This week was busier than usual, and I was very tired today. All I wanted to do was to go home and enjoy a bowl of good hot soup. But when I saw my daughter's car, _ Since his parents separated, I had tried to have my six-year-old grandson spend a few hours with me at least once a week. I had always tried to make it a special time for him. We did many interesting things; Bryan loved all these activities, and so did I. But today I had to give up our evening. I said how tired I was feeling. "Bryan, I'm sorry. Tonight I don't feel like having fun or playing games. We'll have our night together some other time." I saw the sadness in Bryan's eyes. He said, "I like soup, Grandma." I knew he meant "Please don't send me away. Please let me stay." I saw the shadow   in Bryan's eyes. Something else was changing. Maybe he thought I wouldn't want to have him come any more -- not tonight, not next week, not ever. Finally, I said OK. I was glad to see his eyes light up. After I put the soup on the stove   and turned on the TV, I fell asleep. When I woke up, there was a coat over my legs, and the soup was gone. Bryan was on the floor, reading a coloring book and watching a television show at the same time. The poor boy must have been so bored  ! When he found I was awake, he ran over and gave me a big hug. "I love you, Grandma," he said. "Haven't we had a nice time together?" His big smile and happy eyes told me that this time he meant exactly what he was saying. That was the keyword -- together. We had done nothing exciting or special. But we were together. Why didn't the author want to stay with her grandson that night at first?
She was too tired to have fun or play games with him. She was sick and wanted to have a good rest. She was too busy and had to work overtime that night. She had to prepare soup for the whole family.