Fawn and Great Grandpa

This story is dedicated to my Grandfather, Robert John Williamson, who passed away December 26, 2000. He was 89 years old. Grandpa, I miss you terribly and I love you very much!

Great Grandpa was sitting on the front porch by himself, waiting for Grampy to finish his breakfast.

“Hi Great Grandpa,” said Fawn.

“Well, hello Fawn,” said Great Grandpa. “How are you this fine day?”

“I’m okay, I guess,” said Fawn.

“What do you mean you guess?” asked Great Grandpa.

“Well, Spot is mad at me,” said Fawn, sadly.

“What did you do to her this time?” asked Great Grandpa.

“What makes you think I did anything?” asked Fawn.

“Because, when a woman is angry at you, it’s usually because you have done something wrong,” said Great Grandpa.

“Great Grandpa,” said Fawn. “How come you know about everything?”

“Well,” laughed Great Grandpa. “I don’t know everything.”

“Yes you do,” said Fawn, seriously.

“It’s probably because I am older and wiser than you are,” said Great Grandpa. “I’ve been on this earth now for 89 years. That should account for something.”

“Wow, 89 years!” exclaimed Fawn. “That is a long time.”

“Anyway, what is this little spat all about?” asked Great Grandpa.

“Well,” Fawn started to explain.

“What is going on out here?” a voice asked.

“Grampy!” exclaimed Fawn, when Grampy walked out onto the porch.

“We were just having a man to man talk,” said Great Grandpa.

“Well Dad,” said Grampy. “It’s time to go now.”

“Where are you going?” asked Fawn.

“Great Grandpa has to go to the hospital,” said Grampy. “He is pretty sick.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Fawn. “Great Grandpa, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were sick.”

“It’s okay Fawn,” assured Great Grandpa. “Son, can you go and get the car. I want to stay here for a few more minutes and talk to Fawn. Now, what is all this fuss about you and Spot having a spat?”

“Well, Spot is mad at me because I didn’t like the way she was cleaning up the barn,” said Fawn. “She was throwing away my favourite stuff.”

“Now, that’s where you problem lies,” said Great Grandpa.

“I knew you’d see it my way,” said Fawn. “Women are such a pain!”

“I think you have this all wrong,” said Great Grandpa. “Fawn, you’ve got to learn to be more patient when it comes to women. You can’t go around criticizing their every move. If a woman wants to clean out your stuff, then let her. When a woman is happy, so is her man!”

“Okay Dad,” said Grampy. “It’s time.”

“Bye Great Grandpa,” said Fawn. “Thank you.”

“Bye Fawn,” said Great Grandpa. “Anytime you have a problem, you can come to me.”

Fawn walked back down to the barn where Spot was still cleaning.

“Spot, if you want to throw out my old junk, then do it,” said Fawn.

“Fawn, are you alright?” asked Spot.

“Yes, of course I am,” said Fawn. “I just had a long talk to Great Grandpa about things and he told me I must have more patience in dealing with you. He also said I shouldn’t criticize your every move.”

“Fawn,” said Spot, happily. “You are the best.”

“Great Grandpa was right again,” said Fawn to himself.

A few hours later, Jenny and Ricky Hansen came rushing down to the barn. They were crying.

“What’s wrong?” asked Fawn.

“Great Grandpa died on the way to the hospital,” said Jenny, sadly.

“But I just spoke to him this morning,” said Fawn. “He looked fine!”

Fawn, Spot and the Hansen children were very upset at the loss of their dear beloved Great Grandfather. He was the pillar of their life and without him, there will be a big empty void.