Drabble: Old Ways

Old Ways

I heard Grandfather walk into the room, and smelled the liquor on him. “What’re you doing, Suzie?” he slurred.

“I’m working on schoolwork,” I said. “Mathematics.”

“Kids these days. Working math on paper. When I was your age, we did it all on computers.”

“Grandpa, please...”

“Oh, I’m not going to side with the heretics, I understand the danger. But just a little calculator? No, my granddaughter has to waste her potential working on arithmetic by hand. Where’s the sense?”

“Grandpa, hush.” I thought of the Inquisition; how loudly had he been yelling?

There was a knock on the door.