The Truth About Grandpa

By Frederick Dunn

The Truth about Grandpa is tale involving the O’Doyne Children and their estranged Grandfather. The three children, Junior, Gwen and Jasper are loyal siblings born to an absentee father and an alcoholic mother. After a weekend bender their Mother gives up her parental rights and leaves the kids in the care of St. Joseph’s Orphanage. Once there the three siblings struggle to get along with the other children, having little success. Then when things seemed to be at their worst a mysterious figure appears at the Orphanage, a man claiming to be their long lost Grandfather. After a brief introduction the kids are sent off to live with a man they don’t even know. The children use their free time to search for clues about their Grandfather as well their own father who went missing seven years earlier. The children's need to find the keys that unlock the secret to the past is strong, but are they ready to handle The Truth About Grandpa.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frederick Dunn
• Release date: Jul 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9780987689504

Frederick Dunn

Frederick Dunn was born and raised in Kingston, ON Canada. He is currently working as a teacher's aide and is working on his Early Childhood Educators diploma through St. Lawrence College. He is the father of three wonderful children who are now young adults and Grancher to one handsome grandson and fondly remembers sharing his stories with them as they grew. He still lives in Kingston with his wife and soul mate, without whom none of this would be possible.

Book preview

The Truth About Grandpa

Written and Illustrated by: F.R. Dunn

Smashwords Edition

Copyight 2011 Frederick Dunn

ISBN: 978-0-9876895-0-4

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Chapter One

Dark and dreary clouds spewed forth globules of rain that pelted the ancient roof of St. Joseph’s Orphanage. The building itself was an old converted church that had been erected in the latter half of the 19th century. Made from quarried limestone the old structure looked gothic. It was a very intimidating edifice with a large heavily lacquered processional door and copious amounts of stone tracery including quite a few scary gargoyles. It was a beautifully crafted church but not exactly the friendliest sight. Many children throughout the years had difficulty adjusting to their new home but all in all, the orphanage did its job, they found homes for kids that didn’t have any.

The O’Doyne Children were just such children. Three days earlier their Mother, after a week of partying with friends, decided enough was enough and called children’s services to take the kids away. She told the workers that because of her problems and lack of income she just couldn’t care for her children anymore. The kids knew better, especially the oldest boy Frederick Richard. It wasn’t that their mother couldn’t take care of them; it was that she didn’t want to. Having kids didn’t gel well with her chosen lifestyle. It seemed all their mother cared about these days was being irresponsible and partying. It hadn’t always been like that. Years ago, before their father left them; life in the O’Doyne household had been relatively pleasant. These days however even the frightening façade of St’ Joes was a welcome change to the daily hell they had to endure at home.

Frederick Richard was the eldest sibling and the fourth son in a row to bare the same first name as the father that came before him. He was Frederick O’Doyne the IV but everyone just called him Junior. The 14 year old was very tall and lanky with dark brown hair and equally dark eyes. He was a broodingly intense looking teenager with a hot temper but in truth he was a very caring and sensitive individual. He loved his siblings very much and he took on the roll of surrogate father without complaint. Now that they were without a Mother, Junior knew the job of protecting his brother and sister would be that much harder.

Mary Gwenevere was the second oldest O’Doyne child and the only girl. Everybody called her either Gwen or Gwenny and she was 10 years old. Gwen had shoulder length sandy blonde hair and big brown eyes. She was a fierce little dynamo and the consummate tomboy. Gwen was as tough as nails and twice as sharp with a quick tongue and dark sense of humor. A born troublemaker Gwen was often at odds with her older more responsible brother. Despite the friction both children loved each other deeply, even if they had trouble sometimes showing it.

The youngest member of the O’Doyne brood was 8 year old Jasper Nelson. Young Jasper was a small quiet little boy with wavy blonde hair and bright inquisitive brown eyes. He was a thoughtful child who often spent his time humming quietly to himself or playing imaginary games with whatever toys he could find.

The O’Doyne children upon their arrival at St. Joes had been told their stay would only be a short one. The worker assigned to their case was a large plump woman with black curly hair named Mrs. Hamilton. She worked at the orphanage as a social worker and spent a great deal of her time finding foster homes for the kids. She told the O’Doyne children that contact had to be made with their father before they could move forward with their case. That meant in the meantime that the O’Doyne children would have to call St’ Joes home.

Good luck, Junior thought to himself. He knew they’d never find his father and even if they did it wouldn’t change a thing. He didn’t want anything to do with them either. The proof was easy enough to see. Not once since he left nearly 7 years prior had he ever visited or even called to see how they were. Junior tried to tell Mrs. Hamilton not to bother but she didn’t listen. She said it was her job to at least try. Until then that meant the O’Doyne children weren’t going anywhere.

It was mid morning at the orphanage and like most days when it rained the kids stayed inside and made use of St. Joes dated recreation room. Located in a building beside the church that also housed classrooms and a small gymnasium St. Joe’s rec-room was awful. The place didn’t even have a T.V. or any other kind of modern technology for that matter. All they had for entertainment was ping pong, table hockey, board games and of course books, lots and lots of books. If you wanted to you could sit at one of the tables and draw but all they had for supplies were stubby little crayons and old sheets of donated butcher’s paper.

It was the O’Doyne children’s first chance since their arrival to interact with the other kids in St. Joes. They had arrived at the start of the weekend and were kept pretty much to their rooms the entire time. Now that it was Monday they had a chance to see what life at St. Joes was really going to be like. It didn’t take them long to figure out things weren’t going to be easy, especially when it came to their peers.

Almost as soon as they arrived and found places to sit by a nearby window the O’Doyne children were greeted by a welcoming party. A large boy with a thick neck and big meaty hands came lumbering towards them followed by a flock of smaller but equally intimidating boys. The lumbering leader of the pack wore a black toque and a grey tank top. He smiled nastily at Junior before rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck.

Hey punk, you’re in my seat. The large toque headed boy snarled.

Junior’s eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he let out a quiet little groan of displeasure. He then furrowed his brow and replied. That’s funny; I don’t see your name on it.

Oh ya, why don’t you stand up string bean and I’ll show you just where it is.

Junior smiled and went to stand up but before he could his brother Jasper reached out and stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

Let it go, he isn’t worth it. Jasper declared softly with a slight shake of his head.

Ain’t worth it? The large boy snorted defensively. What are you trying to say, are you saying that I’m worthless?

That’s exactly what he’s saying sausage neck! Gwen shouted insultingly.

What did you just call me? The bully growled as he turned his attention to Gwen.

What, are you hard of hearing; it must be all that fat inside your head. I called you a sausage neck you big dumb oaf. Gwen shouted back, she wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the rather large bully or his entourage.

Why you smart mouth little… Shouted the Bully but before he could finish his statement he found himself looking up into the eyes of Junior O’Doyne.

The oldest O’Doyne kid had shot up out of his seat as soon as the Bully made the slightest move towards his sister. Now the two boys stood just inches apart and were on the verge of a physical confrontation.

Lay even one finger on my sister and I’ll break your arm! Junior declared in a matter of fact tone.

I say don’t wait, bounce him out a window Junior! Gwen howled gleefully at her older brother.

The Bully scoffed before chuckling. Then he turned to his fellow cronies. You hear that guys, he says he’s gonna break my arm.

The entourage of orphaned miscreants immediately began to laugh alongside their leader.

I’d like to see you try string bean, go on break my arm! The Bully shouted before sticking his arm out so Junior could grab it.

Junior just shook his head and looked away.

What’s the matter String Bean, you too scared to even try? The Bully declared before lunging at Junior with his outstretched hand.

Junior saw the push coming but instead of stepping out of the way or pushing back Junior just reached out and grabbed the Bully by the wrist. For a second the Bully looked confused, and then his expression of bafflement was replaced with a grimace of pain.

Hey man, let go, you’re hurting me! The Bully howled before reaching out with his other hand to grab Junior by the shirt.

The two boys struggled for a several seconds and then the doors to the rec-room flew open and Mrs. Hamilton came charging in.