Another 5-word challenge from my friend, Nancy! Words used are in red at the end of the story.

JD's Week with Grandma

It was hot that day.

But my grandson, JD was visiting during his Summer vacation and I had promised him a trip to the Aquatic center. Never being one to renege on a promise....off we went.

"Why aren't we going in the car, Grandma?"

Don't you just love adorable 8 year olds who make perfect sense and are so practical?

"Because it's only a few blocks away and we could use some sunshine, fresh air, and exercise. Come on. It will be good for both of us."

Knowing the futility of arguing with Grandma, he sighed and took my hand.

We hadn't gone more than a few yards before I regretted this plan. Contrary to what I'd been telling myself for the past several years, I ain't as young as I used to be. Where did the time go??

Philadelphia. That's where time always goes.

So, we took several opportunities to examine flowers and butterflies as an excuse to stop walking. However, this also required squatting and rising. Not my favorite activities. In fact, just barely doable while keeping one's dignity.

Before long, we came upon an odd-shaped cylinder next to the sidewalk. Like an upside down metal cone. JD stooped down and lifted it up. A small tinny-sounding voice came out and JD immediately put it back down.

"Grandma! There's something IN there!!! I think it's ALIVE!"

Whereupon, he fished around in his pants pocket and pulled out what appeared to be crumbs from a long-gone cheesecake.

He got down on one knee and set the morsel next to the cylinder.

"Let's hide, Grandma! Maybe it will come out!"

Hide????

Okay, rule number one with grandmas is NEVER stifle a child's imagination no matter HOW ridiculous you look.

So, we squatted behind a nearby shrub and peered over the top, waiting. And waiting.

Then, to our utter amazement, what appeared to be a door lifted just a fraction and a tiny appendage darted out, grabbed the crumbs and withdrew back inside.

"WOW!! Grandma, did you SEE THAT??????"

Well, yes, I had to admit that indeed I HAD seen "it," but was unable to comprehend just what "it" might be! Had I stepped into my grandson's fantasyland???

And just like that, the fun trip to the pool was abandoned, to be replaced by the mysterious appearance of one very tiny.....something.

With the daring only an 8 year old boy can display, JD slowly approached the object again. This time... slowly...oh so slowly... he tried to lift it by tipping it just slightly.

But it quickly snapped back down, after emitting the tiniest of squeals.

"Grandma! There IS something inside!!! Come look!"

Okay, how is this going to work. At my age, I'm not quite as agile as I was. So, trying with all my power not to make any more of a spectacle of myself, I knelt down beside him.

JD rooted around in his pocket and managed to come up with another tiny piece of...well, I don't actually know WHAT it was, but he put the piece next to the cylinder and then we waited.

And waited.

Then, very slowly, the door opened ever so slightly and once again the little...hand?...reached out, snatched the piece and slammed the door shut.

Okay, this was just plain spooky!

I can only imagine how hilarious we must have looked, kneeling down and watching a piece of metal on the ground.

So, what now? Leave it where it is? Try to coax out whatever was inside? We sat perfectly still for several minutes while trying to decide what to do next.

Then, again very slowly, the door lifted and a tiny head poked out.

Ackkkkkk!

We both nearly fell over backward in our astonishment!

Once it became obvious that we weren't in any danger from this tiny creature, we regained our positions and JD scrunched down closer to it.

I could tell that SOME-thing was happening but not having the best hearing, couldn't tell what it was. JD seemed to be whispering.

After a few minutes, the door closed again, and JD sat back on his haunches.

"Well?" I asked in a whisper. "What happened?"

"Grandma, I don't know how, but I could understand what he was saying!!"

"And what was THAT?"

"His name is Zwerty. At least that's what it sounded like. And he's from another planet and landed here by mistake! He's very hungry and afraid he might DIE!"

I squinted my eyes as if thinking over our options, when in reality, I was trying to convince myself that I hadn't lost my few remaining marbles.

(Well, don't just sit there staring at me! What would YOU do, given the circumstances?" No advice? I thought not.)

After a few moments, we discussed the situation in very solemn tones and decided we had no choice but to put him the bag with our swimwear and go back home.

Taking care not to be seen, we carefully slipped the cone into the bag and made our way back. If someone had spoken to us from behind, I'm sure we would have jumped straight up in the air!

When we returned, we scouted the back yard for a good place to hide Zwerty and his space craft.

Once we found a secure place under an old tree, we spread a few leaves around and when satisfied with our camouflage efforts, JD knelt down and tapped lightly on the door.

After a few moments, the door slowly opened, and JD explained to Zwerty what we had done and our plan to nurse him back to health until he could return to the skies and his home.

For the next two days, JD took morsels of one kind or another and left them at the door of the craft.

Several times, the door opened, snapped closed, then reopened long enough for Zwerty to push the food back out. Clearly, he was a very picky eater!

On the third day, JD ran back into the house to say that Zwerty must have flown home because his space craft was gone!

I went back outside with JD to check, and sure enough, the space craft was not there.

However....

Something caught my attention and I looked up to see the small craft lodged in the branches of the tree.

JD climbed up to retrieve it and after a screechy tirade from Zwerty for putting him UNDER something, the whole process repeated.

Finally, success was achieved and sometime during the night, Zwerty continued his journey and rose into the moonlit, star-filled sky.

We never saw him again. But then, we didn't really expect to. So, we made a memorial out of clay and put it under the tree so we would always remember our friend, Zwerty from outer space.

hilarious     cylinder     cheesecake     aquatic     memorial