A STONE TURNED OVER

Once upon a time when Don Andrew was only 3½, this brave young knight and his faithful sidekick Grandpa Sancho were at the park and Don Andrew found a gold mine of sword sticks. He carefully gathered them all up because we could not make the long trip home with all those swords. A knight really needs only one sword. You might just recall that Don Andrew, on that occasion had told his ancient squire that he wanted to take that tree stick home. This writer remembers telling his faithful readers that a tree stick is something that only grandpas and grandsons would really fully understand.

At this point in our journey through life it seems a quite appropriate time to reveal what a tree stick really is, for you have been with us on this journey through life for such a long time. This writer does not like to leave stones unturned. You see a tree stick in 3½ year old language is a limb. Yes, it is just as simple as that. Don Andrew wanted to bring a limb home with him. His old squire did not see any harm in bringing an old dead limb home from the park. At least the park men would not have to pick it up. They look so tired sometimes, standing over there in the shade.

Don Andrew called his old Grandpa this morning and said, Hello, Sancho Panza! Guess what I am doing? This old writer of tales has learned that when a question like that is asked by a 4 year old, the listener must answer with a question. What are you doing, Don Quixote? I’m watching Tarzan, replied our young knight. This old grandpa was immediately glad his grandson did not say, I am Tarzan, Grandpa. You can be Cheeta.

You see, I just read where Cheeta is now 71 years of age and is claimed to be the world’s oldest chimp. Where would that leave Grandpa Sancho?

Don Andrew, I found the perfect tree sword for you. When you come down we can cut it down for you to use. To this the little brave knight replied, That’s great Grandpa. Is my swing still in the tree? Yes, Don Andrew. My swing is still in my tree here, Grandpa. He has a neat rope in a tree there and an even neater chain in the tree here. One could tell that his thoughts were returning to Tarzan swinging through the trees. I am really glad he said, Bye Grandpa, I love you. I was afraid the words would come, You are Cheeta, Grandpa.

Don’t misunderstand, this old sharecropper doesn’t mind being Cheeta, the chimp. It’s the 71 that’s the problem.

DON ANDREW GRADUATIONED

Grandma Sancha couldn’t stand it much longer so we loaded up the wagon and headed east. Actually, as Don Andrew said it, Grandma had to get her heart fixed and then came to see me. She had some tests run a couple of weeks prior to this visit so we went by the specialist’s office for the great results.

We finally got to our destination. Don Andrew talked to us on the phone to tell us where to go. We were to meet them at Joe’s Pizza, which Don Andrew said would be easy to find because there was a real big Bob the Tomato sign on the front of the pizza place.

We had not been at Joe’s Pizza very long when Don Andrew said, Grandpa! Our young knight was just trying to get his old squire’s attention. He was really excited. Grandpa, I graduationed last night. I graduationed all the way to the church building. That last statement left this old laborer in a world of befuddlement. How can anyone graduate all the way to the church building. That must have been quite a graduation ceremony for a bunch of 4 & 5 year olds.

It was actually sometime later when we learned that Don Andrew had graduated from one of those Day Care holding facilities, which was in a house, to move on next year to another Day Care holding facility which will be housed in a church building. That really makes good sense. Grandpa Sancho knew Don Andrew knew what he was saying. This old sharecropper was just a little slow; perhaps due to the many miles on the trail and the lack of food.

We had to celebrate Don Andrew’s graduation, so Don Andrew, Grandpa Sancho and Uncle Jeff went fishing in the local lake. Boy, was that a hoot! We did get to see one turtle try to get on Don Andrew’s line. This might just be the only fish-less lake anywhere. Anyway, Don Andrew enjoyed throwing rocks into the lake much more that fishing, he chased the ducks, and even had fun cleaning off the poor old worms and throwing them in the lake. We still didn’t see any fish but Uncle Jeff got Don Andrew to kiss one of the wormies goodbye. And then the rains came.