Not the basement.“But Gramps, what could you need from the basement?”
“Not for me. For you.” He gripped my hand harder and pulled me closer, a serious effort for someone in his condition. Then he looked me in the eyes. “Be a good boy. Just do it for an old man.”
Had he overheard my mother all those times she said those words to me? “Okay,” I finally agreed. “I’ll do it.”
I waited until Mom left for the hospital before I made my descent into hell. She’d never seen me go down there without a fight, and I didn’t want to make her suspicious now.
Grandpa Shy had given me detailed instructions on what I was looking for and where it was located. I think he would have drawn me a map if he could have, as though he was sending me on some sort of big treasure hunt. Right, I thought. Tell that to
