TUESDAYS WITH KATIE

She was our first grandchild
And naturally
We loved her dearly
And I adored her
As only grand-dads can
And she latched onto me

She used to come to us every Tuesday
At a time when kids are most interesting
She was fully conversational
(Didn't we all know it)
Her personality was emerging
And she was still young enough
To have her originality and imagination
My little gold mine of joy

And this is how it would go

"Grand-dad, you be the shop keeper
And I'll bring my dollies in for clothes."
So she would lay out her doll's outfits
And bring her dolls forward to buy clothes
She would haggle over the price (and win)
And pay me in cardboard coins

"Let's watch a video, Grand-dad!
Let's watch Barny!" (Again)
I hate that bloody purple dinosaur
And Katie thinks he's wonderful
That smarmy voice of his
"I love you and you love me,"
I bleeding don't you know
I wouldn't let him within a hundred miles
Of any kids of mine.

In the course of the day
I would be called upon
To play multiple parts in
Everything from The Three Bears
To Little Red Riding Hood
In which I memorably became
Big Bad Wolf and Grandma
And presumably ate myself

But the highlight of the day
Was the last thing before she went home
The weekly show
"Introduce me, Grand-dad!"
In my best showman's voice
"Ladies and gentlemen...!"
To my wife and dog
"...The moment you've been waiting for.
Fresh from her recent tour
Of our back garden.....
Miss Katie......."
"Katie Spice, Grand-dad."
"Miss Katie SPICE!"

Into some popular ditty of the day
Issuing from her at full volume
Then she would stop mid-line
While she did a little dance step
All greeted by thunderous applause
In her head it was Carnegie Hall
Rather than my wife, my dog and me
So, a happy end to a happy day
Then Katie went home
And I slipped into an exhausted coma

      By Phil Roberts

Reviews

[KT-B]

Ha I loved this, the reference to Barney reminded me of when my kids were wee, well they are early teens now but oh how I miss that early stage, it went so fast - Katie must love visiting her grandparents sounds like you all have the best of times - well done

[Phil Roberts]

Thank you very much! Katie is at university now and we rarely see her....but the memories are always there :)

[KT-B]

aw well I hope she has a copy of this, I'm sure she would treasure it. :)

[AUU]

Very easy going and warm.

It smartly illustrates the snapping joy a grandchild can bring when they come to visit.

I'm not old enough to have children...let alone grandchildren, but I do remember visiting my grandparents. The four of us were little tornadoes.

"I bleeding don't you lnow" hit the l instead of k

Thank you for sharing!

[Phil Roberts]

Thank you....you have that joy to look forward to. Amongst the happiest hours of my life :)