Grandpa's Stories
Posted: Saturday, September 11, 2010
by Richard Radtke
http://www.cottagebythelane.com
Seth slowly sat down and leaned his cane carefully beside the chair. Without a glance, he pulled a magazine from the pile on the table and started to read. He put the magazine down after a few minutes, he couldn't focus on its written words. Letting it fall into his lap he leaned back in his chair, and looked about the room. "Lots of memories in this room, I can remember my Dad sitting in here when I was young, no bigger than Will's boy Matt is now. The Christmas tree standing over there by the big picture window, and the room smelling of that Christmas scent, fresh cut pine, and the scent of his Mother's baking. Cinnamon spice in the air, in the kitchen on the cooling rack sat the pies, made for Christmas dinner, Apple, Cherry, and Pecan. His Dad or Uncle would wander in there, usually chased out again by Ma, with the shout, "Keep your hands off those pies, there for dinner, not for snacking." He remembered how his Dad always made getting the Christmas tree seem like such an important thing. "Pa would always wait till the week before Christmas Eve to go out and cut it down, and it just was not any tree that he cut down either. No, he'd been eyeing the trees all summer and into the fall, always looking for that perfect one. Can't say I ever recall him saying he found it either, seems when he'd bring it in the door he be saying how this year he'd got the perfect one, but by the time he had it put up he'd have found some tiny imperfection. Don't think me or Rose or even Ma ever noticed it till he would point it out, we'd just stand there looking at the tree, marveling at the lines, but Pa, he'd point out that one little thing, Ma would look at him then and say, "Pa, now you know that is just the way it grew and once we get it decorated you won't be able to see a thing, so you just quit your complaining now, you got us a wonderful tree." Pa, well he'd quiet down then, always kind of wondered in the back of my mind if he made such a big fuss about those tree's just so Ma would tell him what a good job he done picking them out. Well, guess it don't matter much now anyway, whatever the reason was. Ted, Rose, I, and Grandpa when he was alive we'd spend the night stringing popcorn together, popcorn Ma popped over the old potbelly stove, course I think Grandpa and I ate more than we stringed, Ma she'd act like she was getting mad as we ate it, but we knew she wasn't, suppose it was just part of Christmas. I remember after the tree had been decorated and stood there aglow in all its finery, Grandpa used to sit back and tell me a story or two, lets see he'd tell about Santa and his reindeer, or sometimes bout the baby Jesus. There was one in particular, lets see now what was it he called it, oh yes, I think it was, "Professor Owl and the Special Star", In his mind's eye Seth returned to a Christmas Eve from long ago, the parlor stove was burning bright, his Pa and Uncle Sam were sitting by its glowing side. The newly decorated tree, with bows and tinsel that danced in the light was in its spot. His Ma was sitting on the couch, and Grandpa was in his chair, the youngster Seth had been once, was sitting on floor between Ted and Rose, Seth looked down upon the floor, to himself he said, "Lets see, I was sitting right bout there between Ted and Rose, just waiting for Grandpa to begin, waiting and wondering what special place he was going to take us to tonight. Grandpa enjoyed storytelling, he weaved a web of words that a child could understand, but he did it in his own time, no rushing him. He sat in his chair for an eternity, least it seemed so to me, then he'd lean back, look for a bit at the ceiling overhead, looking for the right words.
Grandpa continued then, "It was quite a lot of years ago, as Professor Owl told me he was sitting in his house reading a book, he laid it down, then he yawned and stretched. Slowly he arose from his favorite chair, worn threadbare from use. He shuffled over to the mirror hanging from the wall of his ancient Oak tree home. Clucking to himself over the image he beheld, he smoothed out a few ruffled feathers on his head. His finishing touch was to push his thick spectacles back up on his beak. Turning slowly around he headed over to his desk on the far side of the room on which he kept his lessons for the following day. Professor Owl rummaged through the piled up books and papers until finally, with a sigh of relief, he found the books and papers he needed. Placing these in his valise, he turned and shuffled out the door, carefully locking it behind him. Making his way down to the end of the old broken limb that lead away from his house, he spread his great wings and with a loud swoosh arose into the early morning sky. Higher and higher he flew, so high that he could land on the last of the shining moonbeams, which he did. After catching his breath, he made his way up the path of the moonbeam, to the Great Hall of the Stars, (which is that place where all the night sky's stars go when you and I cannot see them.) Finally arriving at the great door, he banged on it loudly three times and stood impatiently waiting for it to open. Quickly now I will answer a few of the questions that are buzzing around there inside your head. I suppose you are all wondering why was Professor Owl at the home of the stars? Simply because, Professor Owl was the teacher of all the little stars that glitter in the night sky above us all. Yes, there are little stars just like there are little children like you are now. You and I have all seen the stars in the clear night sky, little ones that twinkle and the big ones that glow bright. During the day they all go home to the Great Hall where maybe even now Professor Owl is waiting impatiently for the door to open.
Slowly the great door of the hall started to creak upon its ancient hinges, as the handle turned down and inch by inch the door opened to reveal the glowing form of Mother Star in the doorway, "Good Morning, Professor Owl" she said. "And a fine morning to you," he replied, "I trust the students are ready for their lessons." Mother Star replied, "Yes, they are all waiting for you in the nursery." Professor Owl started walking down the hall to the nursery, and reaching it he turned and entered.
At once a hush drew over the room. (Little stars, like little boys and girls, talk and laugh when the teacher is not in the room.) Moving to the desk at the front of the room, he said, "Good morning class, How are all of you?" to which all the little stars replied in one voice, "Very well, thank you." "Today, we will be working on our ciphers", said Professor Owl as he turned to the Blackboard and commenced writing. They worked on their ciphers all through the morning and like here on earth, some of the little stars did better than the others. Professor Owl could see who had been doing their studying and those that had not. At midday when it was time for the little stars to take their naps, it was Professor Owl's custom to tell them all a story, so that they could all sleep a little better. And as all the little stars lay snuggled into their beds, Professor Owl said, "Today I will tell you all the story of Jack and the Beanstalk." The glow in the room dimmed noticeably and Professor Owl, knowing that in star talk this meant that the little stars were not as happy as they were a minute before, said, "What is wrong, do you not want to hear of Jack and the Beanstalk?" With this the glow in the room became a little brighter and professor Owl continued, "Well then, how about a story of..." he paused "A star?" With this the room glowed a majestic blue (for as you know, when the stars shine brightly, that is, when they are happy, the night sky appears almost blue.) Realizing this was the type of story the little stars wanted to hear, Professor Owl leaned back in his rocking chair and paused to collect his thoughts for the story, and since he did not know any stories about a star it was a long pause indeed. Finally after what seemed an eternity to the little stars, Professor Owl began, This is a story about a special star, and it happened long, long ago...,"
The Special Star
Long ago when the world was still quite young the King of All That Could Be, made men and women and put them on the earth in a garden he made especially for them. For the longest time everything went well until one day the Prince of Darkness arrived and taught man wicked ways. This made the King of All That Could Be very sad and he put man and women out of his special garden and made them live as best they could on the earth with only his guidance to lead them. Over the years and years that followed, man began to question the guidance of the King of All That Could Be, and fall into even more wicked ways, ways that made the King of All That Could Be very unhappy. Finally one day he said to himself, "I must do something, for man and woman to help them, to make them see the error of their ways. He thought and thought, and planned and planned until one day his design was finished, that is all except one thing. This is what he planned, in a small town called Bethlehem on the plains of Israel he would send down his son to join all men and women on earth and show them the way of right, the path they should follow to make everyone happy. But I get ahead of myself that is a story for another time, this story is about that one small thing of the King of All That Could Be's plan that he still had not answered, and his search for that answer, said Professor Owl.
In fact this one small thing was something of major importance in the King of All That Could Be's plan, something on which the whole success of the plan could well indeed hinge and that something was a sign. How could the King of All That Could Be show man that this babe was someone special, someone for all the world to heed. The King of All That Could Be took council with his old friend the moon, who ever since the beginning when the King of All That Could Be had made the earth, and the heavens, and in fact the moon itself. The moon had watched over the earth and from the night sky bathed it in his pearly white light. After the King of All That Could Be had told the moon of his dilemma, the moon was silent for a long time as he sat and thought, Finally he replied, "I have been here ever since the beginning when you made me, and I have watched over your handiwork ever since you made it. I was here the very first night and will I will be here always to look down upon your handiwork. The question you pose is indeed a most difficult one, but I think perhaps that I see a way to help you in this matter. You need a sign, a great and glorious sign for mankind to understand what you have given them. What better time to give this sign than at night when the world is bathed in darkness. Make a light, a great shining beacon anchored in the sky like the stars, a light that shines down upon the earth, upon the very place where your son lies. Of this man would take note and see that this child is special indeed." The King of All That Could Be, saw the truthfulness of this and was glad, but where could he find a light of such purity as the moon had described.
He thought on this for a long while, and decided that he would go and talk with Polaris, (whom you may know as the Pole star), the father of all the stars in the heaven, and indeed the brightest and oldest in the night sky. Maybe Polaris could help to see a way. Arriving here at the Great Hall, the King of All That Could Be sat down with Polaris and asked him for his thoughts on the matter. (Hearing this the little stars gasped they could not believe the King of All That Could Be ever came to the Great Hall. Professor Owl added, "Yes little stars, Polaris who lives here even today, talks to the King of All That Could Be.") The King of All That Could Be, explained his plan to Polaris and his need. Polaris, who had leaned back in his chair as he listened to the King of All That Could Be while he spoke, now leaned forward once more and said, "I understand your need, but there is not one star in the night sky that is bright enough to do what you need, even I the brightest of all, cannot give you the light that you want, please understand that I am not denying you this request, but rather there is no star in the skies that I know of that could fulfill this great honor that you ask."
The King of All That Could Be was then saddened and getting up he made his way down the long corridor of the great hall to the door. As he opened the door he heard a small voice from behind him speak, "Sir, begging your pardon, but I overheard you and Polaris speaking of your request, and I wondered if I may ask to help." Turning, the King of All That Could Be looked behind him and roared, "Who is it here that offers help to me even though Polaris the oldest and brightest of the bright stars, says that I may find no answers here?" For a few moments nothing happened and the King of All That Could Be thought perhaps he had been hearing things and as he turned back to the door, he saw out of the corner of his eye a shadow, shaking behind a table in the corridor, realizing that perhaps he had spoken to harshly earlier, he gently said, "Who is it that offers me hope here in the home of the Stars?. Please do not be afraid, I am sorry if I scared you, it was the frustration speaking, not I. Anyone who could possibly give me an answer to my problem is more than welcome to try. So come out from behind that table little star, share with me your counsel." The shaking stopped and the little star timidly stepped out from behind the table and approached the King of All That Could Be. No older than a child and no bigger than a wagon wheel, (which is small indeed for a star) with only the faintest glow around him the little star approached and stopping said, "Sir, I believe that I could do what you seek, that is if you let me try, I know that I am not the biggest star, nor by any means the brightest, but if you let me try I know I can be the star you need." Hearing this the King of All That Could Be looked down into the glowing eyes of the little star and speaking in a soft and kindly voice said, "Little star, I see in you the faith and the hope that is so sadly lacking on the earth below, in your heart I feel the love that cannot fail to give the brightest glow as a sign to those below, who seek my son as he sleeps in his manger bed. My son born to man to forgive them their sins and ease their dread, I know will sleep peacefully, bathed in your loving light. Yes, my little star, it is to you that I look in my time of need and I gratefully accept your offer."
And so it came to pass on the appointed night that the little star became the brightest star in all of the heavens, a brightness not seen before or since, and a single ray reached out and softly bathed the Christ child in its loving light. And indeed so bright was the little stars light that shined as a sign to all mankind, that three wise man came from the east to pay homage to the greatest king of all, and they were lead by the little star's light. Professor Owl ended his story about the Special Star. Looking about the darkened room he could only hear the gentle snoring and see the steady glowing of all the little stars as they happily napped, each perhaps dreaming that he or she was the special star of the story just told. Slowly, ever so slowly Professor Owl stood up from the rocking chair, and silently made his way from the room quietly pulling the door shut behind him.
Grandpa paused, looked down at me then, said, "that is the story he told near as I can recall the way he told me, but you never can tell bout old Professor Owl. He sometimes likes to pull your leg now an again." We all would continue to sat nodding our heads, not knowing what to think, Finally Pa would stand up and say it was time for us to go to bed. we did, but we all spent that night thinking bout old Professor Owl, and then would spend the next couple spent the next couple of weeks out looking for him in the grove too. We wanted to meet him, say hi to him just like our Grandpa did
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Richard you write in such a way that it's almost like sitting around a fireplace listening to a storyteller spin his tales. I enjoy these very much.GraceWell thank you for that compliment I truly appreciate it, although it is undeserved. I would not be a very good vocal storyteller, although I truly admire those with that ability. I apologize for the length, but sometimes it just takes a bit to say something. I really have to keep in mind the length, but darn it is just extremely difficult, and I babble on...I'm married to an Irishman with a wee bit of the gift of gab. As far as I am concerned babbling on is a good thing :)In that case thank you, I don't feel so bad, lol
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