“Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There? Book IV: Grandma Grace #45. Green Trillium In May

Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There?

By Kate Chamberlin

As Grace grows up, some of her stories are happy, some trying, some enlightening, and a few themes are sad, but, they’re all the warp and woof of what goes into the tapestry of life we call Family. The daily living skills and techniques demonstrated by the fictional characters in these stories are valid, tried and true.

Book IV:  Grandma Grace

#43. Charles and David

#44. Grandma Grace’s S’mores

#45. Green Trillium In May

#45. Green Trillium In May

45. Green Trillium In May

“I don’t want to go to Grandma’s,” 9 -year old Liam stormed instead of packing his tag-a-long suitcase. “Her house smells old and she doesn’t even know about Ultimate Trading Cards.”

“Mom, do you think Grandma Grace will let us play with her new guide dog?” 12-year old Sarah Grace asked, as she completed her packing.

“Besides, it’s boring there,” Liam continued to fuss.

“Liam, is it being at Grandma’s or the long ride that you don’t like?” their Mom asked, not expecting an answer. “Sarah, Grandma’s new guide dog is young, so I’m not sure if she’ll be trained enough for Grandma Grace to let her off leash to play.”

Soon Liam was slumped in his seatbelt, sound asleep and not aware of when his card collection slid off his lap or even when they arrived at the farm.

When his eyes opened, the smell of old, polished wood hit his nose and the feel of sand in his bed scratched his bare feet. Then he smelled the bacon and remembered where he was — Grandma’s!

Liam was surprised to see Sarah turning the bacon and Grandma mixing up the buttermilk pancake batter. Sarah never did any cooking at home, but then again, things were different at Grandma’s.

Grandma seemed too ancient to have such a young dog for a guide.

“Her name is Peyton Grace,” Sarah announced with her princess attitude. “She’s a three-year old yellow lab.”

“Who cares,” Liam growled as he dug into the stack of pancakes with homemade blueberry preserves and bacon. He slipped the dog a piece of pancake, even though he knew Grandma’s guide dogs weren’t supposed to have people food.

After breakfast, the grown-ups were talking as Sarah cut out Early American stencils for Grandma’s projects. Liam was bored, just as he knew he would be. He decided to go down to the pond and check out the tadpoles. Peyton quietly slipped out the screen door with him.

When Grandma called her guide dog, she didn’t come. “That’s unusual,” Grandma said. “I wonder where she is?  Sarah, do you see her?”

“No,” Sarah said. “I think she went out with Liam. Isn’t that okay?”

“No, neither of them asked to go out,” Grandmas said. “Maybe we ought to go look for them. They aren’t really that familiar with the farm and the spring rains have made the bog a bit dangerous.”