Central Intermediate School - Memories Yearbook (Ottawa, IL)

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EIQZBLE 5 PQLYSCQFE 3 :iaszsi 52291 GRANDPA TAKES A HAND By LOUISE MEYER Grandpa Harmon dragged himself slowly across the backyard. His knees were unsteady, and bent under him as though the weight of his shrunken body was growing almost too great for them to carry. Yet, in spite of the uncertainty of his steps, there was a pride and dignity in his bearing which defied offers of assistance, Grandpa Harmon scorned a cane. He gained the bench in the garden at last, and sank into it with a suppressed sigh of relief. Flinging back his head like a spirited young horse, he drew in long breaths of the spring-scented air. The lilacs were in bloom, but were beginning to show signs of the ending of their season. The tips of the blooms were tinged with brown. Grandpa Harmon reached out and picked one and absent-mindedly began plucking it to pieces. His gaze was turned steadfastly toward the street. His shaggy brows grad- ually drew together in a frown. Once he started to his feet impatiently, thought better of it, and sat down again. His fingers drummed on the arm of the bench. A few minutes later a broad smile wrinkled the corners of his eyes. Ruthie! he called softly, and followed the word with a long, low whistle. Ruth Harmon looked up at the sound and waved to the old man. Then slowly, almost unwillingly it seemed, she turned into the yard and came towards him. Her brightly-colored dress, the bright ribbon around her dark bobbed hair, accentuated sharply the lack of color in her mood. The brown eyes which usually sparkled so mischievously looked dull and quiet. Her whole being, always till lately so vibrant and gay, drooped wearily. She tossed her books aside and dropped to the ground. Another day gone, she volunteered, and tried to bring into her voice some of the old-time ring. Uh-huh, grandpa agreed. He waited a moment, then began to hum under his breath. Pulled an 'A' in free-hand drawing again today. Good, Ruthie. Everything else coming along good, too ? Oh-fair, got a 'D' in chemistry quiz, and burned my hand in labora- tory, in the bargain. Bad ? 1 h eldo, not very. Not as bad as the last time. Remember the last burn ad . Grandpa Harmon looked at her keenly and kindly. Did she think she was fooling him by sitting there and making talk ? His heart ached for her. His eyes were dim when he answered. 'Course I remember it, Ruthie. Didn't I wrap it up for you? I've been sitting out here sort of remembering lots of things this afternoon. You used to be a funny little body, honey, always busy, never still a minute. I happened to think of the day you ran away and followed the boys when they went fishing. Remember it? You couldn't have been over five.