From The Diary of Grandma Tracy
by Amanda Tracy

Dear Agnetha,

It's almost 10 pm now and I'm still wide awake. The sun set long ago. It's finally cooled off some. You know, living on a tropical island with the same type of weather day in and day out can get a little tiresome after awhile. It's certainly not like when we lived near Garden City, Kansas. At least we had seasons. Remember when we socked the vicar with that snowball that one winter?

You probably think I'm being silly writing to you like this even though you've been gone for so long. Well, maybe I am. I miss you so much. Why, there are times I think I can still here your footsteps outside my door, and expect you to knock. I can't help it, Aggie. We can laugh all about it when I join you some day.

Well, you wouldn't believe what's happened in the last couple of days. As usual, Alan's gotten himself into trouble once again. That boy! My youngest grandson, you know. Hasn't got a lick of sense when it comes to wooing a young lady.

It all started two days ago when this young man named Houseman flew in from Australia to see Kyrano's daughter TinTin. TinTin was born in Malaysia, you see, and her father works for Jeff. They both live on the island with the rest of the family. She's absolutely beautiful with black hair, dark eyes, and the sweetest spirit. That's what her name means in Malaysian. Sweet. Well, that's what Kyrano told me, anyway. He couldn't have picked a more perfect name. I suspect that she this Eddie person had seen each other some time ago. When he walked in behind Kyrano, TinTin's eyes just lit right up!

I overheard the boys talking about Eddie and Alan's reaction to him. They teased him something awful and what did Alan do?

Why that boy just sulked!

Oh Aggie, he sat the whole time in the lounge while Eddie and TinTin were off on this moonlit boat ride. Why it reminds me of that time his puppy Max ran away and that bottom lip of his sticking out for days.

Well, last night Eddie was going to take TinTin out to the mainland for dinner and dancing and who knows what. While she was getting dressed, he gets this call from this construction business of his. There was some trouble going on and he just had to leave right then and there.

TinTin wore this beautiful dress. Agnetha, she sparkled like stars. She was so pretty. She must have spent hours getting all dressed up for him only to see him flying off into the sunset without her. He didn't even bother to say good bye.

That's the trouble with these men and their new businesses. Jeff was the same way. It's no wonder that son of mine hasn't gotten married again. Work, work, work.

Good riddance, I say. She turned right back around and just went back to her room. Didn't see her again until almost noon today. She agreed to sit with me on the patio, and let me tell you, Agnetha, those sunglasses she wore? She wasn't just protecting her eyes from the sun, let me tell you. She looked to have been crying all night long. While we were sunning ourselves, Alan came out to see her and tried to cheer her up. He asked if she'd like to come water-skiing with him, and of course she didn't feel like it. Then he said something about Eddie and what a jerk he was and that was the straw that broke the camel's back. She got up without another word and went straight to her bedroom again.

Alan just stared at her saying, "What did I say? Grandma, did you see that?"

Of course, I saw it. I'm not blind you know. He's in love with her, and she just hasn't quite made up her mind yet. His puppy ran away again.

One thing's for sure. You can't stay mad at the boy for long. He didn't know what to do so I told him just to leave it to me. I'm such a matchmaker, Aggie. While Alan "went to work" as I call it, I was working on hemming another dress for TinTin.

I let it slip that Alan was very sick and in a lot of pain. I remarked that he should never have gone, but then there was no stopping him. By the time I was through, all she could think about was Alan. The knight in shining armor and all that.

As soon as the boys were on their way back home again, she just couldn't wait to talk to him. There she was at Jeff's desk, asking him if he was all right and scolding him for taking off like that. It was Romeo and Juliet all over again.

Those two have been absolutely inseparable ever since. Alan's happy again, TinTin isn't sad anymore, and the boys have left them both alone. For now anyway.

Well, it's nearly 11 pm now, Aggie. It's time I went to bed. A grandmother's work is never done, and I need my rest for tomorrow. Goodnight, Aggie. I think of you always, dear sister. Keep looking out for me, won't you? I need all the help I can get!