Mama wheeled her

into the living room

she asked me to keep

Grandma company

while she got some work done

in the kitchen

Father O’Brien was coming over

for tea

sure I said

silent

since the stroke

my Grandma sat there

her rosary in one hand

head tilted to one side

she looked slightly downward

at her lap

hair braided

and twisted into a neat coil

she had a light sweater

to keep her warm

I brought my record player

down from my room

and plugged it in

took out my favorite album

Free to Be You and Me

I began singing

to Grandma

sharing the booklet of lyrics

with her

making sure she could follow along

if she wanted

I sang the whole album

once through

then belted out my favorite

the title track

Free to Be…You and Me

sung by The New Seekers

over

and over

and over

again

still silent

                                    

 I sang it again.

Charlotte Zolotow is no longer with us.

I played my favorite album, Free To Be You And Me,

over and over and over again

for my Grandma

back in the days of record players.

William's Doll recorded by Alan Alda & Marlo Thomas

adapted from William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow

It is after midnight

when they take out the game

Amy and Allison are asleep

Bridget and Kathy

want to play

Ouija

I’d never heard of it

so I say sure

I love board games

and I was so happy

to be at

my first sleepover

in my new pajamas with feet

Kathy pulls out the board

it has ornate letters across the top

and bottom

and a heart shaped game piece

it’s beautiful

she explains the rules

it’s a two player game

you ask questions of spirits

from the other side

I look at her

                                   I think I’ll just watch, I say

no, no says Bridget

you gotta play

so Kathy tells Bridget and me to sit

face to face

the board on our lap

I place my fingers on the pointer

lightly

like Bridget

what do you wanna ask, she says

you gotta ask something from the dead

I don’t know any dead people, I say

how about your grandmother

she just died, right?

Ouija, is MJ’s grandma with us tonight?

are you THERE?

I shut my eyes

I can feel the pointer start to move

across the board

it stops

Kathy screams

It points to YES,

YES.

I take my hands away

she’s here MJ she’s here!

Bridget is excited

put your hands back on, she says

put your hands back on!

Ouija, if you really are MJ’s grandma

tell us your name

I watch Bridget’s hands this time

to see if she’s moving the pointer

as it slides

to

J

then O

I can hear my heart

Bridget breathing

and the gentle scraping of the pointer

as it slides

all by itself

and stops

on the final letter of 

JOSEPHINE

my Grandma’s name

                                    she’s here

                                    I whisper.

The sun was up and so was Charlie.

                                                 Rachel's getting married.

down the rabbit hole

for Alice

what do I believe?

I believe in you.
and I believe in your scribbles.
add
a buddha.
a kind word
and
santa claus
and goodness.

this is what I believe.