Grandma is not your typical old lady. Yes, she calls her grandchildren cringy nicknames. She bakes us goodies and pinches our cheeks and gifts us with ugly sweaters. They are not ugly to me. But if you threaten her family, she will be on your tail. She will halt only when she has taught you a lesson. She will whack you using her cane and say words that I never heard of. Not swear words.

Old age and arthritis never stop my awesome grandma from protecting her and the family. Her parents raised her to be independent and courageous. Nothing scares her. I cannot believe that an elderly woman is braver. I should be the one. I am healthy. I have quick reflexes. I can put up a fight. I will bite off the intruder's face. But I am nothing like my family. I am the oddball - and the only one with depression. My parents said that they do not understand depression. Why would children suffer from it? They do not have it rough like adults. No bills. No job. They have it easy.

Not true. Kids do not have it easy. No one does. That is part of living in this imperfect world. Kids are expected to do as many things as adults. Think about it. Friends. Family. Chores. School has many factors. Homework. I wish that homework never existed. It is meaningless. I have had more fun watching paint dry. At least that my brain is not pleading for mercy. And how can we forget grades and bullies? Grades never define you. Any of us can be successful even with bad grades. Like Ash J. No, no. She did good in school. It just never helped her. Do not start me with college. It is a scam.

Grandma ignored me and opened her door. She waved her cane in the air as she stormed down the long hall. I was right behind her and ordered her to go to Dad and Mom's room. Last thing that I needed was for her to be killed by an intruder. I grasped her nightdress and said to turn around. Panic was in my voice. If I were strong, both physically and mentally, I would have scooped up Grandma and taken her to Mom and Dad.

Grandma stopped and gazed at me. "Would you please let go, Susu?"

I narrowed my eyebrows. "Only if we head to Mom and Dad's bedroom and tell them of the person."

She pried my hand off her dress. "You go. I will be fine. This thug will be captured - and have the headache of a lifetime."

"Let the police handle it. He or she may have a knife or a gun. I do not want you to die."

She patted my head. "This stranger will be on its knees before he or she ends me."

I wrapped my hand around her wrist. "I cannot let you do that, Grandma. I know that you want to protect this family, but this is not the way to do it."

I never realized that we were in an argument - until the intruder showed himself.

It was her turn to narrow her eyebrows. "So you do not want me to defend our family?"

"Of course I do. I admire your bravery. I look up to you - and I do not mean that literally. I love that you desire to defend the family. I wish that I was like you. I-I wish that I could lay down my life."

Grandma put her hands on her waist. "Oh, no. You will not confront the person. Your life will not be cut short. Not on my watch."

I raised my hands as if surrendering. "No way. I would not confront that person even if you handed me an egg roll." I licked my lips. "Mmm. Egg roll."

You will never believe what popped out of the shadows and landed at my feet. An egg roll the size of my foot. A dream come true. I did not think that it was suspicious and scooped it up. My stomach growled. I took a whiff. The roll smelled good. I was about to take a bite.

Grandma grabbed my wrist. "Young lady. What do you think that you are doing?"

"Uh, what does it look like?"

She slapped the egg roll out of my hand.

"Grandma!"

"I told you and your siblings to never eat food that flies out from the darkness. We have no clue who fixed it or where it came from."

I searched for the egg roll. "I am not passing up on free egg rolls." I found it and scooped it back up. "Food can never be bad until the expiration date. And this baby is not expired yet."

Too bad that I did not notice the string attached to said egg roll. The roll pulled back. I cried out and fell on my back.

"Susu!"

I rolled onto my stomach and grasped the egg roll with both hands. I purposely bit my tongue. "You will never get away from me."

The food slid down the hall, dragging me along. I cried out again and shut my eyes. Grandma shouted to let go of the roll. I did not. I know. I was dumb. I should have released the egg roll. Then I would have not met him. I was just so hungry. And I could not let an egg roll go to waste.

The roll stopped. I opened my eyes and raised the food to my face. I finally noticed the white string and got on my knees. I took off the string and tossed it aside.

"Now why was a string around you?" I questioned as if the roll could understand.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I thought that it was my grandma and looked up. My heart leapt to my throat. I swallowed hard. My eyes bulged from their sockets.

I was looking at an alien.