“Carson, what’s the problem with Mrs. Adamsen?”

“She can’t find her checkbook. She says she had it in her purse this morning and when she went to write a check to pay Gramp’s health plan she couldn’t find it. She didn’t go out today and no one visited her, so it doesn’t make any sense. I’m afraid for her. She’s usually not forgetful. And she said some other things that don’t make any sense. I asked her about Gramps and she said he was in the yard doing gardening. But I think he’s still in the hospital.”

“Alright, I agree that we need to go see her, and right now. David, I assume you want to come along too. Is that okay, Carson?”

“Sure, Dad. I’d like both of you to meet Granma.”

Mom heard us talking. “I’d like to go along too. Mrs. Adamsen might like to have a woman to talk to. I’ll let Lynn and Barb know where we’re going then we can leave.”

The Adamsens lived about three miles from our house, and it took ten minutes to get there. Carson ran up the walk to the front door and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. He pulled out a key and unlocked the door. We followed him inside.

He called out, “Granma, you here?”

“Who is that?” It was an elderly woman’s voice. That must be Mrs. Adamsen.

“It’s me, Granma, it’s Carson. I have some friends with me.”

We walked through the living room and dining room into the kitchen. On the way through the dining room I saw what looked like a checkbook lying on the table.

Mrs. Adamsen was sitting at the kitchen table eating some toast. There were some envelopes lying on the table. I guess that they were the bills she wanted to pay.

“Why, Carson! I’m surprised to see you. Shouldn’t you be at school?”

Carson pulled up a chair and sat next to her.

“Granma, today’s Sunday. There isn’t any school today.”

“Oh, yes. How silly of me.” She looked up and saw me and did a double take, and looked back at Carson.”

“Who’s your friend? He looks exactly like you.”

“That’s David, Granma. He’s my best friend.”

“Oh, yes, I remember now. He goes to school with you.”

Carson turned his head and gave Mom and Dad a worried look.

“Granma, I want you to meet David’s parents. This is Robert Dempsey, David’s dad, and Cynthia Dempsey, David’s mom.”

With some difficulty Mrs. Adamsen stood and shook hand with Dad and then with Mom.

“It’s so nice to meet you after all these years!”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Adamsen,” Mom replied.

“Oh, please call me Helga.”

“Then please call me Cynthia.”

“Cynthia. That’s such a pretty name.”

She sat down. She seemed tired.

“Ah. These old bones just aren’t as good as they used to be.”

She turned to Carson.

“Now, Carson, how are you?”

“I’m fine, Granma. When we talked on the phone a little while ago you said you couldn’t find your checkbook.”

“Yes. I have no idea where it is.”

I tapped Carson on his shoulder. He turned and looked at me and I whispered, “It’s on the dining room table.”

“I think I know where you left it, Granma. Just a second.”

When he returned from the dining room he sat next to her, moved her plate of toast to the side, and put the checkbook in front of her and opened it.

“Is this the checkbook you couldn’t find, Granma?”

“Why, yes it is. Where did you find it, Carson?”

“It was on the dining room table. You probably didn’t notice it because it’s black and the table is dark brown.”

“Yes, yes, that’s it. My old eyes aren’t so good anymore.”

“Do you have your glasses, Granma?” Carson asked.

“Why, I don’t know. They might be in my purse. I’ll get up and go get it.”

“Why don’t you stay here. I’ll go get your purse. Where is it?”

She pursed her lips for a few seconds.

“It’s in my bedroom on my dressing table. Yes, I’m sure that’s where it is. Would you get it for me, Carson? That’s a good boy.”

“Yes, Granma, I’ll get it.”

Carson left the kitchen and Mrs. Adamsen looked at me, Mom, and Dad.

“Goodness, how impolite of me. Sit down, sit down, please. Is there something I can get you? Something to drink, perhaps?”

“Oh, no thank you,” Mom answered, “we just finished our breakfast. Would you like something? A glass of water to go with your toast?”

“Oh, no, that won’t be necessary. I’m having coffee with my toast.” She looked around. “Now, where did I put that coffee cup?”

Mom looked around, and I followed her gaze. There was an old-fashioned coffee pot on the stove, and the gas burner was on. She got up and walked to the stove and turned off the burner. I saw her check the coffee pot. She opened a cupboard next to the stove and found the coffee cups. She took out one and poured a little coffee into it. She tasted it then put it in the sink and took out another cup. She poured coffee into that one and brought it to the table.

“Here you are, Helga. This is your coffee. Do you use sugar or milk in your coffee?”

“Oh, no, just black, like always. Thank you… Cynthia!” She smiled as she remembered Mom’s name.

Mom sat down. “You’re welcome, Helga.

Carson returned to the kitchen with Mrs. Adamsen’s purse and sat down.

“Here’s your purse, Granma.”

“Now, where did I leave it?”

“It was in your closet, Granma.”

“Oh, yes, I always put it there for safekeeping.”

She turned back to her toast and took a bite, then a sip of coffee.

“Granma?”

“Yes, Carson? Tell me, how was school today?”

Carson closed his eyes for about two seconds then reopened them.

“Granma, how is Gramps doing? Is he still in the hospital?”

“Oh, he’s not in the hospital. No, not at all.”

“Where is he, Granma?”

“Why, he’s out in the garden. I thought you would have seen him on your way in.”

“Granma, I’ll go out and say hello to Gramps.” He stood and went through the back porch and out the back door.

Mrs. Adamsen turned to Mom. “He’s such a sweet boy. I don’t know what I’d do without him. You know, Klaus….”

She got the strangest expression, and one tear ran from each eye down her cheeks. Oh my god. Right at that moment I just knew that Mr. Adamsen must have died in the hospital, and she didn’t know how to cope with it.

She took a hanky out of her pocket and wiped her eyes.

“My poor eyes have been watering a lot. They would be better if I wore my glasses. Now, where are those glasses?”

Mom looked into Mrs. Adamsen’s purse and pulled out a case with glasses in it and handed it to Mrs. Adamsen.

“Are these your glasses?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you Cynthia.”

She remembered Mom’s name again. That was interesting since they’d never met before. That probably meant that she was aware of what was going on around her.

I heard Carson’s footsteps coming up the stairs to the back porch. I got up and walked back there. I held up my hand and pointed to the back door and mouthed ‘outside’.”

When we got outside I looked at Carson.

“You didn’t find Mr. Adamsen out here, did you.”

“No.”

“Carson, I think he might have died in the hospital. That might explain why Mrs. Adamsen is acting the way she is. She’s not handling the fact that he died.”

Carson’s shoulders slumped, and I could see tears in his eyes, and he nodded.

“I think you’re right. How do we find out?”

“We can  phone the hospital and ask for his condition. You can tell them you’re his son. If that doesn’t work, we can call Uncle Phil… in fact, let’s just do that. It’ll save a lot of time to call Uncle Phil first.”

I took out my cell and looked up Uncle Phil’s work number. He actually answered, which surprised me.

“Uncle Phil, this is David. I have an important favor to ask of you. You know that Carson lived with foster parents. They are elderly. Mr. Adamsen, that’s his foster parents’ name, spelled a-d-a-m-s-e-n, he’s been in Redwood Hospital for about three weeks. This morning Carson talked to Mrs. Adamsen. She wasn’t coherent, I think that’s what you call it, right? Anyway, we came over here, Mom and Dad, and Carson and me. I think maybe Mr. Adamsen died and that’s affecting her so she’s not aware that’s what happened. Can you check the hospital records and find out if he’s there and….”

“I can do that, David. Hold on.”

I turned the speaker on so Carson could hear. There was a delay of about a minute then Uncle Phil returned.

“I’m sorry to tell you that he died this morning at 2:10 a.m. His wife arrived at the hospital after he passed away.”

“Uncle Phil, is there any way you can come over to Mrs. Adamsen’s house right now? I can tell Carson’s very worried about her. He lived with them for about four years, and he thinks of her as his Granma.”

“I’ve just checked out and was about to head home when you called. Give me the address and I can be there in a few minutes.”

I handed the phone to Carson and through his tears he gave Uncle Phil the address and told him to come around the back and come in the back door.

Dad came out to see what we were doing.

“We found out that Mr. Adamsen died early this morning. Uncle Phil is on his way here to see Mrs. Adamsen and find out what to do.”

“Uncle Phil?”

“Yeah. I sort of figured out that's what happened to Mr. Adamsen, and that’s why I came outside to tell Carson that that’s what might have happened. We were trying to figure out how to find out by calling Redwood Hospital, that’s where he is, and I decided it would be faster if I could reach Uncle Phil. He was still at the hospital and confirmed that’s what happened. I asked him if he could come here and check Mrs. Adamsen and he said yes.”

“That’s very sad for Mrs. Adamsen. Right now she’s just sitting there staring at nothing, nibbling on a piece of toast. She hasn’t said anything since you came outside, David.”

Dad looked at Carson. “If you go inside and she sees you crying that might make her remember. It might be best if we wait until Uncle Phil is here. He knows how to handle these kinds of situations, and it’s possible she might have a heart attack or a stroke from the stress.”

Dad put his arm out and pulled Carson into a hug. Carson stood there with his face buried in Dad’s chest, crying.

We heard the back door open. Mom came outside.

“Mr. Adamsen may have died last night. I guess you might know. Is it for certain?” she asked.

Dad nodded. “David called Phil and he confirmed that it happened. Mrs. Adamsen arrived at the hospital after he’d passed away. Phil is on his way here.”

Mom took a deep breath and let it out. “Mrs. Adamsen just mumbled that to me that he died. It’s so sad that she didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to her husband before he died. She’s still sitting there, just staring. I need to go back in and watch her. How soon until Phil gets here?”

I replied, “Maybe ten or fifteen minutes. I called him about five minutes ago.”

Mom went back inside and we waited for Uncle Phil. Carson wanted to go inside and comfort Mrs. Adamsen, but Dad convinced him that she might be too frail right now.

When Uncle Phil arrived he went in and examined Mrs. Adamsen and talked with her for about ten minutes. Then he asked Carson to come inside. Dad and I sat on some lawn chairs, and after a few minutes Mom joined us.

“Mrs. Adamsen is rational now. Phil gave her a sedative and she’s in bed. He contacted a 24-hour nursing service and they’re sending someone to stay with her full time for a couple of days, just to make sure she doesn’t have a heart attack or stroke and that she eats and takes her medications. And to make sure she doesn’t forget a pan on the stove with the burner on like she did with the coffee pot. Phil will remain here until the nurse arrives. Carson found her address book and Phil phoned a niece who lives in Winnemucca, Nevada. She said she’d take the next Amtrak train here and be here tomorrow afternoon. I think Carson should stay here with Phil until the nurse arrives. Right now when Mrs. Adamsen wakes up she needs to see someone she knows, and that’s Carson. Phil said he’d bring him home when things are all set with the nurse.”

Dad asked, “Cynthia, should you stay?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary. If anything happens Phil can handle it until the nurse arrives. Carson is here because he’s someone Mrs. Adamsen knows.”

I looked at Mom. “That’s so sad that Mrs. Adamsen doesn’t have any relatives close to where she lives. What about friends?”

“Carson told me that all of her friends are very elderly, just like her. They’ll be useful when she recovers, but they can’t be counted on to provide nursing support.”

“Mom, I think I should stay here so Carson has some company.”

“That’s a good idea, David. Have you finished any homework that’s due tomorrow?”

“Yes. I even looked through the chapters in my California History book in case there’s a surprise quiz in class tomorrow.”

“Alright then. Uncle Phil can bring both of you home after the nurse is settled in and knows what needs to be done for Mrs. Adamsen. If you need anything, just call, okay?”

“Okay. See you later.”

The folks left and I went back inside and into the kitchen. Carson was sitting at the table. He was looking down, and so sad and defeated.

“Hi.”

He looked up. When he saw me he smiled and the tears stated flowing. I reached down and pulled him up by his right hand and into a hug, making sure I wasn’t squeezing his broken arm, and he hugged me back.

“This is the first time anyone I’ve ever known has died. I mean, really known. My mother died, but that was when I was a baby.” He pulled back a bit and looked at me. “Why do people we love have to die, David?”

“I don’t know. That’s not the kind of question a kid our age should have to answer for themselves — or for anyone else. That’s the kind of question an adult should answer, or a priest or a minister.”

“I don’t much believe in religion. I’ve always been mad at God for taking my mother from me before I even knew her. And now he’s taken Gramps, and Granma is acting real strange and I’m worried about her dying too.” He gripped my shoulder, hard. “David, promise me that you won’t die and leave me. Please, promise me?”

“I can’t do that, Carson. That’s something that’s out of my control and out of your control. It’s not something that any of us can ever control.”

“But I don’t want to lose you! We’ve just found each other. The same with Mom and Dad. I need you, all of you, including Lynn and Barb and Alan.”

He started shaking and crying, and I pulled him into another hug. I rubbed his back and nuzzled and kissed his neck.

“Carson, I might not be able to promise that I’ll never die, but I can promise something. I’ll be careful and never do anything stupid that could get me killed. That’s all I can promise, and I do promise that to you. But you have to do something for me in return.”

He pulled away and looked at me.

“I know. You want me to promise the same thing to you. I will be careful too, and not do dangerous things that might get me killed.”

“Thank you, Carson. I don’t want to lose you, either. I can see how much it hurt your Granma to lose your Gramps. But that’s something that being careful can’t stop from happening. Some day we’ll get sick, you and I, or there’ll be an earthquake or an accident, or something else that being careful can’t stop from happening, and one or both of us might die. Dying is part of life. It happens to everyone. I wish I could tell you that we’ll both live forever, but I can’t. We’ll grow up and become adults and get older and someday we’ll die. Both of us. But what we can do is to make sure we have the best lives we can possibly live, and know and love each other for all of that time.”

I smiled, and pulled us together and gave him a kiss on the lips. Then I pulled back again and we looked at each other.

“I love you, David. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I have one question. How did you get so smart?”

“That’s funny, because I asked Lynn the same question on Friday when we were walking to Hathaway House. I won’t give you the same answer she gave me though. Instead I’ll tell you that I don’t know.”

“What you told me makes so much sense, you must have been thinking about this sort of thing for a long time.”

I shook my head. “No, it just came out. Maybe seeing how sad you are, and knowing how much your Gramps and Granma mean to you, I guess that I was able to figure it out in my mind as I talked about it.”

“I think that means you’re very smart, David. You were able to come up with what you said without planning it in advance. It made me feel good. You make me feel good. I love you.”

We both smiled and hugged for a couple of seconds.

“Let’s go to talk to Uncle Phil and see how your Granma’s doing.”

When we got to the living room, Uncle Phil was sitting on the sofa reading a book.

“Uncle Phil, how’s my Granma?”

“She’s asleep. I gave her a very mild sedative. She’s had a shock, your Gramps dying, and she needs to begin her adjustment so she can accept what’s happened and decide how she’s going to get on with her life. She seems to be in good general health, better than most women her age. She’s going to need love and care, Carson. I want to talk with her and her niece about what options there are.”

“She can’t live here like she always has?”

“Certainly that’s one of the options. Moving into an apartment at a senior community is another, moving to Nevada near her niece is yet another. However it turns out has to be her decision.”

“I don’t want her to move away. I wouldn’t be able to see her anymore.”

“Carson, if she moves to Winnemucca you can always visit her and she can visit you.”

“But where is that? Isn’t it a long way away from here?”

“I did part of my internship in Winnemucca. It’s about as long a drive as going to L.A. from here, about six hours. Even better, there’s an Amtrak train between Winnemucca and Martinez, so she wouldn’t have to have someone drive her here and back. And that would also work for you so you could visit her in Winnemucca. Living there near her niece would be better than her living here where there are no adult relatives nearby.”

“What about moving to that senior place you talked about. Is there one of those near here?”

“I was referring to an adult senior community. Heritage Village is right here, southwest of downtown. They have all levels of living and care available. And it’s close to Redwood Hospital. There are adult senior communities in Winnemucca as well. So she’ll have good options to choose from.”

I saw Carson was happier now after hearing what Uncle Phil had to say.

The doorbell rang and Uncle Phil went to the door. It was the nurse.

“Hello. I’m Patricia Livingston from Treetop Care Services. I’m the Care Nurse here to provide in-residence care services for Mrs. Adamsen for the next few days or as long as they are needed.”

Uncle Phil introduced himself and the two of us. He told her that Carson was the closest relative to Mrs. Adamsen in this area, and his relation is that he was her foster son and was being adopted by my folks.

“She looks like she’s nice,” Carson whispered to me.

Uncle Phil took her to Mrs. Adamsen’s room, and we sat down in the living room. I picked up the book that Uncle Phil had been reading. The title was ‘Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology’ and there were pictures of kids and adults with acne. Some of the pictures showed acne on the arms and chest. I thought acne was only on your face. They were pretty gross. The book described other things like ‘Bullous Diseases’ and one called ‘Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis’ that you can get by taking a medicine that you have a reaction to. I put the book down.

Carson had been looking at the pictures as I flipped through the book.

“I guess Uncle Phil has to learn about all of these sorts of things, doesn’t he, David.”

“Yeah. Being a doctor means you’re always learning about some new disease or a new way to treat a disease. It must be interesting, but some of it can be pretty gross.”

“I can see that from the pictures in the book. I sure don’t want to get acne.”

“Me either.”

Uncle Phil walked in and asked Carson to go with him to say goodbye to his Granma. I looked through the Sunday paper that was on the coffee table. There was an interesting story in Gary Bogue’s column about a cat that sometimes seemed to be afraid of his toys and other times not. Cats are weird. I’m allergic to them anyway, so no cats for me. But I like to read about them and look at pix and vids my friends send me of their cats doing silly things like climbing onto the top of a floor lamp or picking random pieces out of their food like they don’t like them and putting them on the floor, even though they look the same as the rest.

About fifteen minutes later Uncle Phil and the nurse walked through the living room and went into the kitchen. Then about five minutes later Carson came back and sat down next to me.

“How’s your Granma?”

“Good. She knows and has accepted that Gramps died. Uncle Phil thinks her problem was that she was called to go to the hospital so early in the morning, that Gramps had already died and she wasn’t there when it happened, and it was such a shock to her that she got very confused. He’s going to check back with her tomorrow, and the nurse, Patricia, will be here and can call him if there’s a problem. Gramma’s niece arrives tomorrow afternoon, and that will be a big help for handling Gramps’ funeral and everything else that needs to be taken care of.”

“How are you doing, Carson?”

“Good. I’m sad about Gramps, but Uncle Phil said he died in his sleep and didn’t have any pain. He said Gramps had cancer and it would have been tough on him if he’d had to go through chemotherapy treatments.”

I grabbed Carson’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m here for you.”

He turned and looked at me. “I know, David. I really appreciate that I have you as my brother. You’re helping me get through this. I’m sad for Gramps, and I’m glad I have you.”

Uncle Phil came into the living room. “Okay, guys, let’s go. I need to get you two home then I need to get home myself.”

The drive home was quiet. When we got home Uncle Phil came in for a few minutes to tell Mom and Dad about Mrs. Adamsen. After he left we were sitting in the family room reading the Sunday papers when Lynn walked in.

“I have an announcement to make. And it involves David and Carson. So, can I have everyone’s attention?”