Kelly Visits Her Grandparent’s Farm

 Kelly Visits  Her Grandparent’s Farm

1.

By the time she was ten years old, Kelly enjoyed doing research on places she hoped she could visit when she was old enough. Distant places like Japan, Paris and a small country in Europe called Andorra. But, except for family vacations with her brother Karl and her parents, the only other adventures in her life was the weeks she spent at the farm right after  school was closed during the Summer. Still, on seven hundred acres there was adventure   This time Karl didn’t come with her because he didn’t want to miss games he played for the Bears, his Little League baseball team. And when their Mother arrived at the farm she told her Parents why Karl wasn’t with her Besides enough cloths to last a month, the only other thing she brought was her Laptop computer and a WiFi plug in to go on-line with.

The next morning, after breakfast, Kelly and her Grandparents sat on the wide, covered back porch that looked out onto the farm.

“Granny, do those rocks always   make sounds like bells or sometimes someone whispering?”

“Of course they do, Kelly, depending on the direction of the wind,” her Grandmother replied.”

“I though so. But I did some research and found out that type of rock formation is called ‘Minetoliths.’ 

“I think some college students years back told us something about them when they asked up to asked to study them.” her Grandmother replied.

“And as nice as it is to hear the sounds that rocky hillside on the back part of our farm takes up about a quarter of the property and was use to us before we retired.” her Grandfather teased her.

“Grandpa, you and Karl and I spent a lot of time hiking up there. But I’m wondering about something this morning when the rising Sun work me up. Do you still have cats?”

“Not now, not after  Milly passed last Winter.” her Grandmother told her.

“I thought so, but I heard something like a cat sound coming from the Barn.”

“But where would on be staying there, Kelly? After we retired we had Johnny, our part time helper, remove all the no longer needed hay from the Hay Loft and remove the ladder that went up to the Hay Loft.”

“I suppose you are right, Gramps, but I still think I heard one. Could it have come from the old Outhouse you guy don’t need because you have indoor plumbing?” 

“I don’t think so, Kelly, because we had the hole filled up by Johnny and the door nailed shut.” 

                                                        

“Maybe from the Chicken Coops area, Grandma?”

“After we retired we don’t. We gave all our egg producing Chickens to your Uncle George.”

“I guess you’re right. I didn’t hear a cat.”

“I didn’t think so, Kelly. But would you like to ride with me in my old truck into town and maybe for old times sake and maybe do some shopping? I heard they just opened a shop that carries antique items, like Rabbit eared on TV sets and old China sets.”

“I would love to do that, Grandpa, But want about Granny?”

“Some other time would be nice, but I told my Cousin Mavis I would visit her for a few hours.”

When they got back from town, including a stop at the Antique Shop, her Grandmother was sitting at the kitchen table and they joined her.

“How was you trip into town, Kelly?” she asked.

“Fun. But the best part was going to the Antique Shop. They had an old Coke Machine, the type with the round top that held glass bottles of Coke, and they were only ten cents each. And Grandpa got for me four Slinky toys, the original all-metal one for my Birthday.”

“That’s wonderful, Dear, but did they have any Hula-Hoops?”

“No. Ginny, the shop owner, said she sold all ten she had to a Teacher at the local Middle School and would donate them to the School,” he told her.

“And what did you get, Ralph, because I figured you would buy something.”

“Two folk song collection that were on 78rpm records. That’s all. But I brought home two Depression Era bowls for your collection.” 

Grandma smiled, then turned to Kelly.

“Sometimes things we do don’t seem important to us. But to others they are, when small things are important to others, Kelly

“I’m learning that just about every day. That’s why I already decided to give Karl two of the Slinky toys.”

                                                                                                                                In the evenings, after supper. Grandma usually made phone calls to close friends and relatives. After doing so, her Grandparents watched televison. Although they both had computers with internet service they didn’t use them with guest in the house. And after  spending time with them watching shows on television, at 8:30 she told them  good night and went into the bedroom she was using. Then went on-line to connect with friends and family.

With her window wide open, around ten, tight be she started getting ready for bed, she thought she heard the sounds of several cats, bur chose to ignore them, then closed her window and got ready to go to sleep.

2.

The next morning, after breakfast, Kelly watched silently as her Grandfather tapped out and cleaned several pipe tobacco pipes. Although he was a long time pipa tobacco smoker he never smoked his pipe, except around his long time friend Harry, another pipe smoker. And both of her Grandparents would drink Draft Beer several times a week. Finally, during a pause, she looked at them.

“You guys, there are several questions I want to ask you, but first I want to go on-line for maybe a half hour to do some research.”

“Take your time. Sweety, because I’ve got a load of laundry to put in the washing machine.”

“Yes, Kelly, take your time because I have a collection of short stories I’ve haven read yet and now is a good to read at least one of the short stories.”

After doing her research she returned to the back porch and her Grandfather reading a short story. The he called out for his wife to join him. When they were seated Kelly looked at them both.

“There is something I want to tell you that I’m pretty sure I heard last. Right before I went to sleep I’m pretty sure I heard maybe several sounds, perhaps ten of them that sounded cats. I had my window wide open and it sounded like the sound was coming from the barn.”

“Maybe it was, Kelly, but to get into the barn they would have to climb up the side of the barn and go in through the air vents.”

‘Are the only vents on the side of the barn?”

“No, because we have three on the roof, too. During the Summer we need those vents to keep the

barn cooler.”

3.

“I though so and that’s why I did my research. This time of year Catbirds migrate before their mating season and I’m pretty sure some of them, perhaps a dozen, are in your barn.”

“That’s possible, Kelly, and the best way to find out is open the barn door.”

“Can we do that now, Grandpa?’

“We will, because your Grandmother is still doing laundry.”

When they opened the door, the Catbirds quickly flew up into the empty Hay Loft.

“You’re not going to call Johnny to chase them our of the barn and board up the air vents, are you?”

“Of course not. They will be goon sone because they are migrating. And they, like wild animals, are doing what they naturally do. A little bird poop on the floor isn’t important, because after they leave we will clean up the bird poop.”

“You know, Grandpa, I love you and Grandma so much.”

“I hope so, And even when you reach the teen attitude years, you still will.”

“Don’t act so silly, Grandpa.”

“I won’t, so anything else.”

“Have we got time to visit our old friend Harry? Because I’ve never met him?”

“Of course we do, after I tell her about the Catbirds in the barn.” 

4.

The next day, after breakfast, Kelly and her Grandfather sat on the back porch. After along silence, Kelly turned to him.

Grandpa, I really liked your friend, Harry. He’s both very funny and honest.”

 

“Yes, he is, and that’s the main reason why we’ve been long time friends.”

“Yes he is, but I want to talk about the future, meaning my own. Some people would say I’m too young to think about that. But I want to become teacher, like our Dad was before he passed, but an English Teacher, who also teaches a class for kids who have reading difficulties,”

“That’s wonderful, Kelly.”

“Thank you, both of you read a lot and so do I. But I would like to become a serious writer.”

 “Good for you. But I suggest you start with writing short stories the improve your skill level.”

“Good advice, but I want to write plays, not just plays, but plays foe young people, those between eight and twelve years old.”

“That’s a different thing, and I assume you’ve read a lot of plays, right?

“Of course, But few are written just for kids.”

“Okay. But I suggest you start writing one of your own. You can always edit and re-edit it until you like your efforts.”

“Thank you and I will do that. But I wondering about you and Grandpa. You both went to college and got you degree. So, I’m wondering...”

“About having the time while being Farmers? We took turns during the Winter months because there was little to do on the Farm then.”

“I understand that, but what about my Mom?”

 “We made sure she went to college to get her degree in Teaching. So, anything else?

 “I’m so happy you two are my Grandparents, instead of someone else.”

“I guess fate or perhaps luck hand something to do with that, but both of us are proud you are in our lives.”

“Thank you, but we should go visit Grandma now.”