THE GENERATION GAP

"Amma, we are going to the mall for shopping, then for a movie, and then to a restaurant for dinner. Please get ready in an hour.", said the son to his mother.

"No Son,  You go ahead.  I have pain in my legs. I am not interested in coming." replied his mother.

" Grandma, if you don't come, I am not going," said his 10-year-old granddaughter vehemently.

" Dear, grandma's legs are paining. She cannot climb the steps in the Mall.  She does not know how to use the escalator. She is interested only in visiting temples."* said the daughter-in-law.

The granddaughter did not agree and she was adamant.  She refused to come if Grandma was not coming.  Grandma had to agree reluctantly to go with them.

The granddaughter was happy. Both got ready before her parents. Then the kid applied some pain relieving cream on grandma's legs and took her grandma to the lawn. 

She drew two parallel lines, a foot apart on the floor.  She told her grandmother to keep one leg on one line and raise the other leg and place it on the other line.  

"What is this my dear?"  asked Grandma...

"This is called Crane game, Grandma.  I will show you how to play."Both of them played a few times and before the parents are ready, grandma was adept in the game.

In the car, the kid sat with her granny. They went to the mall first. At the escalator, the parents were wondering how the old lady was able to manage to go on the escalator effortlessly.   

As done in the Crane game,  grandma raised her right foot and placed it on the moving steps and simultaneously raised the other leg and placed it on the next up-coming step.

That way she used the escalator easily to reach the top, much to the surprise of her son and daughter-in-law.  Then both of them moved up and down several times and had fun.  

Then they went to the theatre.  As it was cold due to the AC, the granddaughter took out a shawl from her bag and covered the old lady, with a smile.  She came prepared for this!  

After the movie, they went to the restaurant.  When the son asked his mother what she wanted, the granddaughter took the menu card and gave it to grandma.     

"Granny, you know how to read English; go through the menu and order whatever you want".  Grandma read the menu and suggested the dishes she wanted. 

After the meal, Grandma went to the restroom.  Using that occasion, the father asked his daughter how she knew the needs of her grandmother.

The kid replied, "Dad, when a child is taken out, you take milk bottle, diapers, wipes, etc.!?. Granny would have done that to you when you were young. The same consideration is to be given to her now.

"Why do you presume that she is interested only in temples? She also has normal wishes like going out with family and having fun. She may not openly tell you, but we have to understand and make her enjoy life"

The father was speechless.  However, he was happy and wondered how his ten-year-old daughter was able to read the mind of his seventy-year-old mother. Is it the generation gap?