Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There?<\/p>\n
By Kate Chamberlin<\/p>\n
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As Grace grows up, some of her stories are happy, some trying, some enlightening, and a few themes are sad, but, they\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>#12 Knight With Shining Flatware<\/p>\n Sunday morning, Grace heard Ken\u2019s Stang long before he pulled into her driveway. She could hear Joe and Edie laughing at something as Ken got out of the car to ring her doorbell. Sandy opened the front door.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Junior,\u201d Sandy said. \u201cThat\u2019s quite a ring Grace has hanging around her neck. I certainly hope your intentions are honorable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, Sandy,\u201d Grace\u2019s Mom said, walking into the foyer. \u201cHello, Ken. Grace is getting Crackers into her harness and will be here in a minute. Isn\u2019t the Memorial this morning at the Holy Cross Church?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It is,\u201d Ken said. \u201cI\u2019m going to play my guitar for part of the service.\u201d<\/p>\n Grace was within earshot and relieved to hear that they\u2019d be in a familiar church, where Crackers had already been trained.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t heard you play your guitar,\u201d Grace said, trying to keep Crackers from jumping on him. \u201cI think she is really happy to see you. It feels like her tail is wagging her whole body. Have you played for the Memorial before?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I like to play for the Memorial each year. Two of my cousins died in the military. It is my way of saying \u2018Thank you for making it possible for me to have the freedom to play\u2019. Someday, I hope to play in a military band.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen a Classical Guitar in the military band,\u201d Sandy said.<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Ken answered. \u201cI also play the trumpet and trombone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cImpressive,\u201d Sandy mocked, clapping his hands. \u201cI just play the hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith that applause,\u201d Ken said affably, we\u2019ll be going. Ready, Grace?\u201d<\/p>\n During the short ride over to the church, Grace explained, \u201cOur church building is over 100-years old. It used to be a one-room school house. The original bell is still in the belfry and we use it every Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t the neighbors complain about the bell?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the school was abandoned for many years, the church moved in. During the renovation, they found the bell, re-tied the rope and tried it out,\u201d Grace said, relating more church history. \u201cOne of the elderly neighbors heard the bell and toddled over to ask what the emergency was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes,\u201d Edie said. \u201cI\u2019ve read that in small towns, whenever the school, Town Hall, or church bell rang, it was to summon help from everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n When they arrived at the church, Crackers did a good job getting Grace and her friends to the pew they usually sat in. Ken sat with them until it was time for his soli.<\/p>\n The congregation was very quiet as Ken began the Allemande,<\/em> from Lute suite No.11<\/em> by Sylvia\u2019s Leopold Weiss.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, my,\u201d Grace said softly, as the somber, reverent sounds from the strings of Ken\u2019s Classical Baroque Alto Guitar filled the church. It was a very moving tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d Edie sniffled and blew her nose.<\/p>\n Tears streamed down Grace\u2019s cheeks. She could hear Joe and several others near her quietly trying to clear their throats.<\/p>\n Ken\u2019s second solo, Lute Sonata #2<\/em> also by Sylvius Leopold Weiss, was a tune that replaced the tears with smiles. Ken\u2019s guitar reminded everyone of the hope the future would bring.<\/p>\n Traditionally, the congregation doesn\u2019t applaud for prayers offered during the service, whether said or sung or strummed. But, everyone was so moved by his offerings, they did applaud.<\/p>\n Ken came and sat next to Grace. He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek, which was still wet and flushed with emotion.<\/p>\n Crackers got up from under the pew and put her head on Ken\u2019s lap when he sat down. She seemed to say:\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you\u2019re our new friend. Friends are forever.<\/p>\n<\/a>#13. The Locker Fiasco<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#14. Lost In Thought<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#15. The Musician<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#16. Day Two And Beyond<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#17. First Date<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#18. The Zipper Creep<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#19. Making Up<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#20. Mall Cruising<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#21. And More Questions<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#22. Homecoming Dance<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#23. Loyalties<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#24. Sea Dragons<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#25. Guide Dog Chronicles: Puppy Raisers<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#26. Guide Dog Chronicles: The Training Center<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#27. Guide Dog Chronicles: Grocery Shopping<\/h1>\n
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<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #29. Guide Dog Chronicles: Smells like A Church<\/h1>\n
<\/a>#30. Ken\u2019s No Strings Attached<\/h1>\n