"Well, don't you two look grumpy this morning," said Grandma as she buttered some toast.

"We are so bored," this in unison from Jacob and Matt.

"Oh then I'll just give you my to-do list and you can help clean out the garage, scrub the kitchen floor,
make lunch and dinner and .... " ..... "Stop!, cried the boys. It would be so cool if we had a tree house to play in!"

Grandma poured another cup of tea. "Yes,cool is right. No heat in winter and wind blowing through
and your lugging up cool drinks in the summertime when you might actually use a tree house."

"She's got a point," said Jacob.

"Always," moaned Matt.

Slowly Grandma started to turn in a circle. "Faddle, fiddle, I have a riddle.
Safe from breeze and tall or taller than trees. Only in daylight's gleam can things be seen.
Secrets I hold and might unfold. Know the stairs and you'll know where!"

Matt looked at Jacob as always for answers and Jacob looked at Matt as he thought out the clues.
And then Matt suddenly exclaimed, "The attic!", and hurrah from Grandma and an amazed "Wow," from Jacob.
"Oh, could we finally go up there and have a clubhouse?" came the obvious question.
"Mmmm there would be conditions. But, yes! There's no heat, nor light and no running water
so you'll have to be inventive and you may change and rearrange but not damage anything for there are secrets up there."

"Awesome," they shouted and started to zoom off but Grandma whoaed them.
"Take your flashlights and a broom and dust pan and you may use the LED lantern if you work up there after dark. Now scram!"

Grandma had a restful weekend while listening to footsteps going up and coming down
and the sound of above of things being moved. Monday morning came and went but at noon
two very tired and very dusty boys appeared.
Both had remnants of cobwebs in their hair and Grandma tried very hard not to giggle.

Out of breath, the boys said, "We're ready to show you!"
Jacob added, "We need a password for members we might share our club!"
"Secret," said Grandma. "OK, now show me!"
They had strung an old washline through the rafters, hung old blankets and tapestries over,
used old bootscrapers to make the tent stay secure to the floor and had fashioned an old bench into a bunk,
padded it with pillows and likewise the steamer trunk provided another cushioned bunk.
They'd duct-taped flashlights on beams and the LED lantern was in the tent. All sorts of things had been pushed back
to make room for a track for windup toys to run and they'd found the old opera records to play on the Victrola.
Indeed, it was awesome. But ...

"Faddle, fiddle, I have a riddle. When is a wall not a wall at all?
And in the storage did you not forage? Does something hide in which to abide?"

"Grandma!", the boys exclaimed.
"Think!", she replied.
Jacob went to the old wardrobe and opened it. "It's empty."
"Tap, tap all around and listen for a different sound," said Grandma.
Matt joined Jacob and the tapped on the back of the wardrobe and all along the wall.
Suddenly the back of the wardrobe slid open just wide enough to peer through and the boys saw a rope ladder
and another wall behind the wall.

"WOW! What does this all mean, Grandma?", asked a very puzzled Jacob.
"You know this is a very old house. I was born here and many before me."
"Yep, older than dirt," said Matt and Jacob quickly said
Shush, Matt!"

"Did you every hear of something called the underground railroad?", asked Grandma. Heads shook no.
"Well back in the day especially between 1810 and 1850, there were folks who helped slaves who'd escaped from the south
to pass this way north into Canada and other places to be free and as many as 100,000 were helped along by people
who could keep the secret and provide a waystation along the escape route.
While many were hidden in barns or cellars and the like my ancestors decided the safest place
in case anyone came looking, would be up here.
And should anyone look they disguised the wall and put an escape ladder just in case."

They boys were just about bursting!
"Did they really become free," gasped Jacob.
"That's a tough one to answer. You see, escaping was part of freedom but they weren't readily accepted
and as today, some might have expected that was all they had to do.
It's extraordinary to get away but then one must make a life for oneself. And many did, honey."

"Gosh, and now we're part of history!", cried Jacob.
"And I know you and Matt will make some of your own, my darlings.
Now choose carefully who you'll invite to your clubhouse and teach them, as well."

Several weeks passed and the boys had gone on a church field trip.
Anxiously, they ran in slamming the back door as always and after hugging Grandma ran to the attic door.
On it they found a sign Grandma had made and enlarged. It was the symbol used for RAILROAD CROSSING.

©Connie "Grandma" Good

May 25, 2008

Dedicated to all who seek and
fight to secure freedom. And to
those who take on the responsibility
to retain it.
Much love, "Grandma"

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