My daughter-in-law laughed as she gave me a $2 scratch-off for my 73rd birthday. Ten months later, my own son shoved a senior living brochure in front of me and said, “We already picked your room.” They thought I was too old to fight back. They had no idea what I had been hiding.

My phone rang repeatedly.

Colin left a message asking whether I was safe.

Jessica sent three texts, each progressively less polite.

The first requested the contact information for Richard.

The second asked how they were supposed to explain the change to Lucas and his younger sister, Sophie.

The third claimed I was frightening the children.

I called Colin back.

“Tell them Grandma moved into a home of her own,” I said.