"SLAM!" "Grandma!!!!"
"SLAM!" "Me, too, Grandma!!!!!"
"Well, Jacob and Matt, that's quite an entrance! Something must really be up ... no, don't both talk at once. Jacob you start."
"Grandma, the school cancelled Valentine's Day!"
Matt added, "It's because of a saint or something. What's a saint?"
"Oh may the Saints preserve us," sighed Grandma. "First Christmas and now this? Can Groundhog day be saved? Probably not. Environmentalists will do in that."
"Grandma, your face is turning red!", cried Jacob.
"Good. I can be your Valentine! And to answer your question, Matt, saints are good people who lived on earth and did many wonderful things for folks and God decided they should be with Him in heaven and be His special helpers."
"Well that sounds kewl, Grandma. So why would anyone cancel a saint?"
"The teacher said we can't do Valentines because not all the children can buy cards and there's someone on the school board who is .... I dunno the word .... and that some people might be different ... and I just don't understand it, Grandma!", added Matt.
"The word is atheist. That's someone who doesn't believe in a higher power like our God."
"That sounds dumb, Grandma," said Jacob.
"No argument from me, honey. But let's attack this problem, OK?"
"We knew you'd know what to do," added Matt.
"It's going to take some real doing, sweetheart. And we will need everyone to cooperate. Now tell me how your classmates feel about no Valentines."
"They're really bummed, Grandma."
"Yeah, sad about it because cards are fun. Why's fun bad, Grandma?, asked Matt.
"It isn't bad, Matt. Some people just don't know how to have fun so they spoil things for others. Tell you what. I'm going to call all the parents and have a little talk and you guys get some breakfast and then get all the art supplies from your room and everything from the attic and the garage and pile it in the den. Ready, set, go!"
Grandma started dialing. And then the permission slips came in on her computer from the parents. She copied them all and then wrote to the School Board and to the editor of the local newspaper.
All Jacob and Matt's classmates gathered in Grandma's den. More supplies had been purchased including glue and safe sissors for all. Old doilies had been cut up ... great for lace cards.
"With your parents' permission, you are now in my classroom," announced Grandma. "It's called home schooling and we are having art class today and our project is to make Valentines and we'll have to make some extra ones to send to the school board .... giggle .... because they need a change of heart. Now you just cut, paste and make 'em anyway you like because they come from your heart, OK?"
"We're ready, Grandma!," shouted Jacob.
" Ready, set, go!", piped up Matt.
Dee Dee and her baby still with Grandma because of the hurricane, were supervising while Grandma, Matt's mommy Joyce and Jacob's mommy Margaret snuck away for the special art project.
They appeared an hour later to find Valentines of every size, shape and color ready to be shared. And they held out the big decorated box they'd crafted to hold all the cards. "When I went to school, each class made a box to hold the Valentines so we thought all you might like to have one for our classroom here," explained Grandma.
"Ooooh's and aaaah's," throughout and the children started inserting their wonderful cards through the mail slot right in the middle of the biggest heart.
Joyce had heard the phone ... she handed it to Grandma whispering it was the School Board President and the Principal.
"Oh, you had a special meeting. Yes, I see. You've reinstated Valentine's Day. Very good. What's that? When will the children return to school? Well, we've discovered some are a tad behind in reading skills and writing, so the parents feel some additional home schooling would be of benefit. My fellow teachers feel we can remedy this in about a week but we'll inform you when the children may return. Yes, that's correct. We will make the decision. We're sure it will be in time for Valentine's Day. Thank you so much for calling." And she hung up.
Margaret, Joyce, Dee Dee, Jacob and Matt all high-fived Grandma. This prompted her to say ... "All right now dear class, you all know how to high five so let's begin our math lesson now."
Big question mark eyes ...
"Not to worry, children. It'll be fun ... Jacob go get your piggy bank ... and the rest of you come to the kitchen and help me count the peanut butter sandwiches. C'mon. Ready, set go!"
© Connie Good
"You gotta have heart ...
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