Grandma Lu Gets A Visitor Late At Night

 Betty watched Grandma Lu gather cups and a small plate of cookies to the kitchen table. It seemed like she  couldn't take her eyes from her. While Grandma Lu put things on the table,  Betty took her folder of pictures and put them on the table. Grandma Lu sat down and took a sip of her coffee. "You know I will suffer for drinking this, this late at night. I used to drink it to stay awake when the kids were little. My how things change over the years."

"Let's see what you have here. She started going through some of the pictures until she got to one. The picture of her home when she was just a little girl. It was the only picture she had of it. "How did you get this picture? I have one just like this. As far as I know there aren't any others."

Betty let out a sigh of relief and wiped tears from her eyes. "I was right. I just knew that I should know you. There was something about how you told your stories and  the way you held your head. You look like pictures I have seen of her. I don't know for sure where this picture came from, but I am thinking at one time it belonged to my grandmother or some relative. People seldom wrote on the back of the pictures, so I really didn't know what I had. Here is a picture of a lady called only Margaret. I think she is a distant relative."

Grandma Lu held that picture and shook her head. "Yes, that is Margaret. My mother's closest friend and cousin. Your three times great grandmother only had one daughter and several sons when she married my great grandfather. They had only one child after they  married, and that was my grandmother. Just a minute I think I have some pictures out that I was looking at the other day."

"Betty, here is a picture of my mother. She baked for grocery stores and other folks to put my sister through nurses training. She was a really good cook."  Betty just shook her head and said, "Just look at these pictures. They could be twins!" 

The pictures were priceless in Betty's mind. Pictures of men and women she had never known. Working on a farm, posing on a porch. Who were these people? Were they nice? Were they poor or rich? She had so many questions and there was probably only one person alive that could answer any of them: Grandma Lu. But she knew it was getting late.

Betty saw the older lady yawn and apologized for stopping by so late. "I am so sorry for coming late. I should have called first. People say that I am a bit ..Grandma Lu interrupted and said "A bit like your great grandmother, Margaret?" She laughed and so did Betty. What an odd day, but as she left she thought, I just might have a whole new family. Such fun. Fun is something she hadn't had in a very long time. Thank goodness for her small son, Joey. He brought in the sunshine when she felt only the dreary day blues on some days.

A Pleasant Dream And A Knock At the Door

 "My stars it's getting so cold outside, Grandma Lu grumbled when she came in from outside. The wind is blowing fifty miles an hour I swear." She rubbed her arms and thought about when she was a young girl on the farm. My mother knew what would make us warm when the weather got colder. She would get out her sauce pan, a can of Hershey's cocoa and make us some coco (that's how I spelled it in my head when I was about eight or nine)," she grinned. She called into the living room. "Would you like a cup of hot chocolate? I'm going to make myself some." She got the answer she knew she would so she took two envelopes of hot chocolate mix and two cups of water. Heated the cups of water in the microwave, stirred in the chocolate mix and that was it. Instantly it seemed were two steaming cups of hot chocolate. She carried them into  the living room beside each chair. Then she wriggled herself into a comfy sweater and waited for the familiar feeling of home. It didn't come. She tasted the mixture again. Nope it certainly wasn't like what her mother made. It wasn't even like the hot chocolate she used to make for her children.

"When they say 'times change or it's progress', that doesn't make it automatically better." She turned and watched her husband doze after his warm drink. "That's about all this did for me; make me sleepy." 

Grandma Lu dozed off as well with sweet dreams of her childhood on the farm. She could see her mother and her old silver saucepan, a pint jar of cream, a pitcher of milk, a cannister of sugar and an old can of Hershey's cocoa. She smiled in her sleep as she relived the smells and the wonderful taste of homemade cocoa. There they all were; her little brother, her older sister, and of course, her dad. They were all waiting for the wonderful warm drink. Wait they did, because the stove had to be heated, the milk had to be just the right temperature and of course, the taste testing by her mom. Then her mother's smile, meant that it was just right. There was as always, a plate full of home made cookies to go with the warm drink.

A knock at the door woke Grandma Lu up from her wonderful dream. She shook the cobwebs out of her sleepy head and wondered who would be knocking at her door after dark. She soon found out. There stood Joey's mother, Betty.

Grandma Lu said, "Well, hello! May I help you? Betty smiled and said, "I think that you are a relative of mine. If I am wrong I apologize, but I have just had this feeling ever since I started listening to your stories at the library. May I come in?"

Grandma Lu said, "Of course, you may. Come on out to the kitchen. All I have to offer you is a cup of instant hot chocolate. Not like the old days, but it will warm you up. So what is this all about? You think you are related to me? Why is that, do you think? Oh, you brought pictures. I love pictures. Maybe we can get this sorted out. No, of course, I don't mind. Oh there's the bell on the microwave. That didn't take long did it? There you go. Okay, let's see what you have there.

A Quiet Treasure

 Grandma Lu had been so busy with her yard sale. She finally was finding time to put things in totes. Some things for her next yard sale and some things just needed to be organized and labeled in a storage cupboard. On this particular day she found a strange looking tin box. It had a handle and it was green. "This must be Fran's, she thought. I'll set this aside and show it to him. He will either want to throw it away or save it for some unknown treasures." She shook her head at her husband's uncanny ability to save things that had no value. Often things (broken tools) were saved because they could be fixed someday or mainly just because...) 

She decided to have a cookie and a cup of coffee after working a few hours. Her husband walked into the kitchen and said, "Look what I found! Pretty cool box, don't you think? Wonder what's in it." He sat down at the kitchen table while Grandma Lu fixed him a cup of coffee all the while grinning. That man of hers!

When she sat down she watched him open the box and it was full of old papers. Really old papers. He passed one to her. She was only five years old when it was printed. The paper was soft as butter. It was his mother's box that he had saved and forgotten about. In it were just two things. The Bandwagon newspaper which had all of the old song lyrics printed in it along with very strange advertisements.

The other paper was a letter to Fran's mom and dad (their name was spelled wrong) informing them of their new real estate tax for the next year. Thirty seven dollars! They both laughed at how taxes had increased over the years. In that envelope was another letter telling them that they would from now on have to buy or make a number at least 2" high and wide to put on the front of the house. It would have to be visible from the street. It was the number 9. The envelope was only addressed to them as the street, no number. This took place in 1964.

This forgotten little green box started a conversation that lasted long after their coffee was cold. What an interesting letter. How it reminded Grandma Lu of letters she still had of her mother and father's. There was no address on the envelope. Only a name and a town and state. How in the world did the mailman find them?

Also Grandma Lu and her husband talked about how the tax assessors would come to the house and look all over. At one time she could remember that the tax man said that if her parents put in wall to wall carpeting they would have to pay a tax on it. Plus they counted all the pigs, chickens and cows! My how things have changed!

Grandma Lu cleared the table while her husband made his way to a cupboard with the little green box. "So what are you going to do with that box and those papers?" He grinned and said, "Well save it, of course, the kids might like to see them someday."

Grandma Lu shook her head and thought. "We won't see that box again for years. It was fun to look at, but it will be a surprise again the next time we find it." She chuckled to herself as she fixed supper. Aah the phone is ringing. I wonder who that is. The caller ID said it was an unknown number. So she didn't answer it. "You just can't be too careful nowadays. If they want to talk to me they can leave a message."

Betty was disappointed when Grandma Lu didn't answer the phone, but wasn't ready to leave her a message yet. Maybe she would see her again at the library.

Old Friends And Sleepovers!

 Grandma Lu was asked to speak at the library again in a few weeks. Once again Joey and his mother, Betty, came to listen to her stories. Today was a little different. Grandma Lu wasn't smiling or laughing as often as she usually did. Even little Joey noticed a difference. "What do you think is wrong with that lady, Mom? She's not smiling much today is she?" 

His mother smiled and gave him a hug and answered his questions quietly. "Sometimes, grownups have things that they worry about and that makes them sad. Or maybe she just isn't feeling well. Let's wait and see what she is going to talk about today."

Grandma Lu welcomed everyone and said, Today I am going to talk about friends that we make. As we get older we make lots of friends. Some are close friends that we can tell secrets to and others are just good friends that we can do things with even travel with if we can. Family can be counted on as friends too sometimes. 

We usually make friends with our cousins when we are little if they live close by, then when we start school we make more friends. As we get older lots of times our friends move far away and we don't get to see them very often, but when we do oh what fun it is to talk about all the fun we used to have. That is called by a  big word: reminiscing. Do any of you have good friends?" Grandma Lu smiled when she saw all the hands go up. Even little Joey had his hand up. "He said, "I have a good friend in Sunday school and we see each other in pre-K too. We have fun."

Grandma Lu listened to others talk about their friends and some friends that folks hadn't seen in a long time.

She pointed at the Rondo Items book and said, "This book is all about friends. Rondo was a very small community and so many parents were friends and then the children became friends and on down the line. Some of the grandchildren were also friends. Well, today's story is about friends just like that only not in Rondo but in my hometown, Cherokee, Iowa.

My best friend was Joan. Guess what? Our mothers were friends and you won't believe this but our grandmothers were friends. I call us three generation friends. We were four when our mothers got us together."

A little girl said, "What did little girls do in the olden days?" Grandma Lu chuckled, "Well, about the same things you do with your friends. We played outside. I can remember playing under Joan's pine tree in the dirt with her play dishes and making pretend pies. If we played quietly some of the chickens would even come close by us and scratch in the dirt with us. It was hard to keep from laughing at them. If we did they would run away.

 Joey raised his hand and said, "Did you have trucks and cars?" Again Grandma Lu laughed and said, "Most often in those days girls played with dolls and played house. We also played with our dogs and cats.. Sorry, Joey, no cars or trucks."

When Joan and I got older we would have sleepovers at each others houses. I can remember one that was a disaster. I guess we were about 8-10 years old. Joan was excited to stay overnight with me. We lived quite a ways from each other. We both went to the same school, but we lived in different townships. That was how the schools divided bus routs.. I suppose about ten or fifteen miles. Well that night after supper we got our pajamas on and it seemed like soon it was time to go to bed. Well, Joan wasn't having any part of that. She came down with homesickness! Have any of you ever been homesick? Many of the grownups raised their hands and nodded their heads. Well, homesickness is a real thing. You feel for sure that if you don't go home you will just die for sure. That's just the way that Joan felt that night. My mother called her mother and Joan's mother told her that they would come and get her but that then she couldn't be able to stay overnight again. Oh that was so hard. But my mother was such a good mom and a good friend to Joan's mother. She stayed up all night and put puzzles together with her so that someday she could stay overnight again. But you know what? I don't think she ever did!

I do remember staying overnight at Joan's house for a birthday sleepover. Oh how I got teased. I talked in my sleep! How I remember that. I wonder what I talked about.

Some of the folks asked about Joan and if she ever got to see her after school was out. And of course, the answers were all over the place. Grandma Lu told about  how Joan and she got together for a high school reunion after many years Their husbands burned the steaks on the grill while they were talking. Oh how those men got teased. Thank goodness we had watermelon! Over the years telephone calls and many letters were sent. We each had children and grandchildren and had lots to talk about. 

Betty asked Grandma Lu if she had a picture of her friend. Grandma Lu said, "I sure do. This is us many years ago when Joan and her husband came to visit. They came for breakfast and I was sick. I fed them ugly looking pancakes. They really didn't taste very good either. And you know what? Good friends don't care. They came to see us not my house, not my food, but for hugs and that big word again; reminiscing!

Love you Joan

Drink A Bite To Eat 10-2-And 4

 Grandma Lu enjoyed her time at the library sharing her stories. She loved the children of course, but one little boy, Joey, stood out from the others. He liked books with pictures of cars and trucks. His mother also looked a little familiar. After they had all finished  their snacks and drinks someone pointed out that Grandma Lu was drinking a can of Dr. Pepper soda. She tapped the large book called Rondo Items and said, You know there is a little story about a doctor in this book that always drank Dr. Pepper. I can remember a commercial that was old as the hills about drinking it at 10- 2 and 4. That commercial was on the radio in the 1940's and 50's. They said Drink a bite to eat. We sometimes get low on energy about those times of day, so they tried to get you to buy Dr. Pepper to give you more energy. They actually advertised it as a health tonic. They said it gave you vim, vigor, and vitality. Maybe it was good for you because that doctor lived to be ninety-six years old! She laughed and said, "They said he made house calls with  a horse and buggy. Then later on he drove a Model T Ford to go visit sick or injured folks. I can remember a doctor coming to my house when I was a little girl when I didn't feel good. I don't know of any doctors that do that nowadays, maybe there are some. I don't think so though."

Joey raised his hand and said, "What is a Model T Ford? You said the doctor drove it. Was it a really old car?" Grandma Lu said, "It sure was, Joey. It was one of the first cars made by Ford. It was made in 1908-1927. That's even before I was born!" Joey said, "Well, how fast could it go? Was it fast like my mom's car?" Grandma Lu grinned and said, "No. It only went about thirty miles an hour. That's probably a good thing though, because back in those days the roads were mainly dirt, or gravel. Going fast would have been really dangerous. I have a feeling if you are interested in old cars this library would have some books with pictures of the Model A that was made even before the Model T. "

"I see there are some young men and women in the room. Are you interested in the gangsters/robbers of long ago? There is even a little piece in this book about Jesse James and his gang of outlaws up by Rondo. How do we know? Because that same doctor was hiding in the bushes and saw them. Wow that must have been scary. I lived in South Dakota for many years and I have seen signs and heard many stories about them being seen there as well."

When it was time to go home, Joey did have his mom ask the librarian about a book with pictures of old cars. Once again Grandma Lu went home without  Joey's mom being able to visit with her. She would definitely watch for the next time Grandma Lu was scheduled to speak.

She Told A Story Called The Dirty 30's

 After Grandma Lu had talked about a half hour about the Rondo church compared to her small church she said it was time for something cool to drink and some cookies. Those that know Grandma Lu know that she loves sweets. When she told stories at Marleewood they sometimes ran out of cookies. Grandma B was forever having to make cookies for her.

Folks sat at tables and visited with her and asked her questions about where she lived. She said that she had grown up in Iowa then lived in South Dakota her adult life until the last thirty some years in Missouri.

She heard others talking about the drought. It hadn't rained much in this area causing the grass to turn brown and crunchy. Some of the children didn't know what a drought was. Grandma Lu said, "Is it ok if I tell you a story about a drought that my mother told me about? It happened before I was born, but after my oldest sister was a baby. It was terrible. Do you all know what dishtowels are?" Of course, the grown ups did, but the children looked at the picture Grandma Lu showed them from her phone. "This is a picture of one of the dishtowels that my mother made over fifty years ago. I have kept some of them because I bake bread and while it is raising I cover the loaves with these soft towels. My mother did too as well as using them to dry her dishes. See the raveled material at the bottom? That's because it's so old and worn. Some of you aren't even that old!  This was a painted one. Before that she embroidered dozens of these soft cotton towels to dry her dishes with. She didn't have a dishwasher. If fact  my sister and I were her dishwashers!" Some of the older children nodded their heads as did the grownups. 

This is the year 2026 but in the years of the 1930's there was a terrible drought. There was no to little rain for years. Folks called it the dirty thirties. Instead of rain storms they had dust storms. The house that I grew up in was built by my great grandfather. So it was very old. Things like putty around the windows to keep the dirt out of the house wasn't heard of then. So when the wind blew the dirt it would come inside the house. I complain now about dust coming in the house from our gravel road. We also had screen doors. The storm doors were open because during the summer time when the dust storms would happen it was terribly hot outside. They had no air conditioning. However, after these happened the ladies got inventive and took their beautiful decorated dishtowels and soaked them in dishpans of water. Then they would wring the water out and somehow put them up against the screens on the windows and the doors to keep the dust out of their house. Then they would do that over and over again. Remember, there was no running water so all the water had to be brought into the house by the pail full. I can remember my mother going down the hill to the pump to get pails of water for the washing. In the old days in Iowa we called it warshing.  She chuckled and so did the people she was visiting with. Some of the people asked if she would come back and tell more stories. She said she would love to if the library would schedule a time and a room for her to visit. She said she loved just sitting at a table with coffee and cookies telling her stories and they all agreed. So did Joey's mother, Betty. She just knew that the more she listened the more she would figure out how she knew the connection between her and this Grandma Lu.

An Old Lady Pinched Her Cheek!

 Grandma Lu found her way into the room where she was to tell her story at the library. Already people were sitting in chairs waiting for her. They had heard about her story telling from the old days of Marleewood. They knew that she loved children, but didn't know much about her otherwise.

Betty and her son, Joey, were there also. Grandma Lu met Joey's eye and waved at him. He waved back and grinned. "You like that lady, don't you, Joey?" his mother asked. "Yeah, she's okay. She reads books a lot. That's not much fun either, cause she reads books that don't have pictures. Both times I've seen her here. I like books with pictures. The kind that you pick out for me, Mom." Betty gave him a quick hug and motioned for him not to talk because the room had gotten quiet. Grandma Lu was going to begin.

"Hello, My name is LuAnne Lizotte, but most folks call me Grandma Lu. I love to read books, write books, and tell folks about the really good ones that I have read, and I also love to tell folks about my childhood. Today I am going to tell you about a book called Rondo Items a book that a lady I know compiled from letters and notes from a long ago town called Rondo. Rondo is no more and I will tell you why I think that is so. I will also tell you about the three things that Rondo had that will probably last many life times even though the town itself is gone. She looked over the audience and spotted Joey.

"Joey, this book has lots and lots of pictures. See I read books with pictures too." The audience chuckled and Joey kind of squirmed in his chair. Grandma Lu picked up the big book. On the cover was a picture of a store/gas station combination. Grandma Lu started out by saying behind the door of this little store is a treasure of memories. Memories that thank goodness folks have written down so that they will always be remembered. But these memories were meant to be shared. Today that is my job. I am going to help these folks share their memories with you and by doing that I am going to share some of mine that were very similar."

"Another building that was most important to this little community was the church. It was called the Mission Chapel Baptist Church. It was established in 1858. That's over 168 years ago. Later on it was renamed Rondo Baptist Church. Most everyone in the community attended the church even in bad weather. Some folks walked, some folks rode a horse, and others brought their children in a wagon pulled by one or two horses. In later years of course, folks arrived in cars.

Grandma Lu went on to say that the church was small, but sturdy. It had about twenty people that went to church on Wednesday nights after supper and in the morning on Sunday for Sunday school then church services probably about eleven in the morning. Folks often brought their lunches with them and had picnics when the weather was nice. When I was a little girl my family went to a small church as well. We also went to church on Wednesdays, Sunday School and Church services.

Grandma Lu's story telling was always very informal. Folks would occasionally raise their hands to ask questions. Grandma Lu loved this and would often stray off the subject matter. Joey noticed that people were raising their hands and so did he. Grandma Lu said, "Yes, Joey. What is your question?"

Joey said, "You went to church a whole bunch. Did you like going to church all the time?" Grandma Lu laughed and said, "No, I didn't. You see there was an old lady there that thought I was cute as a button. She always wore a hat with a veil and her hands were old and wrinkly. She would say to my mother, "Gladys, your little girl is just cute as a button and she would pinch my cheeks "til they hurt something fierce. So that part I didn't like one little bit. When I complained to my mom she would say, "Oh she means well. I'll make it better." Then she would kiss me on the cheeks and chuckle. I have a little secret for you, Joey. My mother's kisses didn't make the pain go away." The audience laughed and some even rubbed their own cheeks remembering their own pinched cheeks from long ago.

Joey whispered to his mom, "I would stay home from church and watch it on tv."

Other children were raising their hands as well. One little girl said, "Why didn't your mother make her stop pinching your cheeks. That wasn't nice."

Grandma Lu smiled and said, "Oh in those days so many years ago. The elders were respected and some of their odd ways were ignored. However, my complaint that day made my mother aware of what her older friend was doing. She seemed to quietly arrange for me to be with my dad thereby escaping "The CLAW!" She put her hands in the air in a claw like fashion. Everyone laughed and imagined the old lady with claw like hands.

The children thought Grandma Lu was funny and settled in for the rest of her story. Betty sat in her chair listening to every word that Grandma Lu said. She watched her face and her expressions. She just knew that she had somehow met or knew this older lady somehow.

Grandma Lu asked the audience if any of them knew of the little town called Rondo, Missouri or had any relatives from there. One hand  was raised. Grandma Lu was so surprised to see her. It was her old old friend, Grandma B..Marlee's grandma. Well, this will be interesting.

Story Time At The Library

 Betty had put down the book that she had checked out at the library and was playing with her little boy, Joey. His trucks and cars had been having a contest to see which was the fastest and which one was the hardest worker. Some of his trucks could carry three of his cars! He had to teach his mom all about the cars and trucks. She didn't seem to know much about them. He grinned and said, "Mom, how about we go get some ice cream? I think you are getting tired of playing trucks. You really aren't very good at it."

His mom thought about it for a minute and said, "I think that's a great idea. Get your shoes on and let's see if they have split cones. I love chocolate and vanilla together."

In no time they were in the car headed for McDonalds. The road department was putting in new sidewalks for a few blocks next to the highway so there were times when the flagman would stop the traffic because only one side could go at a time. When they got close to the library there was a sign that said that there would be a story time on Saturday. "Hmm, Grandma Lu is going to be telling a story Saturday, Would you like to go and listen to some stories this weekend, Joey?"

Joey told his mom that he would if the stories were about trucks or dinosaurs. Those two things were his favorite. Betty decided that she would call the library and see what the stories were going to be about and if they were for children of a certain age.

Joey and his mom decided to sit inside to eat their ice cream cones. They were so good. Joey's mom asked him if he had finished "reading" his book that he had gotten at the library. If so, they would take it back on Saturday when they went to story time. She was very interested in this lady called Grandma Lu. Why did she think that she was important to her somehow. Anyway it was time to go home.

When they got home she called the library and asked about the story time and what Grandma Lu would be talking about or would she be reading a book to children? She had never been to a story time at a library before.

The librarian told her that she would be talking about her childhood and Saturday's stories would be about family reunions and all that they entailed when she was a child. The librarian assured her that Grandma Lu's stories were fun for all ages.

Reunions And Letters About Rondo

 Betty watched her little boy with his trucks and cars playing a game with them that only he understood. She was holding a book that she had checked out at the library. She had a feeling that she was about to read about folks and their memories of other people and a place that she would never understand. As she read about the Reunion she had a far away memory of a reunion she had gone to when she was just a little girl. She wasn't sure, but it was not a reunion of classmates like her high school reunion was. Her school reunion was kind of fun. She had kept in contact with a lot of her classmates, so she enjoyed getting together with them.  The other reunion if she remembered correctly may have been a family reunion. "Oh well, that was a long time ago. I don't remember much about it except a lot of hugging and a lot of food. I wonder whatever happened to those people. I have lost touch with them after all these years. My folks died and I moved a long ways away."

As Betty read through the pages there were letters written to the author about memories of their childhood, weather, church plays, and most memorable it seemed was the trip to the cemetery to remember their family members and friends. And flowers mostly roses. So many roses.

She smiled when she saw some of the pictures that were taken in the 1800's. "Hmm, I have some of those old pictures. Mom saved everything. The thing is a lot of them have no names or dates on the back of them. I have no clue who they were or where they lived. It's nice these people have preserved these pictures with names and dates."

Betty smiled as she scanned through some of the letters and articles about folks that had lived and some had died in this little town called Rondo. Some of their names were unfamiliar. Choices of names change over the years, and some names were family names handed down from generation to generation. Her mother had told her that her name was one that had been one of those. Her mother said that the name Betty had belonged to a cousin's granddaughter. She had been lots of fun and well liked by a lot of people. It was fun to think about this other Betty that she would never meet. Then she remembered that lady at the library; Grandma Lu. I wonder if she ever knew any of my family or my mother's family. Probably not though. My family was originally from Iowa. Oh well, I will ask about searching for my family someday. It would be fun to do when Joey gets older and is gone during the day to school. I like these people in Rondo. It seemed like everyone knew everyone for generations!

Oh this tells about a terrible snowstorm in the 50's. I remember hearing stories about those terrible snowstorms from my mother too. I guess even though folks live in different states and many many years apart in age they seem to go through some of the same things. Interesting book. I wish I knew some of these people. Some of them sound they were a hoot! 

Okay, Joey. Would you like to help me make supper? I'm getting hungry, how about you?"

Betty Steps Into The Past With A Book Called Rondo Items

 Joey's mom walked over to where her son and the lady people called Grandma Lu were talking. "Hello! My name is Betty. I am this young man's mom. The librarian told me that folks call you Grandma Lu. What is your real name?" Grandma Lu smiled and said, "My real name is LuAnne. Children and their parents and even strangers started calling me Grandma Lu years ago about the same time my own grandchildren started calling me Grandma Lu. Then my friend, Bonnie, also was called Grandma B told me about an empty building that was going to go to ruin if it wasn't kept up to date. The rent was cheap, but it needed a lot of work and painting etc. It was in a small community not far from here. The community all came together and helped us. B started calling me Grandma Lu and like most nicknames, it caught on and even now most folks call me Grandma Lu."

"Grandma B had a very small granddaughter at that time. Her name was Marlee.  B or Bonnie and I decided to rent the building from the town and I eventually referred to it as Marleewood. We remodeled and added rooms and it became quite the community center. Folks came to listen to my stories, shop, drink coffee, and we even had a room where you could just sit in a comfortable old chair and read or take a nap.

And oh, I forgot to tell you about the parties. Mercy did we have parties. But that was years ago. I don't even know whatever happened to Marleewood nowadays. There was a mayor that had it auctioned off for back taxes. I haven't been back there in years. I have lost touch with a lot of those folks since my husband and I moved.

Betty told Grandma Lu that she was glad to have met her and she and her young son, Joey, left the library only after checking out a book that might give Betty some insight into the area where Marleewood used to be and other communities that was chock full of pictures. Joey might like the pictures too.

When Betty and her son got home she got them both a snack and asked Joey if he would like to look at the book she had checked out at the library. He said that he would rather play with his trucks, but maybe later he would look at the pictures in her book if there were any good ones.

Betty opened up the book called Rondo Items with a feeling that she was about to step into the past as well as the future. As she took a sip of her cold drink she felt a shiver of something that she couldn't identify. It was a feeling of family and friendship. She somehow knew that she should include Joey in this book, but right now she needed to read about the lives of the folks that were connected by what looked like a school, a church, and maybe a woman who kept a diary of daily happenings. 

Betty looked at the clock and checked on her little boy. She had about two hours before she needed to start supper, and Joey was content with his toys.

As Betty started to read about the author of the book and some of the dedications she thought about Grandma Lu. She may have to find this older woman again and perhaps gain a little insight into these people in the book.  "Yes, Grandma Lu. I think you and I just might become friends, if I can find you again. I wonder if you know the author, Ruby Sharon Downs."

She started by reading a big title called A Great Reunion!!

As Grandma Lu Returns Her Book She Is Talked About...

 Grandma Lu had decided to finish the book called Heidi out on the patio with her morning coffee. She thought about the story; a small orphaned child, taken to her grandfather who lived on a mountain. Just a little girl that loved the goats, her grandfather, fresh goat's milk, a friend named Peter, and his grandmother whom was blind and dirt poor. She seemed to have loved everything that nature provided on that mountain. The fir trees and those beautiful wild flowers. She also loved the kittens in the city. She did love Clara, but almost died of homesickness living with her in the city.

She learned to read by imagining the ABC's as pictures that spelled out a story. That was thanks to Clara's grandmother and the children's Bible that she gave to Heidi. She learned to pray there and accept the Lord's time and ways of answering her prayers.

Clara's doctor recognized the seriousness of Heidi's homesickness by her sleepwalking and loss of appetite. He ordered the servants to get her returned to the mountain as soon as possible by train.

Clara did not want her to leave for years and years, but her father promised Clara that if she ate her vegetables and did her studies that they would all visit Heidi and her grandfather on the mountain. And that they did. Heidi's grandfather insisted that Clara do all kinds of exercises. It was lots of work and pain of her muscles. After several weeks and lots of work she succeeded.! She surprised her father by walking to meet him when he visited the mountain. He was so surprised. So was the doctor. 

Heidi learned not to listen to other people (even friends like Peter) that said that reading was a waste of time. No, reading is a way to learn new things and travel to far away places. It is the very thing that can make you aware of things that you never in the whole world knew about. Reading can make you laugh and make you cry. Reading can help you cook because you read a recipe.  It can make you try to figure out a mystery and it can help you keep up with the news. In Heidi's case, she learned the Bible stories and eventually was able to read to the blind grandmother which made her so very happy. Of course, when you make other folks happy you in turn get so very happy.

Heidi's grandfather finally said that Heidi could go to school in the village and at long last they moved down from the mountain in the winter time. He even let Heidi go to church. The village found out that Grandfather was not a mean man at all, but a very sad and lonely man having lost his son and daughter-in-law years ago. Heidi was the only family that he had left. He loved her so very much.

Grandma Lu decided that it was time to return her book to the library. The library wasn't that far away and she looked forward to looking for a new book. She wondered if she should look for another book that she had read as a child or if she should get something new. She missed telling stories to the children at Marleewood. The children were almost grown now. Some were moms and some were in college. Some were still in school like Marlee and her sister, Whitlee. How she missed them and their adventures. Oh and the tea parties and the treasure hunts. 

As she found a book that she might like she settled herself in an easy chair by the window to read a little of it. A little boy walked up to her and said, "Are you still reading a book with no pictures? What fun is that?"

"Why yes I am young man. What is your name?"

"You must be old. I told you that my name was Joey the last time I talked to you." Grandma Lu laughed and said, "Yes, you did. I remember now. Did you find a book today?"

Across the room Joey's mother was talking to the librarian. "Who is that older lady that Joey is talking to? She seems like a nice lady. Joey seems like he knows her."

The librarian smiled. "Yes, that's Grandma Lu. I would have to look up her name on her card, but everyone calls her Grandma Lu. She used to tell stories at Marleewood. That's that big old building down the street. It's been empty for a long time since the mayor insisted that it be auctioned off. He was a piece of work, that one."

"Hmm, tell me more about that place. Who owns it?  That must have happened long before we moved here. Surely more happened than a story hour place. What made it so special?"

Homesick + Sleepwalking=Going Back Home

Grandma Lu was so glad to pick up the book called Heidi. It had been a very busy two weeks with company coming and going for her husband's birthday. She loved company, but she also missed her quiet time of reading. "Well now. Where was I at? Oh yes, here is a chapter that I remember. The poor little girl was so homesick for the mountain, the goats, and her grandfather that she quit eating. The mean housekeeper had told her that she couldn't cry. The mean old woman. She deserved to think there was a ghost in the house." Grandma Lu laughed. When she had picked up the book she had read that Clara's father and his friend the doctor had waited up to see what the staff was scared of. Sure enough late in the night there was little Heidi in her little white nightgown at the door. The mystery was solved. It was not a robber, but only a little girl sleepwalking.

The doctor determined that she was wasting away because she wasn't eating and was so sad that she might never recover if she wasn't sent home the very next day. Of course, Clara was upset because she loved her little friend, but her father promised her that she could go visit her in the spring if she minded the doctor's orders and did her school work.

Clara insisted that Heidi's trunk be packed in her room. Guess what was packed in the trunk. Her very special picture book that Clara's grandmother had given her, and twelve soft white rolls for the blind grandmother who lived at the village at the bottom of the mountain. Heidi ran back to her room and gathered up her little belongings like her red shawl and her little straw hat.

The butler was given strict instructions on caring for Heidi because he not only had to watch and care for her on the train, but they had to stay overnight at a hotel half way there. He had to make sure that Heidi didn't sleep walk again. Sebastion, the butler, managed for a man to take Heidi and her trunk to the village. He handed Heidi the basket of rolls a letter for her grandfather and a huge roll of money for him. The butler was going to  miss Heidi. He had become very fond of her in the months that she had lived in the big house.

Heidi caused quite the stir when people in the village saw her. They thought for sure that she would never return.  And Heidi thought for sure that the blind grandmother was dead it had been so long since she had seen her. She went running into the little cabin and surprised the grandmother with the soft white rolls. The grandmother thanked God for the return of the little girl who she had come to love so very much. The grandmother cried many happy tears.

Heidi left her fancy dress and hat with Peter's mother. She remembered what Grandfather had said when her aunt had left with her. She told the blind grandmother that she would return the next day, but that she must go see her grandfather now.

The climb up the mountain was beautiful. She saw her fir trees and the beautiful rosy clouds. The grass looked like gold and she started to cry she was so happy. Then she saw her grandfather sitting on the bench outside his cabin. She called his name over and over as she ran to him. Being grandfather he asked if Clara's father had sent her away. She said, "No. I think the doctor said I needed to come back to you. Here is a letter from Clara's father and a roll of money. He told Heidi that the money belonged to her and after he read the letter he put it in his pocket.

The first thing Heidi did was to climb the ladder to see her bed it was gone! Grandfather told her that he wasn't sure that she would be back, but her would get her another one. But first she must drink some milk! It was the very best that she had ever tasted. She told him that she was sure that it was the best milk in the entire world.

Grandma Lu grinned and thought. "There really is nowhere as good as being home with the people that you love. I'm sure her little goatherder, Peter will be glad to see her. If I remember right, Heidi has some things to share with him. Grandma Lu put the book down, said goodnight to her husband, and laid down happily on her nice soft mattress. As she got her soft pillows and blanket gathered around her she wondered what a bed of straw felt like as she drifted off to sleep.

Clara's Grandmother Visits

 When the housekeeper learned that Clara's grandmother was to come for a visit everything had to be cleaned and polished twice before she was satisfied. The day finally arrived and all the staff met Grandmother at the door with starched and clean as a whistle uniforms. Miss Rottenmeier sent Heidi to her room which did not please Clara's grandmother one little bit. She sent for her and showed her beautiful books she had brought along for Heidi to read. Well, Heidi loved the beautiful pictures but told the older lady that she could not read. It was just a waste of time for the teacher to try to teach her. Clara's grandmother did not accept that and asked Heidi why she thought that learning her ABC's was a waste of time. Heidi told the nice lady because Peter, her friend on the mountain, told her that it was. He said that he had tried and tried and never could figure it out. 

Grandmother said very kindly, "Heidi, you haven't learned to read because you believed what your friend told you. I just know that you will learn how to read. If you do I will give you this book to keep." Grandmother told Heidi the book was about a shepherd and his sheep and his goats. Heidi got so excited to read she couldn't wait for the teacher to come so she could learn her ABC's.

Since the day awhile ago that Heidi had tried to run away and go back to her grandfather, Heidi realized that she would hurt her friend, Clara and Clara's father as well as Clara's grandmother if she ran away again. Clara told her that she couldn't leave for years and years. But when she thought of never returning to the mountain top she completely lost her appetite. She found that she just couldn't eat and got so very homesick that she often cried herself to sleep. 

Clara's grandmother noticed that Heidi was so very sad and asked her to tell her what the trouble was. Heidi told her that she couldn't tell a soul; not even Clara. So the grandmother asked Heidi if she ever prayed. Heidi said she had not. She had forgotten how. Grandmother explained that when we need somebody to talk to praying really helps. She told her that the Lord comforts us and can even give us  joy. You can tell him anything and He will listen. Immediately Heidi wanted to go pray.

The teacher noticed a big difference in Heidi's reading skills in just a week's time. Grandmother was so pleased that she gave Heidi the big beautiful book. Grandmother promised Heidi that they would read the book together the very next day. Heidi loved the book and especially loved the story of the Prodigal Son. Ever since she had learned to read the days passed by quickly.

Clara's grandmother taught her how to make doll clothes and she also started reading aloud to the older woman. The more she read the stories the easier it was to read the words.

Heidi was very happy that she could read, but she was so very sad. Even though she prayed every night, God didn't seem to hear her prayers. She explained this to the Grandmother before she left. That is when Grandmother told Heidi that God decides what is best for us so sometimes it seems our prayers aren't answered. So Heidi immediately prayed for forgiveness and promised never to forget Him again.

One day as she was reading a book to Clara she read that a grandmother had died. She took it to mean that the old blind grandmother had died and began to cry and sob util the housekeeper told her that if she didn't quit that she would take her book away from her and never give it back.

After that Heidi never cried again, but this had a poor effect on Heidi. She had no interest in food at all. She would just sit at the table quietly and then go to bed. Time passed for her without really knowing how the seasons were passing. She realized that it probably was time for Peter to go up the mountain with his goats and all those beautiful wildflowers were blooming. She became so sad she would go to her room and cover her eyes with her hands until Clara called for her.

The Young Organ Grinder Demanded His Forty Pennies!

 In the story Grandma Lu noticed that Clara was being homeschooled by a man that was called a tutor. Grandma Lu's daughter had homeschooled all of her children because she chose to, however, Clara was probably being taught at home because of two reasons. Her father was very wealthy, but Clara was also confined to a wheel chair making it very difficult to go outside other than on the porch attached to the house.

As Grandma Lu read on the tutor had already arrived for the day when the door bell rang very loudly. There stood the young organ grinder. Well, the butler saw this young dirty boy at the door and started yelling at him to not ring the bell so loud. Sure enough he was there to collect his forty pennies that Clara owed him. (If you remember Heidi had told him that Clara would pay him) Well come to find out he thought that Heidi was Clara. After the boy described the girl to the butler he grinned. He pulled him into the house and told him to follow him to the study. Grandma Lu grinned too when she thought about what was going to happen. "I really like that butler. I think he is a good guy."

"There is a boy here to play a tune for Miss Clara." Clara was so excited to have something so fun to happen during her usually dull school time. After Miss Rottenmeier heard the noise (music) she ordered him away much to Clara's disappointment as well as Heidi's. But the butler gave the organ grinder his forty pennies and sent him on his way.

Suddenly there was another ring of the door bell and there stood a man with a basket full of kittens! One of them even climbed up Miss Rottenmeier's dress and crawled over her feet. Clara loved them! The classes that day were anything but boring. But poor Heidi. Miss Rottenmeier threatened to send Heidi to the basement with the rats. But Heidi wasn't afraid. Her grandfather's basement or cellar as they called it was full of cheese and fresh milk. Clara put a stop to Heidi's punishment and told the housekeeper that her papa would soon be home and let him decide if Heidi was to be punished.

Heidi wasn't doing well with he ABC"s. It seemed to her that she was just like Peter her friend on the mountain. He wasn't able to read either and thought that school was a waste of time.

Heidi was so very homesick for the mountain that one day she packed up the white rolls that she had been hiding for the old grandmother, put on her shawl and old hat and had planned on going home. She got as far as the door when the housekeeper stopped her. Heidi cried and cried and the housekeeper called her crazy and that she was unlucky for the household.

Heidi didn't know it until this day, but the butler, Sebastion was indeed her friend. He could see that the young girl was shaking and had red eyes from her crying. He told her that she should go play with all the kittens. Even that didn't cheer Heidi. That night she didn't eat her supper.

Heidi had been in need of some new clothes so Miss Rottenmeier had been going through Heidi's clothes and had found all of the spoiled rolls in her closet. She told the maid to through away the bread and Heidi's old straw hat.

Heidi sobbed and sobbed and pleaded with the housekeeper not to throw away the bread because it was for the old blind grandmother. Clara heard and saw how very upset Heidi was and promised her that when she went home she would give her a lot of fresh white rolls for the grandmother.

That night when Heidi went to bed she found her old straw hat that the butler had hidden under her covers. She quickly wrapped it up in a handkerchief and hid it in the furthest part of her closet.

When Clara's father came home from his business the housekeeper told him that the Swiss child was a great disappointment. She didn't think that she was right in the head. He tried to talk to the teacher, but he caried on and on about everything but Heidi, but did point out that Heidi had poor education and didn't seem to be able to learn easily. He finally left the teacher and went to the room where Clara and Heidi were. He asked Heidi to go fetch him a glass of fresh water.

At this point of the book Grandma Lu thought that this was a strange request because in order for Heidi to get him fresh water she would have to walk down the street for several blocks to find a fountain that had fresh water. But as she continued to read, at the fountain there was a nice older man there that told Heidi to give his regards to Mr. Sesemann, which was Clara's father. When Heidi described the man Clara's father knew immediately who he was. He was his doctor!

That evening after Clara's father heard all the real facts about the kittens and even a turtle that made him laugh he told the housekeeper that from now one Heidi was to be treated kindly and that Clara loved her and wanted her to remain her companion. Heidi was not to be punished for just being different. Clara's father could only stay at home for two weeks before he had to go back to Paris for his business. He made sure, however, that his mother would soon be visiting. He knew that she loved children and would make Heidi happy and probably even help her with her reading.

Pandemonium In The Big House!

 Having lived the free life on the mountain with her grandfather, Heidi was feeling closed up and needed to see the outside. The windows were too high up for her to see outdoors. So she asked the butler if he would open the door for her so that she could see outside. That he did. When Heidi walked outside all she could see were streets of stone and lots of chimneys. That is not what she wanted at all. So she decided to take a walk. She was sure that she would find flowers and mountains that would make her happy again. Sebastian was the butler's name. He had told Heidi that the building with the golden dome on a church was high enough that she would be able to see everything. It seemed like her search brought her nothing but more buildings and lots of people walking on the sidewalks. Then she saw the strangest thing. She saw a boy with an organ on his back and a strange monkey on his arm. She thought for sure that he would tell her where the building with the golden dome was. 

The boy with the organ and the monkey was called an organ grinder. Well, he would not tell Heidi where the church was unless she paid him twenty pennies. She had no money, but she told him that he would get paid when she got back to Clara's house.

When Heidi and the organ grinder boy finally arrived at the church she was surprised to find out that she had to pull a rope that rang a bell. In the mean time the organ grinder told her that now he wanted forty pennies to show her the way home.

Finally an old man opened the door and started yelling at Heidi. He said, "Can't you see this is only for people that want to see the tower?" Heidi told him that she too wanted to see the tower. The old man tried to slam the door in her face and told her not to come back again. For some reason he felt bad for her when he saw that her eyes were full of tears. He finally agreed to let her climb the many stairs to the very top. The old man opened up a window. Much to Heidi's disappointment once again all she saw was chimneys and roofs of houses. The old man told her that she must go now and never come back again.

On their way back down they passed a room where a large gray cat was sitting by a basket full of her kittens. Heidi was so excited to see the kittens. The kittens would jump in and out of the basket and play. The old man figured this was an easy way to get rid of the kittens. He loved the old gray cat. He had had her for many years. She was a fine mouse catcher. The old man smiled at Heidi and asked her if she would like to have a kitten to take home with her. She was so very excited when he told her she could have as many as she wanted. The old man knew Clara's parents and where they lived. He told Heidi that he would deliver the kittens there the next day. In the meantime he put a kitten in each one of Heidi's pockets. She couldn't wait to show Clara!

The boy knew where Clara's house was by the way Heidi described it to him. It seemed like in no time they arrived back to Clara's house. She pulled the rope to let the butler know that she was back. Oh my, the butler was upset. He said, "Hurry, Miss. They are all waiting dinner for you. Miss Rottenmeier looks furious! How could you run away? You must never do that again."

Heidi sat down at the table. Nobody said a word until Miss Rottenmeier said, "I will speak to you after you finish your dinner. You must never walk about until so late again." Miss Rottenmeier didn't like the name Heidi so she called Heidi by her Christian name which was Adelheid. It seemed to Heidi that that lady didn't like anything about her. She wanted to go home.

Grandma Lu grinned when she read that part. "I can remember being called my whole name when I was in trouble."

Heidi started to talk to defend herself when one of the kittens in her pocket said, "Meow!"

Well the butler ran from the room and Miss Rottenmeier said, "That's enough out of you. You leave the room this minute!"

Then a whole bunch of meows started and Heidi explained that the kittens were doing the meowing, and that she wasn't  being disrespectful.

Well that really set Miss Rottenmeier off. She started screaming and ran into the study and locked herself in. She was scared to death of cats and even the little kittens.

When Sebastian had finished laughing he came back into the room and saw such a beautiful sight. There was Clara and Heidi each petting and playing with a cute little kitten.

He promised the girls that he would fix the kittens a bed and that they also should get ready for bed.

After quite some time Miss Rottenmeier opened the door of the study just a couple of inches to make sure that the little kittens were gone. The butler assured her that they were. Miss Rottenmeier was exhausted to say the least and went to bed immediately. So Heidi was spared a good talking to that the housekeeper had promised her.

Grandma Lu chuckled at the pandemonium the kittens caused and thought, "I wonder what will happen when the old man delivers the rest of them the next day and what about the organ grinder; is he still standing outside waiting for his money? Guess I'll turn the page and find out. "

Trickery And A Lot Of New Rules

 Grandma Lu had had a really busy week. She had had a lot of company, went to the nursing home every day to help a friend, and enjoyed going out to lunch with a friend. Her husband and son had friends over and of course, she had to go and watch them play pool. She smiled to herself as she was cleaning up the counter after washing up a few dishes. "Today I think I will go back to the book Heidi. I got so that I wasn't happy with it, but I have to return it to the library in just a few days so I might as well finish it. If I remember right it does have a happy ending, but the middle is kind of sad." She gave the stove a final polish and walked into the living room to give herself a little rest.

She settled herself with the book and read how very angry Heidi's grandfather was when Heidi's aunt came to take her away to the city in Germany. He yelled at her and said, "Take her away then, but don't you come back begging me to take her back with her fancy hat and clothes. Go! And be on your way!"

Heidi told her aunt that she didn't want to go and leave her grandfather. She wanted to stay and play with the goats and her friends Peter, his mother, and especially the old grandmother that couldn't see. Grandfather didn't want her to go to church or to school, but that was okay she was so very happy right where she was. Her aunt promised that she would bring her back, but was instead going to take Heidi to a wealthy family who had a daughter that was very lonely. She was also in a wheelchair and couldn't run and play like Heidi could. Heidi's aunt was tricking her and not telling her the truth.

As Heidi and her aunt were leaving Peter saw them. He carried a bundle of hazel rods on his shoulder. He asked where they were going. Heidi's aunt told him that they were going to Frankfurt. Heidi wanted to stop and see the grandmother, but the aunt wouldn't hear of it. She told Heidi that in Frankfurt they would get the old grandmother soft white rolls to eat instead of the hard black bread that she always had to eat. Well Heidi started to run to get the soft white rolls. That gave the village people the wrong impression. They thought that Heidi was running away from the grandfather and figured he had been mean to the girl. Grandma Lu thought, "It was so mean of Heidi's aunt to trick her like that. She was such a trusting child."

                                                  &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

                                                       CLARA

Clara had a pale thin face with beautiful blue eyes. She knew that Heidi was supposed to be coming soon and she couldn't wait. She often was so very lonely with only her strict housekeeper for company. Clara lived in a large house and she also had a butler that answered the door and a maid that appeared when they pulled on a rope. The housekeeper's name was Miss Rottenmeier.

 The maid took Heidi and her aunt to meet Miss Rottenmeier which with one glance Heidi could tell that the housekeeper didn't think that she was a favorable choice for a companion for Clara. She was too young, she couldn't read, and didn't even like her name! Heidi's aunt had promised Heidi that they would return to the mountain the next day so she figured she would just be as nice as she could because she wanted to get some soft white rolls for Peter's grandmother. She stood very still in one spot while the housekeeper questioned her. Clara had been watching and listening to their conversation from her wheelchair. Heidi said that the butler looked like Peter and that made Miss Rottenmeier leave the room telling them all to go to the dining room. She was furious with even the sight of Heidi. Clara had to be lifted from her wheelchair onto a regular chair to eat her supper. This also made Heidi sad because her new friend couldn't run and play. She couldn't even walk!

Heidi saw soft white rolls on the table and a plate full of fish. She expected the butler to put the fish on her plate but was told she was to help herself. The butler smiled when he saw her put a soft roll in her pocket. She was told never to talk to the butler unless it was very important and was told an endless list of other rules that Heidi had to obey while she was there. She promptly fell asleep while she was being lectured and had to be awakened to go to bed.

When she awoke the next morning she had forgotten that she was not in her comfy straw bed on the mountain. There were no sounds of fir trees or birds chirping. She got out of bed and discovered that the windows were so high that she could not see outside. She was so very sad. Suddenly  the maid came to tell her that breakfast was ready. Heidi followed all of the rules so she didn't get scolded. Clara asked Heidi a lot of questions about her life on the mountain and Heidi asked to open windows so that she could see outside. Then a man came that was called a tutor or teacher. They went to a place in the huge house that they called the study. There were all kinds of books and papers and stuff they called ink in a bottle and pens to do writing when she learned how. All of a sudden she heard a noise that sounded like a coach. She jumped up to see if she could see it and when she did she caught the tablecloth and the ink spilled all over the carpet and many of the papers. Miss Rottenmeier said the child would bring nothing but trouble to the house as long as she was there.

Clara however, was quite amused and for once in a very long time she was not bored and yawning. She told the teacher and the housekeeper that Heidi should not be punished because it was an accident.

Miss Rottenmeier found Heidi at the door and scolded her for not sitting still during the lessons and if she ever did that again that she would tie her to a chair. Grandma Lu frowned, "Tie that precious little girl to a chair. I certainly hope this gets better and Heidi gets happier."

Grandma Lu Feels Sad While Reading The Book

Grandma Lu cleaned up the kitchen and decided she would read a little bit before watching television with her husband. He was going to watch a rerun show that she wasn't interested in. As she picked up her book she noticed she was almost half way through. "This is going faster than it did when I was a little girl and had to write down all the words I couldn't pronounce or didn't know. She shook her head at her mother's insistence  to learn how to use a dictionary. "Now I just ask Google. What a difference a few years make." Let's see now what happens next in this little girl's life."

 Peter rushed into his house after school. It so very cold outside. He was surprised to see Heidi there. "Hello, there. Did you come to visit my mother and grandmother today?" His grandmother was surprised that the afternoon had gone so quickly. Heidi's visit had been such a wonderful surprise. They asked Peter about school and he kind of shook his head and said, "The same, I guess." Grandmother was sad because she had been waiting for Peter to read from her old prayer book, but it didn't seem that Peter could learn to read so therefore her disappointment was great.

Peter's mother lit a lantern because it was starting to get dark. Heidi had promised her grandfather that she would return when it became dark. Heidi explained that she had promised to return to her grandfather's hut by dark and had to leave. Peter was told to go with her so that she didn't fall. She had not brought a shawl with her and that upset both Peter's mother and grandmother, but soon Heidi and Peter were met by her grandfather whom had brought a heavy cover. Peter's mother saw what alm-uncle had done and told Peter's grandmother. I can't believe how nice and how caring he is towards the girl. Grandmother hoped and prayed that the little girl would visit again. She so enjoyed that little girl, called Heidi.

When Heidi and her grandfather got home she told him that he must repair grandmother's house because so many noises came from broken shutters and boards. He promised her that they would go back to grandmother's house the next day and fix all the rattles. And that they did. Grandfather fixed and fixed until he had no nails left. Peter's mother tried to thank him, but he said, "No need. I know what you think of me." It seemed to Grandma Lu that the folks in the village did not like Heidi's grandfather one little bit.

The visits continued and Peter's grandmother became less sad as did his mother. They looked forward to her visits and the days went by quickly. In fact before they knew it two years had gone by. Heidi was now eight years old! 

Grandma Lu smiled as she read the story. "Heidi is now the same age I was when I started reading this book so many years ago. Oh I think I remember this part. The Parson from the church came up the mountain and told Grandfather that he must send Heidi to school. Oh my. That didn't go over well at all. The Parson told him to attend church and be with God. Well that didn't go well either. The Parson's visit made Grandfather very angry. Grandma Lu thought, "I had been in school almost three years and could read and write by this time in Heidi's life. "I wonder why her grandfather didn't want her to go to school. Probably because he loved her and wanted her to stay with him. He was lonely and didn't want to admit it." Grandma Lu smiled to herself. "You should probably keep reading this book and maybe you will find out."

When Grandma Lu started reading the next part of the book she remembered how she felt when she read it so many years ago. A tear fell from her eyes in sadness and in anger. What a terrible way to treat a child. I can't read this today. I may not finish this book. I have a couple of weeks before I have to take it back to the library. I think I will play the piano for a little while. I need to practice. Plus playing the piano makes me happy. I don't need to be sad today over a book."

She walked over to her piano and opened up her song book and the first song was Mansion Over a Hill Top. "Well, Heidi didn't live in a mansion on the mountain, but if I remember right, she is about to live in a mansion whether she wants to or not.  There is going to be some trickery going on and things are not going to be a bit good. Maybe I should read just a little bit more. Tomorrow. Yes, I'll make some time tomorrow because right now I need to practice a lot on these hymns."                   

Heidi Visits Peter's Blind Grandmother

 Grandma Lu put down her book. "Mercy, I do love to read. It's fun to read a book that I read so many years ago. I understand a lot more about what was going on in Heidi, Grandfather, and Peter's lives now that I am older. They were poor to be sure, but it seems that Heidi was put in their lives to make them smile and care about each other more than they ever had before."

She had read that while Heidi was with Peter, Grandfather would make repairs to the shed and cabin as well as making cheese and butter from the goat's milk. Grandma Lu smiled as she remembered her mother making cottage cheese and butter from their cow's milk. "Much different when I was a child. I can remember my mother putting milk in a big pan on the back of our cook stove to clabber. She could just see the big chunks of milk that looked kind of like small clouds. The longer they sat there water would surround the chunks of milk. Then she would put the clabbered milk in a large sheet of cheese cloth, squeeze all the water out that she could, then tie it onto the clothes line outside. The milk would dry in the hot sunshine. Then she would bring it in and mix whipping cream into the chunks until the milk would be in tiny little pieces. She could even remember the blue bowl that her mom used just for cottage cheese. That's because it was in her china cupboard sitting in front of her grandparent's china platter that was a piece of one of their wedding gifts. So very old.

After Grandma Lu finished her chores and put out meat to thaw for supper she smiled and thought, "I have a few minutes to catch up on my book now. It seems to me that winter is approaching soon in the story." She settled herself down in her easy chair and started to read.

As Grandma Lu read her book it was as she had remembered. Winter was approaching with lots of cold wind. Grandfather had kept Heidi at home because of the high winds and cold weather. Even Peter couldn't come to visit or take the goats to graze up higher on the mountain.

One day it started to snow and snow it did. It snowed like it was never going to stop. Even the windows got covered with snow. Heidi wondered if the whole cottage was going to be covered up with snow. It finally stopped and Grandfather went out to shovel the snow away from the door. What a surprise! Peter had made his way up the mountain to visit. Heidi and even Grandfather had lots of questions for Peter. Well, as you know Peter wasn't much of a talker and didn't say much, but eagerly ate the supper that Grandfather had fixed for them. Peter asked if he could come the next Sunday and he also said that his old grandmother wanted to know if Heidi could come down the mountain to visit with her.

Of course, Heidi, being Heidi wanted to go the next day, but it was four days before it was safe to ride on the sled that Grandfather had built to go down the mountain. Grandfather had Heidi sit in front of him and held onto her tight as anything so that she wouldn't fall off. When they got to Peter's hut he told Heidi that she could go in and visit but that as soon as it was starting to get dark to start home.

Grandma Lu frowned thinking, "Hmm, I wouldn't let a five year old climb a mountain in the dark." Then she read that Heidi just opened the door and walked right in the hut that belonged to Peter's mother and grandmother. "Hmm, manners? I think not." She continued to read how Heidi was accepted into their home.

Heide saw that the hut was very dark with narrow rooms. She wasn't scared and continued on until she saw a lady mending one of Peter's coats. She looked at Heidi with some curiosity and said, "Are you the little girl who lives up with uncle. Is your name Heidi?"

Heidi told the lady that she and her grandfather had come down the mountain on a sled. At first Peter's mother didn't believe her. Her grandfather was believed to be a very mean man and would never have taken Heidi in. Heidi heard another voice from a very old woman sitting in the dark. "Brigida, tell me what the child looks like." Peter's mother's name was Brigida. She told the old woman that Heidi did look like both of her parents. Heidi's father being her grandfather's son, Tobias, whom had black eyes like her mother and curly black hair like her father.

Heidi being the curious child that she was noticed that the wind was rattling the the windows and the shutters were loose making a loud noise. She told the grandmother that soon the shutter would break the window. It was then that Peter's grandmother told Heidi that she could hear, but could not see. It was very difficult for Heidi to understand that anyone could not see the beautiful flowers, the bright white snow, and the broken pieces of shutters. It made her a little scared and a lot sad and she started to cry. Grandmother and Peter's mother settled Heidi by asking her to tell them all about her life with alm-uncle. The man that everyone feared was a completely different man in Heidi's tale of a wonderful life with her home on the mountain with two goats. One goat was brown and one goat was white. But in Heidi's mind another small white goat was her favorite. It had no mother, or grandmother and seemed to Heidi to be a very sad little goat. She would remember to give it extra hugs and pats the next time she saw it. Yes, little Snowhopper needed Heidi to be her friend. Another thing Heidi had to remember is to tell Grandfather to bring his hammer and nails to Peter's grandmother's house and fix the shutters.

It was time for Grandma Lu to put down her book and get to fixing supper. She smiled as she crossed the dining room and saw her mother's blue and white bowl in her china cupboard. 

Sharing Food, The Eagle And The Fire

 When Grandma Lu got home, she was greeted with, "What's for supper?" She put down her book and said, "Well, let's see what's in the fridge. Oh good, there are lots of leftovers from last night. I will just warm them up and I won't have to cook."

After supper Grandma Lu was doing dishes and thinking about Heidi and her grandfather. "What a life they must have lived. Far different from mine that's for sure. My old bones could not climb mountains and I have never had a drink of goat's milk. However, I did have some goat ice cream once. Oh my that's been so many years ago when we went to visit my cousin in Florida. They raised goats. It was good, but very different."

When Grandma Lu picked up the book the phone rang. It was her friend and they visited for quite some time. Then her husband wanted her to watch television with him. It soon was time for bed so she didn't get a chance to read any more of her book. "Tomorrow, dear Heidi. I will read about your adventures tomorrow."

The next morning Grandma Lu's husband said he was going to be gone for the morning helping a neighbor. It was Grandma Lu's chance to read her book. She opened up the chapter where Heidi joined Peter and his goats, plus her grandfather's two goats to climb the mountain where the grass was green and the flowers were beautiful. As they were leaving her grandfather warned Peter again about watching out for Heidi and not letting her fall off the cliffs. He also reminded him to milk a goat for Heidi's lunch as well as the bread and cheese he had added to Peter's lunch bag.

Heidi was picking wildflowers and keeping them in her apron when suddenly a loud screech startled her and she asked Peter what the loud screech was. "It is an eagle. He's probably flying to his nest." Heidi  immediately wanted to go to the eagle's nest. Peter said it was way too high to climb. The goats couldn't even climb that high. "Well, why is he screeching?" asked Heidi. Peter said, "I don't know. That's just what they do." Heidi thought to herself that when she got back to her grandfather's hut she would ask him.

Soon it was time for their lunch. Peter quickly milked a goat and gave Heidi the milk. She drank it quickly because she was thirsty. He again milked the goat and she drank some more. Peter got out the big chunk of cheese and large slice of bread Heidi's grandfather had packed for her and then he got out his little piece of bread for himself. After Heidi had eaten what she wanted she gave Peter a large portion of cheese and bread that was left and told him to eat it. She was full. Peter had never eaten so much at one time. He was so very thankful for the large lunch.

Heidi had asked Peter the names of all the goats. He knew their names and told Heidi. She repeated the names and asked Peter if the mountains had names and he told her no. As he was putting lunch things away he heard the bleating of a goat. He ran to see what the matter was and saw Thistlefinch a goat that was a bold and usually strong goat had gotten too close to the edge of a cliff and was in danger of falling completely off the mountain. Only one leg remained close enough for Peter to grab and hang on to. Peter was losing the battle of saving the goat, but Heidi quickly came to the rescue with some fresh good smelling herbs. The goat calmed down and ate the herbs making it easier for Peter to pull the goat to safety. Losing a goat was unforgiveable to Peter's living. He would lose what little pennies he earned. His mother, grandmother, and he would surely starve. He took up his rod and was going to beat the goat for being so careless. Heidi stopped him immediately and told him she would give him her lunch or at least the majority of it if he would never beat the goats. Peter reluctantly agreed, but he was still angry.

The sun had started to set and as it did it seemed that the mountain was on fire. The snow on top of the mountains had turned a beautiful rosy color and even her wonderful fir trees took on a rosy glow. "Oh look, Peter. All the mountains are on fire. Look at that mountain. It is all rosy. What is it's name?" Peter said, "Those mountains don't have names. They are just mountains." Heidi thought to herself, "Well, there's another question that I need to ask Grandfather when we get back home."

When Peter, the goats, and Heidi came back the mountain to Heidi's grandfather's house. Peter waved and said, "Goodbye, see you tomorrow!" Grandfather shook his head and said, "Not, tomorrow. The weather will be bad with a lot of wind. A little person like Heidi would get blown away." That made Peter sad. He liked Heidi's company even though she talked a lot, she was funny. Plus she brought a big lunch with her every day and shared it with him. He would miss that a lot. It was no fun to be hungry.

After Heidi washed up for supper she asked her grandfather the two questions she had saved for him all day. "Grandfather, why do eagles screech? Her grandfather mimicked the eagle and roared, "You silly people you should live on top of the mountain where the air is fresh and the scenery is beautiful?" Heidi laughed at her mostly grouchy grandfather being silly. Then she asked the second question. "Grandfather why do the mountains turn red as fire in the afternoon?" Her grandfather smiled and said, "That is the sun kissing the mountains, the flowers, and the snow a goodnight." With that he said, "It's time for young ladies to get to bed now so no more questions." Heidi gave his legs a squeeze and quickly got dressed for bed. When she crawled into her comfy straw bed she closed her eyes and dreamed of a rosy mountain filled with beautiful wildflowers and fell sound asleep.

But grandfather did not sleep. He now was responsible this sweet little granddaughter. He had things to think about and things to do. Tomorrow would be a new day and new things to not only teach this little one, but to do for her as well.

Heidi Loves The Wildflowers And Goat's Milk

 Heidi's grandfather gave her a heavy blanket to cover up with for the chilly night. Heidi just couldn't wait to go to bed in her wonderful new bedroom. She told her grandfather that she wished that she was sleepy so she could go to her new bedroom. He smiled and said, "I think we should probably eat something first. You have had a long day today." The minute she heard the word food she got hungry.

Grandma Lu smiled as she was reading this old book. "I get hungry too at just the mention of food." She continued to read about the supper that alm-uncle or grandfather prepared for Heidi. On the fireplace he took big chunks of cheese and roasted them over the fire. He had hunks of bread that he put the roasted cheese on and put them on plates that Heidi had found in the cupboard. He also had milk that he put in bowls on the table. Again Grandma Lu smiled. "I did not realize that she was eating cheese made of goat milk or that she was drinking goat's milk when I read this so many years ago. Heidi had told her grandfather that she had never tasted anything better.

Grandfather made a chair and a table out of his chair and a three legged stool for Heidi to eat on. He stood and ate his meal. When they had finished eating they went outside to the shed. Heidi watched her grandfather quickly make her a chair that was high enough for her to eat from. She was so excited.

At last evening came. Again she could hear those fir trees howl. It was so very windy, but it did not scare Heidi. She loved the fir tree noise.

All at once Heidi heard a sharp whistle. It was Peter, the goatherder. When they got about half way up the mountain they stopped at Grandfather's home. Grandfather's two goats came out of the herd and stood before her grandfather. He had salt in his hands and the goats licked up the salt eagerly while Heidi petted them and asked all kinds of questions. One of the goats was brown and one was white. She asked their names and if they were going to stay and where they would stay. The fierce looking grandfather at last smiled and answered yes, yes, yes. 

Grandfather told Heidi to go in the house and get a bowl and a piece of bread. Grandfather quickly milked one of the goats and filled the bowl with milk which Heidi drank with her bread. It was so good!

She again asked her grandfather the names of the goats. He said, "The brown one is Schwanli and the white one is Barli. She watched as the goats walked into the shed. The wind was so strong it about knocked her over so she went into the hut and climbed the ladder to her big beautiful bedroom. She felt like a princess as the wind rocked the hut Heidi fell sound asleep.

The next morning she at first didn't know where she was. When she realized where she was she jumped out of bed and climbed down the ladder .Peter was already there with the goats waiting for Schwanli and Barli. Grandfather asked Heidi if she would like to go with Peter for the day on the mountain and watch the goats. She clapped her hands and said, "Yes, Yes, Yes." Grandfather had Heidi wash and get dressed. He put extra bread and cheese in Peter's food bag. He told Peter to milk a goat for Heidi and put the milk in a bowl for her. He warned Peter to make sure he watched her closely so that she didn't fall over the rocks.

Heidi was wild with joy. Where she had lived before she was not allowed to go outside because the old woman Ursula, was deaf and afraid to let Heidi out of her sight. She now was free to jump and run and explore the mountain with her new friend, Peter. Oh and so many beautiful wildflowers. There were primroses and golden rockroses. There were blue flowers and red flowers. There were flowers that were tall and flowers that grew in bushes. How she loved them. Oh and the butterflies loved the flowers too!

 Those wildflowers were soon to be so very irritating to Peter's easy life as a goatherder. Now that little girl was everywhere and laying hiding in the flowers! He found himself getting angry as the climb continued. He swung his rod trying to keep the goats together plus watch out for Heidi. All that little girl did was pick flowers and talk and ask questions!

Again Grandma Lu grinned as she remembered her own grandfather acting like Peter, the goatherder. Grouchy. She never knew why her grandfather was grouchy, but Peter, yes. Grandma Lu figured the Peter was so very poor and lonely. He had no friends, and needed to herd goats to make pennies to survive on. His grandmother was blind and his mother cared for her and managed their home and mended their clothes. Peter made the only money that they had to buy they needed.

Grandma Lu looked up from her book and discovered that she had been at the library for quite some time. She should probably check out her book and go home and get supper ready for her and her husband. How she had enjoyed the afternoon. She had seen and visited with people she knew and smiled when she remembered the small boy, Joey, and teaching him about imagination.