Nature & Nurture

Jacob and Matt were being much too quiet. They'd gone back to school but weren't saying anything about it.
Grandma knew silence was not always golden and remembered way back to her childhood fears and being quiet.
She knocked on the bunk bedroom door. "Jacob, Matt ... may I come in?"
"OK, Grandma", she heard in unison.
They were glued to the TV. No games on the computer and the play stations were off.
Grandma noticed some crumpled tissues. She plunked herself down on the beanbag.
"You know something? I'm feeling a little scared about stuff that's happening, boys. Was wondering if we could talk."
The boys looked at each other with big question mark eyes.
"You're scared, Grandma? But nothing ever scares you!" exclaimed Jacob.
Matt tentatively approached Grandma.
"You're tugging at your hair, Matt. Are you worried about something, too?
Maybe if I tug at my hair it'll help? Are you thinking about your daddy?"
"No, well, yeh ... I mean he died in the war but all those people are getting killed and hurt in that hurricane.
I don't want other kids to lose their daddy or mommy ... or not find each other", Matt replied with tears.
Jacob added, "And no food, Grandma. It's so sad."

Matt had climbed onto Grandma's lap. "You 'dopted mommy and me so we'd have a nice place
and found Marine Mike to be my uncle. Who is gonna help those kids down there with all that flooding, Grandma?"
"You guys must have some ideas about how to help.
Tell ya what. Peanut butter and jelly helps me think ... why don't we go to the kitchen."
"OK," said the boys and they started for the kitchen.

"Hey! Jacob! Matt! I'm stuck in the bean bag and can't get up!"
Giggles. And then each took an arm and they got Grandma moving again.

"What do the kids at school say? About the kids in trouble, I mean."

Jacob replied, "They just get very quiet. No one knows what to say or do."
"Hmmm. Would you like to have a meeting here and try to work something out together?
Matt, your momma Joyce could make a big invitation on the computer for you to take to school today
and I'll call the teacher for phone numbers of the mommies and daddies.
Should we say your meeting would be on Saturday between 11 and 2 ...
that way all could eat lunch here and talk and the parents would have time to catch up on stuff?"
"Kewl," the boys said. "D'ya think Marine Mike could come?, asked Matt.

"I'll call him and you know from that mess at the base he organized for all your classmates to attend,
I'll bet he'd think it would be super if each kid brought a jar of peanut butter or jelly or both along to your meeting.
That would be a beginning of a food drive by your classmates!"

"I gotta wake mommy", shouted Matt!
"Oh, I'm awake!", said a sleepy Joyce heading for the coffee. "Time for you two to get ready for school!"
After the boys had scooted away, "And other than that invitation, my duties are ..... ?
"Figured you and I could make up some funny sandwiches and veggies and grapes and stuff
for Saturday's meeting. And they'll want the dreaded soda."
Joyce just giggled. "I make a mean ginger ale and fruit juice punch."
"No way."
"Way," said Grandma!

Saturday arrived as did the classmates and Uncle Marine Mike. They all loved Mike.
"OK, Grandma and Miss Joyce, we'd like some privacy in the den ... mmm I smell food in there ...
c'mon troops. Let's figure out Operation Peanut Butter and Jelly."
Parents started arriving to retrieve the kids but they gathered in the kitchen since the meeting was still happening.

Marine Mike appeared. "OK, the kids are ready to share now."
Chairperson Jacob announced. "Hi! We've all written pen pal notes and rubber banded them around the jars we brought.
And we would like everyone who goes to church tomorrow to ask your friends there
to bring peanut butter and jelly the next Sunday and write notes and be like families to the people."

Matt stood beside Jacob. And there was no tugging at his hair.
"And my Uncle Marine Mike and Grandma, and Jacob's policeman daddy, will go get the stuff at the churches."
Marine Mike then took the floor. "We'll pack up all the goodies with the notes
and Grandma and I will take them to the Red Cross. Cookie at the base is going to supply boxes of crackers
from the mess kitchen since we can't send bread.
All in favor of Operation Peanut Butter and Jelly, say 'Aye, Sir' right now."
A resounding "AYE" had to have been heard by the entire neighborhood!

Jacob still was thinking. "Sir! Permission to ask for toys and kids' clothing, too!"
Another "AYE" was heard loud and clear.

About a month later, Grandma brought in the mail. There were four envelopes.

One was addressed to "Jacob"; one to "Matt"; another to "Momma Joyce", and one to just "Grandma".
All read their notes from children of the storm with a little help from Joyce and Grandma.
Matt said, "Does mine really say 'hugs'?"
"Sure does," replied Joyce.
"Hmmm, mine has a return address and asks a question so I guess I'd better answer."
"Grandma, you're going to tell your real name!!!!!", exclaimed Jacob. "Not even Mom and Dad have told me!"
Grandma gave her big laugh. "Why, Jacob my dear, it really is Grandma. Honest.
See I was born before I was supposed to come into the world and I was so little and wrinkled,
my momma said I looked like her granny. So the records say Anny but the family always called me granny
and when I became your Grandma, everyone called me that.
Sure does away with being formal. And everyone needs a Grandma, right Matt?"
"You gonna 'dopt any of the kids who write?"
"In my own way, Matt. Now pass me the peanut butter ... I feel a dip coming on."
"We're tired of peanut butter!" the boys exclaimed. "Could we go for burgers? Please, please!"
Joyce looked at Grandma. "No soda, right?"

Grandma was half way out the door and three slams followed ... "I'm gonna super size!"
"AYE!," answered Jacob, Matt and Joyce.

© Connie Good
09/15/2005

Dedicated to super sizing,
sharing, and loving by Grandmas ...
as did mine.
In memory of:
Caroline Ann Sonley Kleffman
Jennetta Victoria Cramer Sheely