall but it is a really cold night. I can see my breath. My eyes are even tearing up. I'm seriously considering taking the train as fall as it'll go. Grandmother will be back home soon, I'd better hurry to the train station if I want to catch one.

When I get there I see familiar faces from school. They don't notice me, they never have. I sit in the back and I keep to myself. It's not a bad thing. I actually like it better that way. As the train rolls in a put in my ear buds and crowd inside like the rest of the faceless zombies.

It sucked that I couldn't get a seat. I had to stand and hold on to the pole. Hopefully I won't be standing for long. I do have to ride the train to the end of the track, even then I still have to walk up a steep hill. I don't mind walking as much on nice days but days like today it's not going to happen.

I kept to my own and waited for the train to stop. On the brightside I did get that seat after all! I hopped off the train and ran home. Running was the only way to keep my blood circulated to keep me warm.

"Grandmother!" I called when I opened the door.

No response. She hasn't made it back yet. I tell her that she's to old to keep working at the receptionist desk at the business center, but nooo she won't listen to me.

"I'll work as long as I have a fire in my heart and am able to walk." She'd say.

I put my bag down on the couch and start for the kitchen. I have dinner to cook. I start with the chicken, then noodles, and last but not least the egg. I put it all in a bowl carefully just as Grandmother showed me years ago. She's still not back yet. I walked to the door stuck out my head and looked for her.

Then there she was. Somehow she managed to carry two full bags of groceries up the hill. I ran down and took the bags from her, I dropped the bags in the house, then I went back to help her up the rest of the way.

"What did I do to deserve a grandson like you, Kioshi?" She asked.

"I'm not that great." I said. I could feel my cheeks turning red. No matter how many times she says that I always turn red.

When we got inside she sat down and ate the dinner I made. I started to put up the groceries. It will be only a matter of time before she does what she does every night.

"Did you make any friends today Kioshi?" Yep, there it is.

"No Grandmother. I told you I don't really see the point. We met, we talk, but after all that what will happen is that we'll grow apart and never speak to each other again." I explained like I do ever night.

"How did you come to have such a bleak outlook on life, Kioshi? I didn't raise you to think like that." Grandmother said.

"Grandmother for you I'd do anything, I'll even try to make a friend." I said as I kissed her cheek and headed for my room.

I feel bad giving her false hope like that. I haven't made a friend since kindergarten. It's always just been easier to be alone. I don't know why but, I'm happy that way. I took off my clothes and put a t-shirt and sweat pants on.

I went back to the dinning room and ate dinner. She was sitting on the couch reading. Our living room wasn't so much a living room as much as it was a library. She loves to keep books around the house. Some how she managed to store every book she collected. I never understood how considering we don't live in a big house.

I sat down on the opposite side of the couch from her. When I was young and came home from school I would lay on her lap and she'd tell me where I got each of my features from.

"Your nose is from your father, my son. He was so handsome. Your green eyes are from your mother, her eyes were like emeralds shining bright. You get your dirty blonde hair from me. And your quietness from your Grandfather. But don't underestimate your strength you get that from him too." She'd say.

It was our special time together. Even now, every once in a while I'll ask her the question. "Who do I look like?" Even though I knew the answer. There was one question I asked and still don't know the answer to. Grandmother promised to tell me when I was older and still hasn't. I asked her what happened to my parents, and got nothing.

After that day I just haven't asked again. I should ask soon. Just not tonight. I'll leave her be. I went back to my room and turned on the computer. I might as well get started on some homework.