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[Guest guest]

Dear moderator:

 

I wanted to share this and other delightful stories with the rest of the

group. All 8 stories are available FREE at

www.hinduweb.org/home/children_and_youth/chuckoo

 

Thanks.

vj sinha

 

 

group members,

sample story enclosed.

very neat stuff here:

for more, visit www.hinduweb.org/home/children_and_youth/chuckoo

 

One Winter Morning...

 

It was another cold, early Sunday morning. Leafless trees were laced with

snow and icicles. Snow covered the roof tops of the few cars that

occasionally crawled through the hazardous main road. It was an old

neighborhood, where it was not uncommon to find a gas-station next to a

home, or a pizza place across the street. Grandmother's house was on the

corner. The front of her house faced the main road, and the right side of

the house faced a quiet street. The neighborhood seemed vacant, and most

were still in bed. Only the neighbor’s snowman dared to stand outside.

Grandmother recalled how the children across the quiet street had made him

the day before. Noisy and joyful they were, living the childhood years as

children should. She would watch the children play from her living room

window. These children were a gift to grandmother, for they added cheer to

her evenings—evenings which would otherwise be dark and gloomy, for she was

not yet able to appreciate silence for too long a time.

 

The snowman seemed to have a life of its own, yet he stood there all alone.

He was very quiet. And standing there he was, just as he was the day before.

 

The chilling wind was fresh, but after some time outside, walking into the

warm house was very comforting. Grandmother came quickly through the back

door, carrying some fire wood. The warm fire-place sent goose-bumps up

grandmother’s spine.

 

The Miller's did not own a television set, so their house was somewhat

silent. The lighting was dim. The surrounding trees blocked out much light.

Yet, somehow it was very calm, warm, and comfortable. Grandfather’s tobacco

pipe gave a deceivingly sweet, pleasant aroma. The two lived alone, and

grandmother did not mind the smoke.

 

Due to tobacco related health problems, many times grandpa had tried to

quit. Over the years, he came to the conclusion that bad habits were not at

all difficult to start, but extremely hard to end. " Never start it, " was

his tip for the youngsters.

 

" Cookie will be coming any minute now, Barney, " said grandma. Cookie was

their grand-daughter. She was five. Grandfather was of a quiet temperament,

though often he was prone to break the silence. This time, he did not utter

a word. He understood what grandmother was implying, and put out his pipe.

 

The two were retired and lived comfortably. Barney enjoyed reading to pass

his time. Beth enjoyed sewing and cooking. Their son lived not too far away,

and they enjoyed his company.

 

Barney walked back to his office room, and lo and behold! – on his desk was

a beautifully wrapped birthday gift. Beth had silently followed him into the

room and she smiled as he turned his head. Grandfather was surprised,

because the last time they had celebrated his birthday was twelve years ago.

As he got older, it seemed there was no longer a reason to celebrate.

 

" Gee, Beth. You didn't have to do that. But thanks, " he said. A few days

earlier, Barney's watch had broke.

 

It gave Beth a good reason to celebrate his birthday. Grandfather quickly

opened the gift.

 

" You bought me a watch? " asked Barney.

 

" Yes. Don't you liked it? It’s the same watch I showed you in the newspaper

advertisement. You said it looked good. "

 

" Yeah, but I didn't know you were getting it for me. "

 

" Well, of course I was getting it for you. Who did you think I was getting

it for? Yours broke, didn't it? "

 

" Yeah, but I can get it fixed. Besides, I love the watch I have. I've had it

for twenty years, and I don't want to change it now. I'm use to this one. I

hope you kept the receipt. Maybe they'll take it back. "

 

In a faint, disappointed tone, grandmother stuttered, " Yes. I kept it. " She

looked a little nervous.

 

" Oh now c'mon! You don't have to take this personally. It’s a nice watch.

Really it is…. "

 

The morning passed on and grandmother overcame her disappointment. She

started preparing her special home made pizza for lunch. The aroma from the

kitchen was rather pleasant.

 

The doorbell rang. It was their son and daughter-in-law. The grandparents

were very happy to see little Cookie. They sat comfortably in the living

room and enjoyed the late morning.

 

Then quite abruptly, Cookie marched over to grandfather, and took out a

little plastic container from her pocket. " Happy birthday, Grandpa! " she

cried. Grandpa was quite amused. And also were the rest of them. No-one had

told her that it was grandpa's birthday--not even her parents.

 

Grandfather was already delighted. " Where did you get that from, you little

munchkin?! "

 

" Daddy said it was your birthday today. So I got this from the store. Do you

like it? " It so happened that Cookie overheard a conversation that her daddy

had with her mother, and found out about grandpa's birthday. She got a

little something with a quarter from the machine at the store where they had

stopped along the way. Her parents did not see her cranking the candy/toy

machine. Had they seen her, they would have stopped her, for it was common

knowledge that grandfather did not like to celebrate birthdays anymore.

 

Grandfather opened the plastic container. It was a Mickey Mouse pendant. His

lips grew to be as wide as a banana. With a big smile, he said, " Well

Cookie, this is the best pendant I've ever had. Its beautiful! " He put it on

right away!

 

" I'm glad you like it " said Cookie. Grandpa gave her a little kiss.

 

Grandmother was also pleased, but she gave grandpa a funny look. Without

words, she spoke, " Well, you didn't like my watch but that Mickey Mouse

pendant looks good to you. "

 

Well, they all enjoyed their lunch and had a grand-old time. Then it was

time to say good-bye. The front door shut. The company had left. Warm

feelings continued to linger in the air for some time.

 

" That Cookie really had us all surprised, " said grandma.

 

" Yes, she did, " replied grandpa.

 

" And what a lovely gift she got her grandpa, " continued Beth.

 

" Yes, it was, " declared Barney.

 

" I bet you never ever got anything quite as lovely as that? " asked grandma.

 

Grandfather fell silent. After a short pause, he spoke. " No, my dear. There

was one gift that was just as lovely. " He went over to the table, picked up

the new watch, and put it on. Then she opened her arms and ran to him. " Oh

Barney! " she cried. And they hugged.

 

 

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