The Patchwork Quilt

Tanya sat restlessly on her chair by the kitchen window. For several days she had had to stay in bed with a cold. But now Tanya’s cold was almost gone. She was anxious to go outside and enjoy the fresh air and the arrival of spring.

“Mama, when can I go outside?” asked Tanya. Mama pulled the tray of biscuits from the oven and placed it on the counter. “In time,” she murmured. “All in good time.”

Tanya gazed through the window and saw her two brothers, Ted and Jim, and Papa building the new backyard fence. “I’m gonna talk to Grandma,” she said.

Grandma was sitting in her favorite spot-the big soft chair in front of the picture window. In her lap were scraps of materials of all textures and colors. Tanya recognized some of them. The plaid was from Papa’s old work shirt, and the red scraps were from the shirt Ted had torn that winter.

“Whatcha gonna do with all that stuff?” Tanya asked.

“Stuff? These ain’t stuff. These little pieces gonna make me a quilt, a patchwork quilt.”

Tanya tilted her head. “I know what a quilt is, Grandma. There’s one on your bed, but it’s old and dirty and Mama can never get it clean.”

Grandma sighed. “It ain’t dirty, honey. It’s worn, the way it’s supposed to be.”

Grandma flexed her fingers to keep them from stiffening. She sucked in some air and said, “My mother made me a quilt when I wasn’t any older than you. But sometimes the old ways are forgotten.”

Tanya leaned against the chair and rested her head on her grandmother’s shoulder.

Just then Mama walked in with two glasses of milk and some biscuits. Mama looked at the scraps of material that were scattered all over. “Grandma,” she said, “I just cleaned this room, and now it’s a mess.”

“It’s not a mess, Mama,” Tanya said through a mouthful of biscuit. “It’s a quilt.”

“A quilt! You don’t need these scraps. I can get you a quilt,” Mama said.

Grandma looked at her daughter and then turned to her grandchild. “Yes, your mama can get you a quilt from any department store. But it won’t be like my patchwork quilt, and it won’t last as long either.”

Mama looked at Grandma, then picked up Tanya’s empty glass and went to make lunch.