> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Granddaughter's Visit - URL: https://www.hawtornvrabot.com/the-granddaughters-visit/ - Published: 2026-08-31T20:29:33.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-06T01:45:51.000Z - Description: A mother, daughter, and granddaughter walk through a senior living home as painful memories from the past resurface. - Author: Hawtorn V. Rabot - Tags: memoir, short story, dementia, family trauma --- ***If you’re receiving this, you previously subscribed to my writing on Substack. I’m on Ghost now. I also went fully anonymous on Substack. A few friends, welcome to the other side of me. It's Hawtorn V. Rabot, HVR, though a few of you know my real name.*** --- ## Sign up for Hawtorn V. Rabot I try to answer questions I wonder and ask, usually ending with more questions. Poetry, memoir, fiction, essay, rap, politics, analyses - nicheless. I'm just a guy who writes. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. --- Rachel’s eyes searched the ground. Her chin came up, and she looked at her mother. “I think the next time I see you, I’ll be at one of the old ladies’ homes,” Mima said. Rachel took Mima’s hand in her left and Lily’s hand in her right. They walked from the car into the senior living home. Rachel signed Mima back in. “Quit playing by the glass!” she called to Lily. “Who is that?” Mima asked. “Mom, that’s your granddaughter.” “Right, I knew that.” They began the long walk to Mima’s room. “Your Uncle Mike is mad at me. I know it. He hasn’t come by in months.” “Mom, he was here yesterday with us. He’s not mad.” “Right, I knew that.” Lily danced through the hallways and got everyone’s attention. One man smiled. “Be sure to visit us again,” he said. “I was here yesterday, though.” Lily grinned. The man was confused. Mima grabbed Rachel’s arm. “Who is that?” she asked, pointing to Lily. “Your granddaughter, Mom.” “Right.” --- Rachel was 20 and home from college for a break. Her aunts were there, and they always loved to pick on her. “Oh, it’s the college one!” one aunt called, pointing at Rachel. “Remember the rest of us?” another teased. They laughed. Rachel looked to her mom. “You made me go to college.” Her mother snapped back. “Don’t you disrespect your aunts!” Rachel swallowed her words. They sat down to dinner. A TV commercial came on about debt relief. One aunt cackled. “All your education never taught you about credit cards!” Rachel stood up. “Mom, I told you that in confidence!” “They’re my sisters.” Rachel scowled at her aunts. “I qualify for credit. You don’t have an income unless you’re with a man.” Her aunts turned to Rachel's mother. “Stop that!” her mother yelled at Rachel. “Fuck Thanksgiving, Mom! I’m out.” Rachel grabbed a bag and left. --- “I think my room is this way?” Mima looked at Rachel. “I love you a bushel and a peck—” “A bushel and a peck,” Rachel continued. Lily chimed in. “A peck!” The marathon to the end of the hall continued. “I don’t know what I did to Uncle Mike, but he hasn’t been by.” Mima shook her head. “Mom, he was here with us yesterday.” Lily ran ahead. The man’s eyes lit up. “Come back and visit us soon.” Lily stared at the man and then turned to her mom. They finally reached the common room at the end of the hallway. Mima pointed to photographs of smiling families hanging near the dining tables. “That’s all I ever wanted for you, sweetie.” “I know, Mom.” Lily grabbed Mima’s hand. “Such a sweet child.” Mima smiled at Rachel. “I hope you have one someday.” --- Rachel was 28 and stayed in the bathroom. “We're going to be late, Rachel!” her mom shouted at the door. “Let's go!” Rachel opened the bathroom door. Her feet followed her mom to the car for the family party. Some stared at Rachel. Their faces lit up when they saw her mom. Rachel tried to blend in. Her mom called her over. “And then I saw how much she took out in student loans. Again.” The family erupted in laughter. Rachel’s face fell. “We went shopping for a new outfit for the internship, and the four outfits cost over $200!” The aunts and cousins gasped. Rachel took a sharp breath. “I can’t show up at the firm with clothing from Walmart, Mom!” The only sound in the room was her mother's breath. Her mother went to her sisters. And cried. --- They were only ten rooms away, but it felt like the other side of the city. Mima grabbed Rachel and hugged her. “The next time you see me, I might be in an old ladies’ home.” She tapped Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m just so proud of you.” “I know, Mom.” Lily looked up. “Can Mima come home with us, Mom?” “What’s she mean, sweetie?” Mima whispered. “I think she wants you to come live with us.” “Who is she?” “Your granddaughter.” Lily ran into Mima’s arms. “I would love to come home with you, but I need to fix up the house.” Mima grinned. “I can live alone a little longer, and Uncle Mike comes by to help all the time.” Lily walked Mima to her door. “What’s this?” Mima asked. “Your home,” Rachel replied. Mima opened the door and stepped inside. “It’s pretty!” She cried for a moment. --- Rachel was four. Her parents had the nicest home in the family. Both of her parents worked, and they put her in the best schools. Pictures of Rachel and her parents were all over the walls. One day, Rachel’s aunts came over. They pointed to her picture. “Hey sis, your daughter may be smart, but she’s ugly as hell.” Rachel stayed still. She said nothing. She wanted her dad to come in. He didn’t. Her mother just sighed. And changed the subject. A few days later, her mother went through all the family photo albums. She found pictures of two blonde cousins they’d seen only twice and hung them on the wall. Later, Rachel got out of bed to go to the bathroom. “I don’t know why in the hell you put those pictures up!” her dad shouted. “Lower your voice.” Silence. “I just want people to think we have attractive people in our family,” her mom replied. Her dad stood. And did nothing. Rachel went back to bed without going to the bathroom. --- Mima went to the pictures on the wall. She looked around. She didn’t comment on her sisters or cousins. She only commented on Rachel’s. “Look how you turned out!” Rachel said nothing. Mima’s favorite picture of her and her siblings was in the corner, forgotten. It was falling out of its frame, and nobody noticed. “Who is that in your arms, sweetie?” she asked, pointing to one of Rachel's pictures. “Your granddaughter.” Lily popped out from behind Mima. “Mima!” Mima sat down. “I love you a bushel and a peck.” “A bushel and a peck,” Rachel sang along. A moment later, Mima looked at her. “Is Uncle Mike mad at me?” “We saw him yesterday, Mom.” “Oh.” --- Rachel turned seven. Her mother came home late that day. She looked at the cake and the present. “What’s going on?” Rachel’s dad turned to her mom. “It’s her birthday. We went to get burgers and a cake earlier.” Rachel hid her face. “I was visiting my brother in jail,” her mother explained. Her dad sat next to Rachel. “Did you like your burger?” --- Mima stood up. “I need to find my phone. They took my phone.” “Who can I call for you, Mom?” Mima stopped. She walked to another picture of Rachel and smiled wide. “I’m so proud of you, sweetie. Look at all you did.” “Thanks, Mom.” “I have to go potty!” Lily cried. Rachel took her into the bathroom. When they returned, Mima asked about Uncle Mike. --- Rachel got in her car after work. It was the last day before the holiday break. She was 33. Her mom called. “I said I would come and visit, but I’m not.” Rachel sat up straight. “What?” “I’m just too hurt from what you said to me and my sisters, and I didn’t want to upset you when you were working.” Rachel gasped. “So I will spend the holidays with them.” Rachel hung up the phone. And wept. --- Rachel told Lily it was time to go. Lily looked at Mima. “I want to stay!” Mima smiled. “I have to fix up the house before they put me in the old ladies’ home.” They held hands and walked to the door. Mima hugged Rachel and cried. “I love you a bushel and a peck.” Rachel tried not to cry but failed. Lily grabbed Rachel’s leg. “I love you a bushel and a peck,” she sang. --- Rachel was 25 and in the hospital. Her dad’s surgery failed, and he wasn’t waking up. She kneeled by the window and prayed. Her mother came in and out for weeks. Rachel held her dad’s hand as he departed. Her mother came in and fell to the floor. --- Rachel and Lily began the long walk from Mima’s room toward the exit. Mima came with them. Lily skipped and danced. “Who is she?” Mima asked. “Your granddaughter.” They came back to the dining area. The man asked if Lily would visit again. “I need to call Uncle Mike. He’s mad at me.” “He’ll be by later in the week.” They continued to the exit. Mima hugged Rachel. Lily hugged them both. “Such a sweet child. I hope you have one like her someday.” Rachel teared up. “I love you a bushel and a peck,” she whispered and then kissed Mima. She took Lily’s hand and walked out the door. --- Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment. It's free to subscribe, share, post on socials, and tell others. 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