This short story is from <Heartwarming Collection of Short Stories for Seniors: 2 Books in 1> by Bradley Windrow. It is perfect for seniors, even for dementia patients. Be sure to read until the end, as there’s a special gift waiting for you! hope you enjoy it!
The more you find out about the world, the more opportunities there are to laugh at it. –Bill Nye
Martha’s family was in for a treat. She had been practicing a trick for the next annual family reunion. When the day came, without drawing too much attention, Martha strolled into the center of the yard and “sat” down—except there was no chair beneath her. She simply hovered, knees bent at a perfect angle, chatting casually with her grandchildren.
At first, no one seemed to notice. But then her youngest granddaughter, Sophie, did a double-take.
“Grandma, what are you sitting on?” she asked, her voice filled with confusion.
“Oh, just a chair, darling.” Martha smiled innocently. Sophie blinked, looked again, and tugged at her brother’s sleeve. Soon, more kids gathered, staring at their grandmother’s gravity-defying act. The whispers spread like wildfire, and soon, the adults caught on, too. Her first son, Dan, squinted, clearly baffled.
“Mom, are you floating? What’s going on here?”
“What do you mean? You can’t see the chair?” Martha asked with a serious face. The family was in disbelief. A circle began to form around Martha as she remained perfectly “seated” in the air. Doris, her sister, shook her head.
“There’s no way. What’s your trick, Martha?”
The grandkids, determined to solve the mystery, tried to imitate her. They squatted down, wobbling and toppling over one by one, while Martha watched in amusement. Dan, ever the competitive one, decided he had to figure it out.
“It’s got to be muscle control!” he announced. “I bet it’s all in the legs.” He tried to squat into the same position but only managed to hold it for a few seconds before standing up, his legs shaking. “Alright, maybe not.”
“You just need strong muscles, like me!” Martha teased, watching as her second son Bill tried and failed to replicate her invisible chair. “It’s all about balance, right?” The family’s attempts became more desperate and ridiculous. Some suggested she had hidden strings or invisible supports. Finally, Bill, ever the competitor, declared,
“Whoever figures this out gets extra dessert.” That sparked a frenzy. Martha could barely contain her laughter as her grandkids toppled over themselves, and even her grown children started squatting awkwardly in the yard. Just as her grandson made one final attempt and fell flat on his back, Martha stood up and stretched her legs.
“Alright, time to end the mystery,” she said, lifting her pant leg to reveal the hidden brace supporting her all along. The yard erupted in laughter.
“You sneaky devil!” Bill groaned, slapping his forehead. Martha grinned, relishing in her victory. “We should’ve known!”
“Never underestimate your grandma,” she teased. As the family recovered from their fits of laughter, they applauded Martha’s cleverness, joking about her next prank. Martha, feeling triumphant, chuckled to herself, thinking how fun it was to keep them all guessing.
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