Like many peers, high school senior Austin Dennison was nervous before asking a special lady in his life to attend prom — if only because his request was a bit unusual.
“He said, ‘Grandma, I want you to go to the prom with me,'” Delores Dennison told Times Bulletin of her great-grandson’s question. “I had a bad heart attack and stroke. ‘I’m not that good on my feet,’ I told him. Finally I said that if I was able to go at that time, I would.”
Thankfully for all, when the big Parkwood High School prom rolled along last weekend, Austin showed up with “Granny DD” on his arm.
“She is so funny. She was hitting the balloons with her cane,” said Austin, who’s a new shoo-in for the Grandson of the Year competition. “When the music started to play, we danced on the floor. They played the Frank Sinatra song, ‘I love the kisses of Delores.’ Her husband used to sing that song to her. There was a standing ovation when we came out.”
Delores, 86, dropped out of high school before graduation. She later earned her diploma, but never got the chance to attend a big senior-year dance. Although that opportunity ended up coming a bit later than for most, Delores said she had a wonderful experience — which was complete with a dinner at Bob Evans and a special pearl necklace from Austin.
“We got home shortly after 9 p.m., later than I go to bed these days,” she said of the wild evening, adding her great-grandson was “so good.”
Austin, who is preparing to attend college in Florida, also said he enjoyed the chance to spend more quality time with his great-grandma.
“I’ve been blessed with grandparents and great grandparents that know as much as they do,” he said. “They have so many stories to tell. All I have to do is ask.”
