BY WILLIAM MELVIN KELLEY A Visit to Grandmother

Make your best guess as to what each highlighted word means. Timidly: He had always known his father to be the warmest of men, a man so kind that when people ventured timidly into his office, it took only a few words from him to make them relax, and even laugh. Crafty: All my running buddies got their diplomas and were snapped up by them crafty young gals, and had kids within a year. Offhand: As they packed for home, his father, in a far too offhand way, had suggested they visit Chig’s grandmother. Don Juan: his father had never talked much about his family, with the exception of his brother, GL, who seemed part con man, part practical joker and part Don Juan. Grimacing: That was when Chig saw his face, grimacing. Spell: I’ll just sit and talk a spell.

Footloose: He ain’t as young and footloose as he used to be. Bazaar: GL went out of the house one day with an old, no-good chair I wanted him to take over to the church for a bazaar. Reckon, swindler: Now, I reckon you can expect one swindler to be in every town. Ungainly: You see, I was sure that boy had come by that animal ungainly. Meager: Well, GL was pulling on the reins with all his meager strength, and yelling, “Whoa, you!” Paid mind, end up swinging: I had ten children. I had to give all of them what they needed most. I paid more mind to GL. I had to. GL could-a ended up swinging if I hadn’t. Lacquered: A man with a new, lacquered straw hat came in. Engaging: He stood in the doorway, smiling broadly, an engaging, open, friendly smile.

TIMIDLY: fearful, hesitant CRAFTY: a little devious, cleverly dishonest OFFHAND: without preparation or forethought DON JUAN: a man who seduces women, (after Don Juan, a famous 14th century Spanish nobleman and lover) GRIMACING: a facial expression of pain or contempt SPELL: a little while FOOTLOOSE: having no attachments or ties, free to do as you please

BAZAAR: a fair or sale RECKON: guess SWINDLER: a person who swindles you (cheats you) using fraud or deception UNGAINLY: dishonestly MEAGER: lacking in quantity or fullness PAID MIND: paid attention END UP SWINGING: end up hung LACQUERED: covered in a glossy finish ENGAGING: charming, attractive

Freewrite What misunderstandings have there been in your family? Are there any resentments that you have, or ongoing family disagreements? (NOTE: You do not need to share ANYTHING that you don’t feel comfortable sharing. You and your family have a right to absolute privacy, and I do not mean to intrude. The design behind this is that you begin to think about your own family dynamics, so that you are in the right frame of mind to begin reading A Visit to Grandmother.)