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She takes the plate frouest "Farandfather nods

"Thank goodness," he says "I have things to say to each of you"

So far, except for that one ht co as usual I’ve heard that some of the elderly have surprised everyone at the end, by choosing not to die with dignity They cry and get upset and go crazy Al it does isthey can do about it It’s the way things are

By soo into the kitchen to let my father speak with Grandfather first Bram, drowsy and stuffed with food, puts his head down on the table and fal s asleep, snoring gently My ine that Bram dreams of more desserts, a plate heaped with them My eyes feel heavy, too, but I don’t want to miss any part of Grandfather’s last day

After oes in to speak with Grandfather The gift she has for him is a leaf from his favorite tree at the Arboretues have curled and becoreen in the middle She told me, while aited and Bram slept, that Grandfather had asked if he could have his final celebration at the Arboretum, out in the blue-sky air Of course, his request was denied

My turn at last As I go into the room I notice that the s are open It is not a cool afternoon, and the breeze feels urgent and hot as it blows through the aparts wil be cooler

"I wanted to feel the air ," Grandfather says to me as I sit in the chair next to his bed

I hand hih it "These are lovely words," Grandfather says "Fine sentiments" I should feel pleased, but I can tel there is so

"But none of these words are your own, Cassia," Grandfather says gently

Tears sting my eyes and I look down at my hands My hands that, like almost everyone else in our Society, cannot write, that merely kno to use the words of others Words that have disappointed ht a rock like Bra here e Grandfather

"You have words of your own, Cassia," Grandfather says to me "I have heard soivenso often I stil love this letter because it is fros I want you to trust your oords Do you understand?"

I look up and meet his eyes, and nod, because I know that’s what he’l want ift to him even if my letter is a failure

And then I think of so else Since that day on the air train, I’ve kept the cottonwood seed in the pocket of ive it to hi it up to look at itclouds of glory" Noonder if Grandfather is starting to slip away already I don’t knohat he et one of my parents

"I’ain "I told you to use your oords, and now I’ to ask you for someone else’s Let me see your compact"

Surprised, I hold it out to hiainst his palasp in shock as a paper fal s out I can see right away that it is old--heavy and thick and creamy, not slick and white like the curls of paper that come out of the ports or the scribes

Grandfather unfolds the paper careful y, gently I try not to look too closely, in case he does not want lance I can tel that the words are old, too The type is not one in use anyether

His fingers tre close or because of what he holds in his hand, I do not knoant to help hi hefor him to read the paper, and when he’s finished, he closes his eyes An emotion crosses his face that I cannot read

Soht, beautiful eyes and looks straight at me while he folds the paper back up "Cassia This is for you It’s even more precious than the compact"

"But it’s so--" I stop before I can say the word dangerous

There is no ti in the hal

Grandfather looks at me with love in his eyes, and holds the paper out to ift After a ers close around the paper and he lets go

He gives me back the compact, too; the paper fits neatly inside As I snap the artifact shut, Grandfather leans towardyou so you won’t understand, yet But I think you wil soht to wonder"

He holds on for a long tiht when Grandfather looks at us and says the best words of al hich to end a life "I love you I love you I love you I love you"

We al say it back to him Each of us means it and he smiles He leans back on his pil ows and closes his eyes

Everything inside hiood life It ends as it is supposed to end, at exactly the right ti his hand when he dies