Grandma Hattie and Grandpa Dooley were taking their granddaughter, Nellie, to a family wedding a few hours from home. Nellie was to be a flower girl in the wedding. Willie, Nellie’s brother didn’t want to go. Grandma Maureen offered to have a sleepover at her house. Her grandson, Bobby, one of Willie’s friends, was staying with her overnight. She thought Bobby would enjoy the company.

When Willie heard the news, he was thrilled! His very first sleepover! He and Bobby got on the phone and began making plans as to how they would spend the evening and the next day, until Grandma Hattie came to pick him up.

Willie ran upstairs and packed an overnight bag with computer games. Grandpa Dooley came in his room and asked, “What do you have in the bag, Willie?” Willie opened the bag and showed him. Grandpa chuckled and said, “You might want to add a change of clothes for tomorrow and don’t forget clean underwear; you know how Grandma Hattie feels about clean underwear!

Willie nodded and added a clean shirt pants, sock and clean underwear. Then he began to zip the bag closed. “Not so fast, Willie,” said grandpa. “What about a tooth brush, tooth paste, pajamas and slippers?”

Willie let out a big sigh and went about adding the things grandpa told him he needed. “ Boy,” said Willie, “seems like a lot of stuff just for just one sleepover!”

When Willie was finished packing, he ran down the stairs. He was ready to go. Then he noticed grandma and grandpa were sitting in the living room. They didn’t even have their coats on!

“Come in here, Willie,” said grandma, “there is something I need to talk with you about.” Uh Oh thought Willie, what now?

“We need to talk about sleepover manners,” said grandma. “What’s that,” answered Willie. Grandma smiled and said, “When you are a guest in someone’s home, you need to behave in certain ways.”  “Like what,”  asked Willie.

Grandma began, “Here is a list of things you need to do. Let’s go over it together.

1 As soon as you get to Grandma Maureen’s say hello to her, and thank her for having you as a guest.

2. Give her this box of cookies I made for her.

3. Remember to say please, thank you, no thank you and excuse me.

4 Before you open the frig or go in a room or turn on the TV, be sure to ask permission.

5. Clean up after yourself . Ask if you can help clean off the table. Return everything you use to where you found it.”

“Wow, that is a lot to remember,” said Willie.

“Well if you want to be invited back you need to be a good guest, said grandma. Grandpa is ready to drive you to Grandma Maureen’s . So, give me a big kiss. Remember to mind your manners and have a great time!”

The next day, when grandpa picked Willie up, Grandma Maureen was heard to say,”Willie is welcome for a sleepover anytime. He was the best behaved sleepover guest!”