Can only be alive

There is no way Phoenix Jacksons grandson could be dead in the Short novel ‘A Worn Path’ by Eudora Welty. If he ever where dead why would she ever take the long trip through the woods and into town for his medicine? There could have been many other possibilities why Phoenix Jackson had to go into town and make that trip there for creating the story its self. For instance instead of getting medicine for her grandson what if she where to get something for herself like medicine or a necessity. There are not many if any clues in the story that her grandson is dead however there are clues that do support the idea of him being alive. Even the nurse knows and asks “…How is the boy doing” (Paragraph 81) clearly showing that she knows the whereabouts of Phoenix’s grandson. If he were dead I am sure the nurse wouldn’t even bring up or talk about her grandson but instead ask how she is doing. She even talks about her grandson saying “My little grandson, he sit up there in the house all wrapped up, waiting by himself” (Paragraph 94) and “Every little while his throat begin to close up again, and he not able to swallow” (Paragraph 92). So there for he can only be alive during the time of the story.