By Crystal Arbogast

-----Robert stood facing his house, surveying his handiwork. "Okay, you can turn them on now!" His wife flipped the switch just inside of the garage door and the magical panorama of lights caused their two young sons to squeal with delight.
-----Brian clapped his tiny hands together, jumping up and down, while Tim ran up and down the length of the yard, making sure that every bulb worked.
-----"Are you going to leave them on until we get back, Daddy?" Robert looked at his six-year old and then at his wife.
-----"Is that still on?" he whispered as she stood beside of him, gazing at the house. Looking accusingly at him, she replied, "Yes, and we'll be leaving right after supper. You know that the boys are looking forward to seeing their grandma."
-----"I know that, but she doesn't know who we are anymore."
-----"Yes, but you know who she is, and besides that, she raised you, for Christ's sake! You should be ashamed of yourself, Rob."
-----Starring at her as she walked back into the house, he knew that Kate had a right to be angry. He had dodged the visits to the nursing home for almost a year. The automobile crash that had killed his parents when he was twelve years old had left a fear of loss, which he could not shake. His maternal grandmother had welcomed him with open arms, and the two had formed a strong bond. She had called him Robby, and had entertained him with wonderful stories. She had praised him when he did well in school, and never scolded him for a low grade. She only urged him to do better.
-----Years later, during his visits from college, he had noticed a trend in forgetfulness on her part. She would forget to pay a bill, or the days the trash ran. He had asked the couple next door to keep an eye out for her, but they could not prevent the inevitable. While in his last year of school, their home was destroyed by a fire. His grandmother had left the stove on before she went to bed. The horror at almost losing her was too much for him to bear. Although the decision for a nursing facility was not his own, Robert knew that he could not take care of her. The destruction of the house had seemed to push her farther away into her own world.
-----Although many people had informed him that the nursing facility chosen was top notch, he still hated the place. The smell, the sounds, everything about it reeked of death, or the waiting of it. Then, there was the shell of the woman who had taken care of him, but did not remember.
-----When Kate had come along, she had filled his life with fun and laughter. Later, his sons were born. Visits to the home would always darken his mood, but Kate had always tried to remain upbeat. During the past year, he had managed to use work or some other obligation as a way to pass on the visits. This time, he was not so fortunate. Sighing heavily, he resigned himself to the trip and went inside.
-----Later, Kate had strapped Brian into the carseat and made the boys comfortable. "Tim, here's your coloring book. Don't pester your brother; we're in for a long ride."
-----"It might be longer. The snow has started."
-----She looked at her husband's face as he got into the car and pulled at the seatbelt.
-----"Well then, let's find some nice Christmas music."
-----Robert turned the ignition and she scanned the radio stations until she was satisfied with the selection. Once outside of town, the snow came down faster, but the traffic on the small two lane road was light. His grandmother had loved the country, which had been another factor in his choice for the nursing facility. The trees began to get thicker along the side of the road, swelling with the weight of the snow. Easing around a bend, the body of a dog lay halfway into the road.
-----"Poor thing," Kate said in a low voice. Looking back, she made sure that the boys' attention was elsewhere.
-----Upon arrival at the home, Robert pulled in front of the entrance. Kate and the children went inside as he looked for a parking place. The wind whipped at his face as he stepped outside of the car and made his way to the door. The wreath that greeted him was a familiar sight as well as the atmosphere inside. Pockets of laughter and voices of visitors filled the air, as well as the familiar stench of urine.
-----An elderly woman in a wheelchair tugged at his coat. Looking down, she handed him a piece of paper with a number scribbled on it. "Sir, would you please dial this number for me? " Handing him a quarter, she nodded toward the payphone in a nearby corner. "My eyes aren't good anymore, and I want to call my family."
-----"Sure." Taking off his coat, he stepped over to the phone and made the call. The woman's hand reached for the receiver just as a voice came over the other end, "Police department."
-----"Just a minute, I think I've dialed a wrong number."
-----The old woman lunged for the phone screaming, "Help, help! Get me outa here!
-----Before he could react, a nurse ran to him. "I'll take the phone, sir. That's Hattie. She's always scouting for strangers to dial the police for her."
-----After the nurse apologized to the voice on the phone, he starred dumbfounded as she wheeled the woman away. "No guts! No guts! Nobody here has any guts! If someone would just call the police, we would all be set free! No guts! No guts!"
-----"Rob, what's going one?" Kate was coming from the other end of the hallway, carrying Brian. Tim was trailing behind.
-----"Well, apparently I just got duped into calling the cops for an old lady."
-----"What?"
-----"Never mind, where's Gram?"
-----Still confused, Kate replied, "She's getting dressed for the Christmas program. The nurse said to go on ahead and she'll bring her down when she's ready."
-----After hanging up his coat, Robert took Tim's hand and they walked down another hallway, to a reception area. An old man was playing Christmas carols on a piano in the corner while others sang along. Old women smiled at the boys, and he smiled and nodded to a few that he recognized. In another corner sat an old woman, her hands folded in her lap. Robert noticed that she had her eyes closed while muttering over and over to herself. "I told them the files weren't in order….the files weren't in order. I've always looked after the files. I told them about the files. I told them the files weren't in order."
-----An old man on the other side of the room kept getting up out of his wheelchair, holding up his pants while walking toward the door. Rising out of the chair triggered an alarm, which brought a nurse running to him and sitting him back down. On his third "escape", the man playing the piano stopped and glared at him. Finally, the old man was wheeled away.
After this escapade, Robert saw his grandmother. She was being pushed in her wheelchair, and he couldn't help noticing how pretty and frail she appeared. The lights seemed to cause her hair to glow. She was looking at him, and smiling.
-----"Robby, where have you been?" she asked as he hugged her gently.
-----"You know me?"
-----"And why wouldn't I?"
-----Feeling confused, but happy, he sat down next to her. "Oh, I don't know. It's been a long time since I've seen you, that's all."
-----"Why, you were here only yesterday!"
-----"So I was, so I was."
-----After the program, Robert and his wife gathered with the boys in his grandmother's room. -----He watched as she teased and smiled at them. He listened in wonder as she entertained them with one of her stories. It had been one of his favorites, and she was telling it just as she had years ago.
-----Sometime later, Kate and the boys kissed her goodbye and left him alone with her. Sitting on the side of her bed, he gazed into the bright blue of her eyes. "Grandma, it's time for me to go."
-----"I know, I know. I've got to go, too." She patted the top of his hand and smiled at him.
-----"Where are you going?"
-----"With your mother. She came to see me today, and asked if I would like to come with her."
-----"But grandma….."
-----"Oh, but I said that I wasn't going anywhere until I've seen our Robby."
-----An understanding appeared behind the tears welling in his eyes and he hugged her for a long time. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep and he laid her gently against the pillows. Taking one last look at her, he walked to the door, where his family waited.
-----Stepping outside, the glare of police lights flashed momentarily while a nurse explained to the policemen about the call placed to the station. While they walked to the car, he smiled to himself. Hattie had found another dupe. As the nurse walked back inside, echoes of "No guts, no guts!" lingered in the air.