The “Can Dos” all wanted to know about the way it was when Grandpa Dooley was growing up. What was his favorite fast food? What shows did he watch on television? What did he do for fun?
So, Grandpa Dooley sat them down and told them the way it was when he was their age. The “Can Dos” couldn’t believe it!
If you want to know the way it was when Grandpa Dooley was young, read along with Grandma Jean at:
http://www.candostreet.com/grandma-jean/the-way-it-was.html
The “Can Dos” were bored, bored, bored! It was the first day of winter recess; it was too cold to play outside. The snow and ice piles behind the recreation center were taller than them and were blocking them from riding their sleds down the best hill for sledding in all of “Can Do” Street. The ice skating rink was covered with snow and off limits.
They were tired of playing games in the recreation center gym. Even Annie was tired of shooting baskets! They had been having play dates with each other since Thursday, and they were starting to squabble with one another.
Miss Sue was running out of ideas on how to keep them busy. When she saw Grandpa Dooley in the music room, she went in and asked for his advice. “The Can Dos” are feeling all cooped up. They are not interested in any more board games, or playing basketball or volleyball in the gym tomorrow. How about a field trip, but where to go in winter?”
“Hmmm,” said Grandpa Dooley. “How much money do we have in the budget for a field trip?” Miss Sue answered, “We canceled a trip because of the weather so far. We can afford a field trip. What do you have in mind?” Grandpa smiled, “Just leave it to me,” he said. “You call the parents and get their permission for the trip. Tell them we have a field trip planned for tomorrow, and it’s a surprise. Ask them to hide their Can Do’s bathing suit and a towel in his or her bag”.
When the bus pulled out, and the rec center faded from view, Grandpa Dooley announced their destination. They were spending the day at the Boy Scout Camp in the next town. Some of their parents would meet the bus there to help with the day’s activities.
Grandpa chuckled. How does a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the woods, followed by swimming in a heated pool, followed by lunch around the fireplace with storytelling sound to you?”
First there was silence and looks of amazement, and then the “Can Dos” broke out with a roar of cheering about the field trip.
The “Can Do” Kids woke up to see lots and lots of of snow. It had snowed very heavily during the night.Was it enough snow to close school for the day, but not too much snow to keep them indoors, unable to enjoy the snow? Was it snowman snow, or sledding snow? Was it good packing for snowballs and building snow forts?
The good news…school was closed. The bad news…too much snow to get around easily. The streets needed to be plowed, so no play dates that the moms needed to drive the “Can Dos” to in the neighborhood. Walking was the way to get around until the streets and sidewalks were cleared.
At first, Willie was excited about a snow day, but he lived so far away from his friends; he couldn’t just walk to anyone’s house. Nellie, his sister, was the only one around to play with, and while he loved his sister, she wasn’t very good at building a snow fort or packing snow balls. Hector had the same situation at his house; no friends nearby and only his sister Maria to play with outside.
Well, Orrie was a challenge, but Grandpa John had a surprise for him…he had built him a sled that could hold him and his wheelchair safely. Oh, it was a beautiful sled, red with high sides all around. Everyone gathered in the garage to watch how the new sled would work.
Grandpa pulled the sled out of the garage and into the snow, then put a portable ramp on to the back of the sled and rolled Orrie on to the sled. He took the ramp away, put the back guard rail in place and Orrie was ready to try out his new sled. Billy, the next door neighbor was a weight lifter, and he volunteered to pull the sled into the driveway where Orrie could join in the fun.
A big cheer went up. Most of the “Can Dos” would have the best kind of play date…a snow play date with snowballs and a snow fort and a snow man and warm up sessions in the house to dry out wet mittens and drink hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows!
How did he beat every one of his friends at checkers? When asked by a group of the “Can Dos” who lost to him, Willie told them that he played checkers often. That is why he is so good at it. Well, just as he was saying that, Grandpa Dooley walked by and heard what he said.
“Willie,” said Grandpa Dooley, “Why don’t you share how you really got so good at playing checkers”? “Oh, do I have to,” said Willie. ” No,” said Grandpa Dooley, “but it would be the fair thing to do.”
The “Can Dos” all asked him to show them the game. Grandpa Dooley offered to install the game on the computers at the community center if Miss Sue agreed it was okay to do.
Why don’t you take a look at the game with the “Can Dos”? Why not play a game or so?
Have fun!
When Willie and Nellie made their way down the stairs for breakfast, Grandma Hattie was already hard at work in the kitchen making the casserole she promised for the community center lunch following the pageant.
Grandpa Dooley was busy flipping pancakes for breakfast. He knew how Willie and Nellie loved them.
Willie and Nellie ate in silence. Grandma and grandpa gave each other knowing looks. Holidays were hard for Willie and Nellie with their mom in the military. She couldn’t always get leave on the holidays to be with them.
Willie and Nellie nodded and got up from the table to go up stairs and dress.
A few minutes later, they came down in their costumes. Grandma Hattie could see Nellie had tears in her eyes. She gave her a hug and Nellie said, “I wish momma could see me in the play.” Grandma nodded and said, “I know child. Your mom will be home soon, but for now you need to think about the pageant. It is almost time to leave.”
Willie and Nellie played their parts well, so well that Miss Sue called them back on stage at the end of the show to take an extra bow. Then she told them she had a surprise for them. Just as she said that, their mom popped out from behind the stage curtain. She was still in her uniform. She came right from the airport to see them in the pageant!
Everyone in the audience stood up and cheered as Willie and Nellie hugged and kissed their mom over and over again.
At lunch, following the pageant, Willie and Nellie sat on either side of their mom. After supper, Willie and Nellie, their Mom and Grandpa Dooley and Grandma Hattie helped to pack treats for the local senior residents. When they got to the senior residence, they helped distribute the gifts and sang carols with all who lived there!
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"Can Do" Street is the intellectual property of Jean Campbell, registered with the US Copyright Office TXU000476431 and the WGA West, Inc, under Campbell Development Group LLC, 1294415. "Can Do Street" and The "Can Do" Company © 2010. All rights reserved.
