“W-who?” Natalie’s grandmother’s voice trembled. She couldn’t believe her own ears.
“It’s Natalie,” Natalie said as she closed her eyes. She wanted to go home and hug her grandmother. But that was impossible. Maybe she would never even see her grandmother again. Thinking about it made her even sadder.
“Oh, dear Natalie, is this really you?” Minerva, Natalie’s grandmother, sounded surprised and excited.
Natalie nodded while trying to hold back her sobs. She asked, “Grandma, how are you? I heard you were sick.”
Minerva chuckled. “Are you crying? Honey, I heard a lot of people there. You must remember that elegant women should not cry in crowded places. You must be calm.”
“Grandma, we’re not talking about that now,” Natalie said, feeling a little frustrated. She wanted to talk about som
