It had been raining for days.
Two sleepy eyed boys shuffled into the kitchen.
"There's just nothing to do, Grandma," said Jacob.
Tugging on his hair as he always did when troubled,
Matt added, "We wanna go out."

"Open the fridge, guys, and pour some OJ for sunshine."
Grumbles.
But they got the juice and Grandma provided the colored straws they loved.
"Well, have you no imagination,
Did your brain go on vacation,
Did you lose it on the beach
Put it in the washer with too much bleach?"

"Uh oh, Matt," said Jacob; "We're in trouble now! I'd better help you get the drift.
Grandma with hands on hips, "You are such a silly goose!"
"No, I'm a moose," cried Jacob forming a rack with his hands and charging at Grandma.
"Matt, it's your turn!"
"I don't understand!"
"Ya hafta rhyme ... what's the last car on a train?"
Matt thought and then hollered out, "Caboose!"
Jacob high fived Matt. "Now you've got it! OK, scooter!"
Grandma said, "Shooter."
And Matt replied, "Hooter!"
Grandma's eyes got very round and she said she wasn't going to ask about that!
But Matt explained, "You know, grandma .... like owls go hoot!"

Stifling a giggle, Grandma continued, "Cop."
Matt said, "Stop."
Jacob, dancing, came up with bebop!

"Now that you're awake
I have a basket full to make,
Go wash your hands and faces
'Cause we're goin' places."

While the boys got dressed, Grandma filled up her old market basket.
"There's nothing worse than being bored
Except being forgotten or ignored.
So I've filled this with lotsa cheer,
C'mon; we're outta here."

The receptionist looked up and smiled when she saw Grandma with two boys in tow.
"Well, what do you know?
Matt said, "snow."
Jacob chimed in with "blow".
Grandma smiled and winked, "Time for tell and show!"

Jacob and Matt were looking all around. "Grandma, where are we?"
"We're in what is called a nursing or convalescent home. Some folks need a place to be
when they can't take care of themselves or have problems or no one to watch over them.
So we're going to visit and share what's in the basket and more important, just be here for them."

A lady using a walker slowly made her way down the hallway.
"My goodness," said Grandma approaching her, "what a pretty dress you're wearing!
Jacob, Matt, come touch her hands and say hello."

"Hi ma'am. I'm Jacob."
"I'm Matt."
The lady said, "You two look like my sons when they were little boys!"
"Guess they were handsome, huh ma'am?", questioned Matt.
The lady giggled. "Oh my, yes, they were! Thanks for coming here today!"

A short distance away sat a lady in a wheelchair.
Grandma whispered to the boys that the lady was blind.
Jacob, "Oh my then she won't see us!"
"No," said Grandma, "we're going to let her touch things. Hello Millie ...
it's Grandma come to call and I've brought my grandsons!
Jacob would you give Millie a little kiss on the cheek
and let her run her hands over your face?"
"Sure!"
"Hey, I wanna, too!", said Matt.

"Come here, child," asked Millie.
Grandma handed Matt a branch from the basket. "Give this to Millie, honey."
Millie said, "Oh, its pine ... I can tell by the long needles and the scent.
Reminds me of Christmas, Grandma."
"Then let's have a little Christmas right now, Millie!
OK, boys let's sing 'Jingle Bells' ", and Millie joined in.

"What's going on out there?", came a man's voice.
"Is that you, Mr. Grumpyman?"
"Grandma! You come in my room, please!"
Grandma grabbed the basket and used it to usher the two boys into Mr. Grumpyman's room.
"Hmmm, still in bed, are you?", said Grandma. Boys find some noise in that basket."
Matt found a toy horn and Jacob found a tamborine and Grandma started singing
'Onward Christian Soldiers' ",
as the three marched around the bed.
"Get me outta bed and stop that noise.
I want real music and I want to go outside!" cried Mr. Grumpyman.

Jacob had gone to the window. "Grandma, the sun came out!"
"I'll get your robe, Grumpy. Now can you get in the wheelchair OK?"
"You bet. Just put it here beside my bed. Oh and leave some of that weed in my water pitcher."
"It's Queen Anne's Lace ... it reminds him of snowflakes and when he used to ski," Grandma explained.
"Wow!", cried the boys.
"Oh I was quite the guy on those slopes, boys. Wasn't always old, you know!"
He'd made it into the wheelchair which Grandma had braked.
"This thing has a motor, boys, but I'd like you to push me!"
Each boy grabbed and pushed while Grandma directed traffic
with Mr. Grumpman holding the basket in his lap.

Outside with the sun beaming down, Grandma took the tape player out of the basket.
"May I have this dance, Grumpy?"
The sweet song with words that rhymed filled the courtyard .... it was "I'll Be Seeing You" ...
and Mr. Grumpyman motored and did some wheelies while the boys took turns on Grumpy's lap
and Grandma twirled to "the carousel, the wishing well" and sang along.

On the way home, Jacob asked, "Why did Mr. Grumpyman get tears
when we asked him to be our Grandpa?"
"He was happy
To be your pappy;
And fill your need
Thanking your good deed."

Matt said, "Grandma, let's rhyme again!"
"Well, Matt, do confess."
Matt replied, "Mess!"
Jacob just smiled and then said, "God bless!"

© Connie Good
August 22, 2005

Dedication:
To all whose years are olden,
but not always so golden.
"Grandma"

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