For years she was offended if we hired anyone else. What am I, a stranger, bring me my grandson. Then one Thursday I asked whether Theo could stay after school and she said sure, and then, lightly, that I should bring fifty five dollars. I laughed. She did not. Cash, always, whether he was there ninety minutes or five hours. The night of the wedding I only had a hundred and she went into her bedroom and came back with forty five in change while my son slept under the same faded blue blanket I slept under at his age. I told my husband I would rather pay a real sitter. We kept Theo away for four weeks. She phoned twice. When I finally said yes, I was angry about the money, she asked me not to stop bringing him, and when I said then stop charging us, she said she could not.

Not would not. Could not. She had been diagnosed in January. Early stage, Continues…