Granny patted her stomach where she felt the piece of camel hair coat that her older daughter Lisa had worn all through her twenties . She was gone now , a victim of ovarian cancer only two years before . Every parent ’ s nightmare : burying a child . A tear trickled down Granny ’ s temple and into her matted hair .
Carol appeared at the door . “ Yoo-hoo , Mom . It ’ s me .” She was large and loud and didn ’ t have to announce her presence . Granny could hear her coming down the corridor . The first thing Carol did was crank up the top of the bed . “ Goodness , Mom , I don ’ t know how you just lie here all day . At least sit up . Let me brush your hair .”
Granny fondled a soft square of Jack ’ s old green sweater , under her left palm . The right hand caressed a patch of Lisa ’ s tiny white baby jacket . She ’ d looked like a fuzzy lamb in it .
Granny once heard Carol complaining to the nurses when she thought her mother was asleep . “ She used to be a great reader , but whenever I come , she ’ s just lying there . This is going to be
a long convalescence if she doesn ’ t even have anything to occupy her mind .”
Granny ’ s hair was curly , and the brush caught in its tangles . “ Sorry , Mom , but you have to look presentable . Sit up straight and we ’ ll have a nice game of cribbage .” Granny stroked Jack ’ s green sweater again . That was his lucky sweater that he always wore when they played crib .
With Carol gone and the supper tray cleared away , Granny lay back and surveyed her quilted body . Over her left foot now was the square of black Persian lamb from her own mother ’ s coat , a coat that she had coveted until there was money for it in her middle age . Her right foot was covered by a patch from her father ’ s grey pinstripe . Under her right hand she could feel the blue satin that she wore as her cousin ’ s bridesmaid and under her left was the square of plaid flannel shirt from another cousin who had been killed in the Korean War . She stroked the black velvet patch at her throat and drifted off to sleep and dream , bringing her lost ones close : soft and warm and dark .
2025 ARTA PHOTO CONTEST
2025 Photo Contest Categories
Nature | Travel | Reflection | Heroes
ARTA is proud to sponsor its THIRTEENTH ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST . All ARTA members — regular or affiliate — are eligible to enter .
As in the past , we have two entry categories : if you have won in the past , please submit to the Masters category ; if you have not been a past winner , enter the Novice category . Winners will be announced in the autumn 2025 issue of news & views and posted on ARTA electronic media sites .
All entries must be received by ARTA no later than 4:00 p . m . on May 31 , 2025 .
Digital entries can be emailed to : contests @ arta . net or
Printed entries can be mailed to : ARTA Photo Contest 15505 137 Avenue NW
Edmonton , AB T5V 1R9
Visit arta . net / photo-contest for contest rules and entry form .
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