JACK CHANG – Oakland – 2022

Gram clings to the side of the rope spider, positioning each foot with care, then straightening out the leg and feeling for the next hold. Kieran has mastered the ropes and waves to Gram from the metal egg at the top. Seeing Kieran triumphant drives Gram insane with envy, and he yells down at me, “I need help!”

“You can do it!” I yell back and point him to the other side of the sider where the ascent is easier. He studies the other side and looks for a way over. I go back to talking to Lindsay and Cassidy’s mom. When I glance back at the spider, Gram is calling to me from the egg, “Hi, Baba!”