Grandma Lu Pulled A Trick On Her Friend

 "Fess up to what, B? I'm not hiding anything. You are just being silly. K.R. is just a made up character in the Double D Ranch series from last year. Come on let's have a cup of coffee. I even have cookies in the cupboard!"

"Well, I think I would like to know who this K.R. person is. It looks to me like he is in a Texas prison, Lu. Is there something you'd like to tell me? Do you know this K.R.? This is addressed to you. You were supposed to sign for it, but the mailman heard you talking so he let me sign for you." He gave the letter to Grandma Lu and waited for her answer.

"Oh don't be silly. B and I are going to have a cup of coffee. Why don't you go back to your movie. We shall talk later. Come on B. Bring all of your questions and suspicions with you and I'll tell you how silly you are."

"Grandma Lu, can I come in? Is Grandma B having coffee with you? Do you have cookies? Yay!"

Just as they were all going to sit down for a visit, B's phone rang. "Okay. Sure. Marlee you and I have to go back to my house. Your mom and dad are there wanting you to go home. It's almost time for supper." She looked at her old friend and said, "I will be back. You aren't getting away with this, you know."

When Grandma Lu made sure that her friend and Marlee were gone she went in the living room and picked up the letter and laughed. "You did good, my dear. We really have her going now, don't we? I wonder how soon she will be back badgering me about that letter. I have an idea. Why don't we go on a short road trip for a couple of days. She can stew about it while we are gone. I'd like to go someplace peaceful and quiet. You can take the boat and fish. Why don't we take the camper? We need to get it out more. It just sits there gathering dust." Then she started laughing. "It's a good thing she didn't ask to see that letter. I did a terrible job of making that envelope and there wasn't a thing in it! Oh that was fun.

 Well, what do you say? Are you thinking about taking me up on a little trip? Cool. I'll go pack some things and I'll be ready to go. Grab my laptop please. That's the whole idea of getting away for awhile. I need some time to think and get back in my writing mode again. I really miss it; plus I could really go for some fresh fish to eat. Don't forget your fishing license." She grinned as she watched him go out the door. "I don't need one. I'm old remember? Go ahead and get things together. I need to go to the bank and get some money and get the truck gassed up. And I want my silver dollar back!"

On the way home from her Grandma B's house Marlee told her dad that Grandma Lu and Grandma B were acting kinda strange. "I think Grandma Lu is hiding something from Grandma B. " Her dad laughed and said, About the only thing she would hide from my mom is cookies. Come here and sit on my lap you can "drive home, okay?" Soon she forgot about the grandmas and started playing with Whitlee until supper was ready.

Grandma B Tells Her Friend to ""Fess Up!"

 Grandma Lu had been over to her friend's home to make sure that she had a hot meal to eat. She and her elderly friend had a lovely chat and then it was time for her friend's nap. She was a firm believer that sleep was a healer and that is what she wished for her friend. As she was driving back to her own home she thought about that picture and silver dollar that was in the old spittoon in her office/closet. "I should probably through those things away. I have no idea why I keep them. K.R. was always the black sheep of the family. He's been in jail since I was just a young girl. Uncle Rex raised him because Mom and Dad just couldn't handle him. He was always trying to get rich quick and sometimes it backfired on him and he would land in county jail even when he was just a teenager. Uncle Rex insisted that he go to law school. K.R. hated it, but did as he was told. The whole time he lived in Springfield he was conning people out of their money. The last I heard was what I included in last year's series. Poor Allie. K.R. told her that her Uncle Bill had left her a ranch. She believed him! Well, he did leave her a junk yard Jeep and a tear drop trailer that was on it's last legs. She found a letter in the glove compartment that said there was two thousand dollars for her  and a key to the main house located just outside of Master City, Texas. She was next to homeless so she headed for Texas on a wish and a prayer.

Grandma Lu walked into her office/closet and smiled. "Oh that B. She can really clean. I just hope that she hadn't seen that picture. It kind of looks like Fran in the old days, so maybe she didn't think a thing of it if she did see it. She could hear the phone ringing. When she looked she saw that the caller ID said Marlee's Grandma. "Sorry, B. I just can't deal with this today. I'm just going to sit here in front of the computer and decide whether to send Marlee and her family back home or leave them there. The decision I make will either end this series or it will continue for quite some time. I really like writing about enchanted forests and handsome prince charming's and beautiful princess's, but I like writing about more grownup stories too. Goodness sakes, just what am I going to do? she said to herself.

"Well, you can tell me who this picture is and why you have it and a silver dollar in the bottom of a spittoon! Are you keeping secrets, old friend? Marlee thought it was Fran, but I knew better. The writing on the back is poor, but I read K.R. and Master City on the back. Is K.R. real? Fess up, girl. Who is the real K.R.?"

B Finds An Unexplained Picture And A Silver Dollar

 Grandma B was worried about her old friend. When she had gone over to her home the other day she had actually fallen asleep at the table while she and Marlee had been discussing how the story Grandma Lu was writing should go. "She's just doing too much. I told her I would help her clean to give her a break. I'll call over there to see if this is a good time. Marlee is anxious to get started." Grandma Lu's husband answered the phone. He told her that he was getting better, but would be leaving for physical therapy soon. She was welcome to organize his wife's office/closet. "Now it's a real mess in there; just warning you!" She laughed and said, "Oh, I know. I was in there the other day. I'll come over in a few minutes if that's okay with you." He assured her that it was. Grandma B and Marlee gathered up their cleaning supplies and walked down the street to help their friend. When they walked into the small cluttered room they both just shook their heads and wondered just where to start.

"Grandma B I know there is a window in here, but I can barely see. Do you know where the light switch is?" Her grandma flipped the switch that was by the door. "There now we can see. Okay, this is going to take some time to organize. She has clothes, her hats, Christmas, Halloween, and spring all mixed together. Here is her computer. Oh look, she has your picture and some other pictures on her little desk. She sure does love children, doesn't she?" Marlee grinned, and said, "Yes, she does, but it doesn't look like she likes to clean." B said, "She has had a busy holiday season. Her husband hurt his hip plus she's been caring for an ill friend. Let's get this done and then we can go to my house and bake her some cookies. She has a sweet tooth and loves the cookies that we make her."

While Grandma B was putting all the Christmas things in totes and putting Grandma Lu's hats all in one tote she heard Marlee laughing. "What did you find, Marlee?" Marlee said, "I found a picture of Grandma Lu's husband. It's all yukky and standing by a horse. They don't have a horse do they? Looks like there is writing on the back. Here, can you see what it says?"

B turned the picture over and read the old scrawling on the back. "No, this couldn't be. Grandma Lu's husband could not be related to the character in the Double D Ranch series. He was a rascal and ended up in jail. Surely not."  She looked over at Marlee and said, "Where did you find this, Marlee?" Marlee said, "Well, when I was moving things to make room for this old pot that had a Christmas tree in it the tree fell out and so did that old picture. Who is that? It's hard to see. This was in the bottom of it too. Looks like a silver coin of some kind. It's not a quarter. What is it, B"

B looked over where Marlee was pointing. The pot was an antique spittoon that had been subbing for a Christmas tree stand. B grinned and said, "I think Grandma Lu has a secret. Let's put the picture back in the pot as you call it and then we will find a box for this little Christmas tree. Put that coin in the bottom of it too. It's probably a souvenir. If we hurry we can get this all done and still have time for baking. If Grandma Lu comes home early enough this afternoon maybe she won't be so tired and we can have cookies with her. How does that sound?" Marlee agreed and soon they had Grandma Lu's closet all organized and looking great.

Later that afternoon Grandma Lu came home and found her husband snoozing in his chair. "Wake up my dear, and tell me all about your day. How did Physical Therapy go? It's helping, but making you sore. Well, just keep doing your exercises and soon we can go on our walks again. They were? Marlee came with B? They what? You have got to be kidding. She quickly walked into her office and couldn't believe her eyes. Her office/closet was clean as a whistle. "Oh my! What a good friend that girl is." Then she saw the old copper spittoon sitting by the window. Bonnie had polished it and it just gleamed. It no longer had her little Christmas tree in it. "Oh no. Oh no no no. Oh dear. She quickly ran over and tipped the spittoon over. There in the bottom was the old picture and the silver dollar. "Thank goodness they didn't see this. I believe I'll put a stocking cap in this and cover you up. There is no need for the skeleton in my closet to show up. I probably should just throw this old picture away, but it gave me inspiration for last year's stories. Sorry, dear brother, but I will keep your secret, you jail bird you." She shook her head; blew a kiss towards the old picture and went to answer the phone. It was B...

B Whispered Happy New Year To Her Elderly Friend

 Marlee and her Grandma B were sitting in B's kitchen talking like they often did. The subject of Grandma Lu came up. "B, is there something wrong with Grandma Lu? She never comes over anymore and you haven't talked about her for a long time. Plus she hasn't written a story for almost a month! Is she sick?" "No, Grandma Lu isn't sick, but she has been really busy. Her husband hurt his back and a friend of hers has been needing help. She's been having company for Christmas and so has her friend. There has been doctor appointments that she has been giving rides to and the poor thing is about worn to a nubbin." "Marlee asked, "What is a nubbin?" Her Grandma B laughed and said, "Something that is almost worn out. An ear of corn that is really small is referred to as a nubbin. So is a pencil that has been used, sharpened, used and sharpened so many times it is really short. People call that a nubbin. Anyway I think it's probably time I stick my nose into her business and help her out. I'll give her a call and tell her I'm taking her some fresh baked cookies. That will cheer her up then I'll help her put away Christmas. I noticed the other day her tree was still up. She's usually the first one on the block to put her tree away. Why don't you go out to play then we will go over to see her." Marlee asked if she could go to Grandma Lu's house and visit for awhile while B was getting the cookies ready. Her grandma said, "Sure, go ahead, just be careful crossing the street and be sure to knock before you go in."

When Marlee got to Grandma Lu's house no one answered the door. She knew she was home because the car was there. She opened the door and walked into the living room. There was Grandma Lu's husband sound asleep in her chair. He was still in his pajamas! 

Then she walked into the kitchen and said, "Grandma Lu are you okay? Grandma Lu!"

Marlee still didn't hear anything. Then she grinned and thought, "I know where she is. She's in her office writing a story. She's okay. I just know she is."

She quickly walked into the room where Grandma Lu had written so many stories about her and her sister and many other children over the years. There she was on her hands and knees pulling out boxes and talking to herself. "Grandma Lu! What a mess this room is! What are you doing? Where is your computer? I can't even see the floor! Oh, Grandma Lu, you have dolls with broken legs in here with a turkey sitting on top of them! Why do you have your Christmas tree in that copper pot and there are rolls of Christmas paper sticking out of the closet door and all your hats are coming out of a suitcase. Why is there a Halloween skeleton on this old table? I'm going to go get my Grandma B. I think you need help 'cause it smells bad in here too."

About that time Grandma B said, "Girl, you are so right. Come on old friend. Off the floor and into the kitchen. Let's have some cookies and a cup of coffee and then we will tackle your store room or office. Why don't you ever ask anyone for help? Come on!"

Over a cup of coffee Grandma Lu caught her breath and explained that she had been so busy helping her friends and her husband she had not had time for writing, cooking or for that matter cleaning. The Christmas decorations and tree just had had to wait for last. She did say that her husband was at long last getting better, but was still in some pain and was not able to help her like he used to. 

Marlee said, "Do you think you will be able to write anymore stories?" 

Grandma Lu grinned at her and patted her hand. "Of course, I will, but writing stories is my hobby so I'm afraid my stories are on hold for a little bit. Oh, B, the lights are still on on our little tree. They are run off of batteriees. Do you think you could turn them off for me? See there I just asked for some help." They all laughed a little and drank their drinks and ate B's delicious cookiees.

Marlee said, "That's okay. I can wait, but remember you left us in Texas because Mom bought a ranch by accident at an auction. I think you should bring us home when you start writing again." Marlee's Grandma B grinned and said, "Oh, I thought I was going to Texas to help you solve the mystery of the old old book that your friend also Marlee had picked out at the library. I don't know about having you come back to Missouri yet, because your dad thinks that there is still silver in that old mine on the ranch. He wants to stay." Grandma B and Marlee continued to argue and discuss the story line of how Grandma Lu should finish the story. When Marlee looked over at Grandma Lu to plead her case of coming back home she was so surprised. Grandma Lu had fallen fast asleep right there at the table. Grandma B said, "That does it. Lu, come on. Let's get you down for a nap. Marlee and I will put your office back together for you. That's our New Years gift to you. Now you rest."

She walked her elderly friend to her bedroom. Covered her up with her favorite throw and whispered, "Happy New Year, old friend. Happy New Year."