Kingston ferry terminal (photo: D. Shrimplin)
As Hilde walked up the gangway to board the ferry to Seattle, she thought of the events that had lead up to this moment. Ten months ago, after her daughter and son-in-law were killed by a drunk driver, Hilde became the mother to her fifteen-year-old granddaughter, Lizzy. Lizzy had defiantly rejected her counselor's advice and ran away from home.
HIlde, not satisfied with the police investigation, asked one of her friend's computer geek sons to track down Lizzy's boyfriend, Brian's address. Thinking Lizzy may be in hiding at Brian's, she timed her visit when Brian might be at work.
When Hilde knocked on Brian's apartment door, Lizzy opened it.
"Grandma! Oh, God, how did you find me?"
"Technology. I've come to take you home. Now let me in."
Lizzy stepped aside. Hilde cringed at the sight of disheveled clothes and fast food wrappers littered about the living room.
The air smelled of cat litter and cheap incense.
"You listen to me. I'm responsible for you and I won't have you living like this. I've brought you some clean clothes. Now, go get dressed. I'm taking you home."
"No, I don't want to go home. Brian loves me and wants me here. I'm gonna stay here."
"I don't care what Brian wants. You're a fool to listen to him. You're underage and I could have him arrested. I'll go to the police if you don't come with me right now. Do you want me to prosecute him? Don't believe I won't. The taxi is waiting. Get dressed."
"Brian will come for me."
"Fine. Let him come. He'll have to deal with me. Your parents would be so ashamed if they saw you here. Now, grow up and get dressed. We'll talk more when we get home."
The threat to prosecute Brian caused multiple reactions. Lizzy continued to grouse, complain, whine and rant about how unfair life was. Hilde stood her ground and let her rave on.
Realizing Hilde would not engage in an argument or back off, Lizzy grabbed the bag of clothes and went into the bedroom. When she returned, she saw Hilde holding her head.
"Grandma, are you OK?"
Hilde wanted to get Lizzy on the ferry before Brian returned home. Wincing at the pain running through her temples and piercing the back of her eyes, she said, "Just a headache. Now, let's get out of here."
On the ferry, Hilde tried to speak in a calm voice, "Lizzy, we're going to get through this. You're a smart girl and you could have a bright future. I know you're in pain and miss your parents. You have to stay level headed, independent and hopeful."
"We'll talk more at home Grandma."
Bearing up under the physical and emotional pain, Hilde closed her eyes. She prayed the doctors were wrong and she would have more than three years to live. She desperately needed those years to guide Lizzy onto the right path.
HIlde, not satisfied with the police investigation, asked one of her friend's computer geek sons to track down Lizzy's boyfriend, Brian's address. Thinking Lizzy may be in hiding at Brian's, she timed her visit when Brian might be at work.
When Hilde knocked on Brian's apartment door, Lizzy opened it.
"Grandma! Oh, God, how did you find me?"
"Technology. I've come to take you home. Now let me in."
Lizzy stepped aside. Hilde cringed at the sight of disheveled clothes and fast food wrappers littered about the living room.
The air smelled of cat litter and cheap incense.
"You listen to me. I'm responsible for you and I won't have you living like this. I've brought you some clean clothes. Now, go get dressed. I'm taking you home."
"No, I don't want to go home. Brian loves me and wants me here. I'm gonna stay here."
"I don't care what Brian wants. You're a fool to listen to him. You're underage and I could have him arrested. I'll go to the police if you don't come with me right now. Do you want me to prosecute him? Don't believe I won't. The taxi is waiting. Get dressed."
"Brian will come for me."
"Fine. Let him come. He'll have to deal with me. Your parents would be so ashamed if they saw you here. Now, grow up and get dressed. We'll talk more when we get home."
The threat to prosecute Brian caused multiple reactions. Lizzy continued to grouse, complain, whine and rant about how unfair life was. Hilde stood her ground and let her rave on.
Realizing Hilde would not engage in an argument or back off, Lizzy grabbed the bag of clothes and went into the bedroom. When she returned, she saw Hilde holding her head.
"Grandma, are you OK?"
Hilde wanted to get Lizzy on the ferry before Brian returned home. Wincing at the pain running through her temples and piercing the back of her eyes, she said, "Just a headache. Now, let's get out of here."
On the ferry, Hilde tried to speak in a calm voice, "Lizzy, we're going to get through this. You're a smart girl and you could have a bright future. I know you're in pain and miss your parents. You have to stay level headed, independent and hopeful."
"We'll talk more at home Grandma."
Bearing up under the physical and emotional pain, Hilde closed her eyes. She prayed the doctors were wrong and she would have more than three years to live. She desperately needed those years to guide Lizzy onto the right path.
