I guzzled down another gulp of water as Mom asked me, “What’s his last name?”
“Uh,” I stalled out, realizing that I didn’t have a clue what Chris’s last name was. “I don’t know.” I said honestly.
Realizing, how that must have sounded, I quickly injected the conversation with, “We walk back and forth from school most days. He’s a really nice guy and he’s real quiet.”
Grandfather finally spoke up and what he had to say was actually relevant to the conversation. Well, mostly. “You have to watch out for the quiet ones.”
Mom tried not to let Grandfather see her smile, as she stuffed her mouth with a chunk of German Seasoned Tomato.
I hazarded another glance Grandmother’s way. She still was looking displeased with the conversation, but she didn’t stop us.
Trying to be cute, I said to Grandfather, “I bet you would like him Grandfather.”
“What? Why do you say that, boy?” Grandfather asked with what I took to be genuine surprise.
“He doesn’t make any noise. He doesn’t talk at all.” I said.
Grandmother seemed to find her voice, because she sat down her glass and, directing her words right at me, said, “You could learn a thing or two from that boy.”
Oh, I so wanted to come back with, “You trying to say something over there granny?”, but I knew better. That, and I kind of like my head attached to my body; thank you very much!
Mom didn’t seem to give Grandmother any notice at all, because she went right on talking with me. “You’ll have to bring him by again sometime and let us meet him.” She said.
“Okay!” I said, “I’ll see if he wants to.”
“Is he deaf?” John asked.
I shook my head, “No, he can hear me fine. He just doesn’t like to talk, I guess.”
And that was the end of our conversation, as the five of us finished our meal in silence.