Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
“Well, I think Gracie is on to something, although I don't think we can add on grandparents like she thinks,” eleven-year-old Eleanor Ludlow said to her first cousin and adoptive brother ten-year-old Andrew.
“I think we should just go with it,” Andrew said. “It can't be worse than what we really come from.”
“Right – I just thank God for our Ludlow grandparents every day,” Eleanor said, “because all our parents spent all their time way too high, and all their parents way too drunk!”
“It's just sad,” Andrew said, “and I was so glad to hear that Gracie's Stepforth and Trent grandparents both don't drink or smoke, because I just can't and Gracie, Milton, and Velma don't need to either.”
“Look,” Eleanor said, “I looked up the Stepforths on my phone – now they had their problems, but they are like the Trent parents and got back together after a divorce. There's no scandal on either side on them, and they both did a lot of good even while separated. All their children have their lives together, and we already know what five of their grandchildren are like, and we pretty much know Vertran too and we know Tom works hard and writes really well. So, if we get adopted in there, we're going to be all right.”
“Yeah,” Andrew said. “We need to be with people who have their lives together, because other than our Ludlow part, we've got nothing over here and gotta shore up our circle.”
“Thank God Papa and Grandma are so solid, because we would not have a chance – not a chance – but because they are, we get a chance to be with solid people!” Eleanor said.
Andrew paused, and then pulled out his handkerchief.
“Any more news about your other grandfather?” he said.
“Oh, he's in kidney failure and his liver is fussing too, and nobody is going to give him a transplant to drink it all downhill again!” she said, and then started crying. “I don't know what I'm going to tell Edwina and Robert!”
Andrew handed over the handkerchief, and wrapped his arms around his sister … and then both relaxed into the embrace of Col. H.F. Lee, their Lee cousin who was primary guardian while their Ludlow grandparents were away. He had been quietly observing, and had been raised by his “solid” Lee grandparents, so he understood some of their struggles.
“When the time comes,” the colonel said, “you do not have to bear that burden, Eleanor. If your grandparents are not home, I'll tell Edwina and Robert – otherwise, your Ludlow grandparents will. Release the burden: all we need to do is just pray for your ill grandfather, that he repent and be saved before it is too late.”
“Right,” Andrew said, “because we need somebody in our birth family outside of Ludlows to be in Heaven too, even if we are going to adopt Gracie's brown grandparents!”
“And only Jesus can do it when people have made a whole life and half a death of being way too drunk and way too high!” Eleanor said, and cried and cried and cried in the strong arms of her big cousin and Andrew until at last she was comforted.
After that, the three knelt down, and did what they could: they prayed, and afterward the two children returned to the joys of childhood, the burden lifted … while Col. Lee, who knew what tragedy soon lay ahead for Eleanor, Edwina, and Lil' Robert in particular, kept praying as he went about his other duties of the day as guardian with his wife to the Ludlow grandchildren.