As soon as Bryan walked into his grandmother’s house, he could smell the delicious aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting from the kitchen. His stomach growled with anticipation. He loved visiting his grandma, but lately, he had been feeling a bit frustrated with her old-fashioned ways and lectures.

“Hello, grandma!” Bryan called out, dropping his backpack on the floor.

Grandma emerged from the kitchen, her silver hair tied up in a bun, a warm smile on her face.

“Hey, sweetie! How was your day?”

Bryan shrugged, flopping down on the couch. “It was fine, I guess.”

His grandma sat down beside him, her eyes twinkling with concern. “What’s wrong, Bryan? You seem a bit distant lately.”

Bryan sighed, feeling a bit guilty. “It’s just ... you’re always telling me what to do, grandma. You don’t understand what it’s like to be a teenager today.”

His grandma nodded thoughtfully and said, “I may not be a teenager, but I’ve lived through a lot, Bryan. And I’ve learned that respect and kindness go a long way.”

Bryan rolled his eyes, feeling a bit annoyed. Trying not to sound rude, he replied, “Yeah, yeah, I know. You’ve told me a million times.”

But his grandma wasn’t deterred and said, “Come with me, Bryan.”

She led him to the backyard, where a beautiful garden bloomed with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. “I planted this garden, and it took a lot of hard work and patience, but it’s worth it, isn’t it?”

Bryan looked around, impressed despite himself, and burst out, “Wow, grandma, this is amazing!”

His grandma smiled as she spoke, “Respect your elders, Bryan. We may not be as tech-savvy or trendy as you, but we’ve lived through struggles and triumphs. We have wisdom to share.”

Bryan felt a pang of guilt, realising how much he had been taking his grandmother for granted. He started helping her with the garden, listening to her stories and advice.

A few days later, His grandma asked Bryan to accompany her to the local senior centre. “I want you to meet my friends, Bryan,” she said.

At the senior centre, Bryan was introduced to a group of lively seniors who regaled him with stories of their lives.

There was Mr Johnson, a retired teacher who had fought in World War II; Mrs Patel, a talented artist who had immigrated from South America; and Mrs Rodriguez, a feisty activist who had marched with Martin Luther King Jr.

As Bryan listened to their stories, he was struck by their resilience, wisdom and kindness. He realised that respecting elders wasn’t just about obeying them, but was about valuing their experiences and perspectives.

From that day on, Bryan made a conscious effort to respect his elders, including his grandma. He started volunteering at the senior centre, helping with tasks and listening to their stories. He discovered that their wisdom and experience were invaluable and that listening to them could teach him a lot about life.

As he left his grandmother’s house that day, Bryan felt grateful for the lessons he had learned.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 7th, 2024