Clever little Susie

kids can teach us a trick or two

Susie finally woke up. Paul, her granddad, had been calling out: “Wake up, little Susie, wake up!” 

She ran to the kitchen, in her pink pajamas and bare feet. She scrambled on to her high stool and dived into her bowl of cereals. Her mum, Mrs. Robinson, was at the stove, flipping pancakes.

“Good morning honey. What’s the programme today, Love?”

“Gardening with Grandpa”, replied Susie, mouth full and milk dribbling out of the corners of her mouth.”

“Oooh, my little princess has green fingers then?” said her mum playfully.

“I haven’t got green fingers, Mum”, said Susie indignantly, “I’m not an alien”.

Her mum laughed. “Of course not, Honey. That’s what we say when someone is a good gardener”.

“Oh? Ok”, replied Susie and jumped down and ran out of the kitchen in search of her slippers. Her mum called out but she ignored her. No time for the pancake.

The garden was a riot of colours. Paul had planted trees and flowers and roses. The grass was so much greener than that on the other side of the fence. Their neighbour was hopeless. Paul was squatting in front of a rose bush, pruners in hand, whistling softly. Paul is quite the gardener and he’s proud of his handiwork. Susie stood beside him and asked:

“What are you doing, Granddad?”

“I’m choosing a rose for your Grandma. Tell you what, let’s take a walk around.”

They strolled leisurely and Paul showed her roses and taught her their names. Begonias, white daisies, Belinda’s dream, cadenzas. He told her about the birds and bees. Literally, so stop grinning; this is a clean story. She’s only four years old, for God’s sake.

Susie looked down and saw two daddy-long-legs one on top of the other. She exclaimed:

“Grandpa, look, a daddy-long-legs and a mummy-long-legs!”

Paul chuckled and replied:

“No, sweetie, they’re two daddy-long-legs.”

Before Paul could explain that, no matter what the gender, they were always called that way, Susie stepped on the spiders, turning them into an unrecognizable blob. Love can be cruel.

“I’m not having such nonsense in our garden”, declared Susie, heatedly”.

Paul preferred not to answer. 

A moment later, Susie stopped to watch a white worm trying to wriggle out of its hole, probably intending to suntan. Far from squeamish, she bent down and, using her little thumb and forefinger, she plucked it out and dangled it for her grandfather to see.

“Look what I found, Granddad!” she said proudly.

Paul was clearly pained. He explained to the little girl:

“Darling, we must have respect for all God’s creatures. Don’t do that again, please.” Then he added:

“If you can find a way to put it back where you found it, I’ll give you a Dollar”.

Susie is a smart kid. She’s top of her form. She thought a moment then her eyes lit up. She gently deposited the worm on the ground and rushed inside the house. A moment later, she returned with her mum’s extra-strong gel spray. She squatted on her haunches and holding the worm with her left hand she carefully sprayed it with the gel. Immediately, the worm stiffened. She carefully pushed it back in the ground and stood and beamed at her granddad. Paul was awed. He laughed and said:

“Darling you’re a clever little devil, aren’t you? Ok, I’ll give you the dollar I owe you, tomorrow.

The following day, at the breakfast table, Paul produced his wallet and told Susie:

“Here. This is the dollar I promised you and these are five dollars from your Grandma.”

The old lady with the rosy cheeks, sitting at the table, was having trouble hiding her smile behind her peanut butter toast.

 

  

 

Reviews

[Jacob Clifford]

Wow. When I read that last line, I just stopped and stared for a while, my jaw slack. And then I started chortling.

This may be my favorite story you've written. It's a legitimately fun and engaging story. I enjoyed little Susie's antics and her grandpa coping with her ungodly destruction, and the humor was sprinkled in very well. You caught me off guard when Susie stomped on the daddy-long-legs and renounced such "nonsense"... This kid's going places. They may be hot, dark, painful places, but places all the same.

[Woody]

haha I agree. sharp little devil. thanks again my friend. awfully flattered. this time it was Simon and Garfunkel I had in mind when writing this one.
glad you enjoyed it.

[Matching Socks]

Hmmm, cute story but I wonder if there's hidden meaning?
Anyhow, I'll take it at face value. :-)
I think the grandfather adores this little girl and had awarded her for being clever and cute.
I do applause him for his message that she should respect nature so the reward for spraying the worm is a bit of a contradiction. This is why I wonder if there's some other meaning.
Having said that, I think you are good at the story telling. Definitely good at setting the scene and transporting the reader to it. :-)

[Woody]

hi Ana. I saw your review when I was commenting on another one. have I missed this one or was my comment deleted??

[Matching Socks]

You PM'd me after the review. :)
Pointed out a few things.

[Woody]

ah ok :) old age sucks.

[Matching Socks]

Is that because you can't chew?

[Woody]

damn does that show? well that too. my sibilants sound like I'm whistling.

[Claire in VA]

Well! I guess the mum did give her $5!
I would have too!!!
You naughty man you!!
~Claire

[Woody]

now, wait! I never said a word out of turn, did I? my stories are as clean as they can be. I have no control over my characters. I don't know why the old lady gave 5 dollars.

[Claire in VA]

You are something else....Claire

[M.E.Lyle]

A very heart warming story. Grand kids are the greatest gifts God gives us. I have six grand sons. My youngest daughter recently gave birth to our seventh grand child. It was a girl.
Oh, about the song referencing, very clever. Mrs. Robinson indeed.

[Woody]

thank you very much for your TIME, M. I can see you're one happy granddad. I have children myself but no grandkids so far. I'm waiting for the stork.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Naughty, but nice! Did the extra strong spray sting? I really enjoyed this 'adult' story.

[Woody]

thank you very much Aunt Astri. I honestly don't know if it stang. I've never tried it.
I didn't intend it as an adult story as it was not bluntly graphic. still, i admit it was not completely innocent.

[Great Aunt Astri]

No, but it was a good story and made me chuckle. I think the innuendoes are only perceived by people like me!

[Woody]

hahaha. like you, meaning with a good sense of humour. yes indeed, Madam.

[roarke]

better than Viagra eh? Ol' "Mrs. Robinson" isn't going outside her garden anymore is she?

[Woody]

obviously it is :) I should try it sometime. viagra is starting to give me palpitations.
Mrs. Robinson's the mum! if you meant the granny, I don't think she'll be leaving her bed in a hurry.

[Will Neill]

Engluva, A very cute little tale with a few subtle song references threw in for good measure. Although I think you should soften the font (did I mention that before?) it would read better (Just my preference) Oh and I agree with Marie how did Susie earn five dollars-I will read it again, maybe I missed it.
take Care
Will

[Woody]

thanks for the visit Will. and the compliment. glad you liked it. yes, the font. I promise you I looked for the darned thing. I haven't got it on my computer (Microsoft) and it is not here either (in the space where you post your writings)

[Will Neill]

If you use word there is a drop down box beside the font size choice, just click on it and you can choose your font style by looking at what you prefer. Similarly in open office.
Google will show you if you are not sure.
Will

[Woody]

ok I'll try again. but the font you suggested is not in the long list I have. no matter, I'll find it.

[Marie]

I believe I caught all your song references this time. But I don't undertand why little Susie earned five dollars from her grandmother. What am I missing?