Portrait Practice: Grandma Dorothy

Our front door slams shut and we immediately hear the slow shuffling footsteps of my grandparents, along with a loud "Anybody home?" by Grandma. Mom and Dad stood up from the couch and began swatting at all of us kids to stand up and greet our grandparents. We slowly lean forward and begin moaning as we stand up. Grandma enters the family room, and begins roughly embracing us each--pushing us against her chest as we gasp for air. After she releases me, Grandma immediately plunges into a new scheme. She smiles and says, "Now Amanda, do you keep yourself busy with a job?" I begin to answer, but she doesn't allow me the chance, "Because I can hire you. You can  organize our cabinets. Don't we need our cabinets organized, Dan?" Grandpa tries to say yes, but she beats him to it. "Of course we do. What do you think, Amanda?" I have no idea what I think about the job. I only know that being called Amanda instead of Mandy always puts me in a bad mood. "Now, before you fight me, just know that I would pay you well."  Yikes. What does that mean? "Oh Grandma, I could never accept your--" Grandma chimes in, "Of course you can. Now Dan, how much could we pay Amanda?" She doesn't pause for him to reply. "Amanda, you would be paid. Well. Well paid." I stare at my mother and begin mouthing desperate pleas. "I won't take no for an answer, Amanda." I realize that I'm defeated. I tell Grandma to let me know when she needs my help. She never tells me, and I've wisely kept my mouth shut and thanked the heavens she's forgotten.