Tell Me a Story, Grammy Sue

By Susan Hankinson

For several years Sue has been writing short stories for her website, www.grammysbookshelf.com. Many of them were written for specific holidays, explaining their meaning in simple enough terms for young children to understand. Some are just for fun, mostly using animals to tell the story. Several of these stories have not previously been published and appear here for the first time.

On her website the stories are illustrated with clip art and animations. Because the stories that appear are not archived so they can be read again at a later date, Sue decided to publish them with all new illustrations for each story. Grammy loves kids and while she uses animals for many of her characters, she uses the names and characteristics of her grandchildren for many of those animals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781477293058

Susan Hankinson

Author's biograpy - Sue Hankinson   Sue started writing stories for her children’s enjoyment many years ago. As they grew up, got married and had their own children, she renewed her interest in children’s writing. Her eight grandchildren are now her most beloved critics.   Her characters are drawn from different events and people in her life, as well as from her background in nursing and her interaction with mentally and physically challenged children. Growing up in a rural area of New Jersey, especially on her sister’s farm, she was able to observe animals in their natural habitat.   Her deep-seated faith in God encourages her to present moral teachings in a way that is enjoyed and accepted by young children.   Illustrator - Jessica Kasper   Jessica loves illustrating animals in a way that helps tell a story. Her background is diverse, ranging from a line of pocket books to sets for Renaissance Faires

Book preview

Tell Me A Story,

GRAMMY SUB

Susan Hankinson

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 Susan Hankinson. Authorhouse.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 10/21/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4670-3581-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-9305-8 (ebook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011918846

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed

since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not

necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

It’s Creepy

Tree of Broken Hearts

Shamrocks and Coins

Softy

Watercress and Miracles

Doubting Thomas

Little Miss Liberty

A Warm Soapy Pond

Toady

Forget-Me-Not

School Days

Joey’s Perfect Mess

Tails of Retreat

Golden Tickets

Charliesaurus

What, No Turkey?

Turkey Galore

Christmas Joy

The Christmas Traveler

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It’s Creepy

It didn’t matter when it was, I didn’t want to be the person who had to go to the basement for a jar of fruit. The cellar was very dark except for the glare of the light bulb on the far side of the room by the shelves of canned goods. The steps leading down to the basement were very narrow and squeaky, and I was sure that IT was just waiting for me to reach that last step and IT would attack. I never figured out what IT was, but I knew where IT lived—in my cellar, which was always cold and damp and smelled of musty clothes.

The furnace that warmed the house in the winter took up a large section of the gloomy room and it always seemed to come on at just the time I reached the bottom step. The moaning of the furnace and the smell of the oil it burned added to my fear of that dreaded monster. The basement floor was rough cement that had sections broken and pieces missing from years of use and abuse and from dragging heavy items across it.

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I would fearfully make my way to the shelves of canned goods and quickly locate a jar of summer peaches. I knew as a child that when I was in the light I was for some reason safe. Every kid naturally knows that if the light is on, the monsters stay away, but the dimmer that light, the greater the chance IT will come stalking. I just had to make it back to the other side of the cellar and up the steps to the kitchen and I would be safe and sound.

By this time, my brother would have grown impatient for the dessert. He would yell down the steps to me, Hurry up, before the monster gets you and the peaches, then to encourage me to move faster, he would close the door and blink the lights off and on. I could hear him laughing and hear Mom scold him for scaring me. Surely all that commotion upstairs would arouse the beast and they would never hear my cry for help.

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Dashing across the uneven cement, I would cling to the cold jar of peaches knowing if I dropped it I could become Creepy’s dessert. I could feel my heart beating in my chest from fear as I climbed the steps to the kitchen as fast as I could. Quickly reaching the top of the stairs I would enter the kitchen and slam the basement door shut. As soon as I heard the door latch I would turn off the basement light. I was now safe upstairs with my family and the monster in the basement could not get me. I would put the jar on the table and act like nothing was wrong. I could never admit to being scared of that basement, and I never could figure out what would be worse, to come face to face with the basement beast or to be labeled as a scaredy cat.

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Tree of Broken Hearts

Grandma was due to visit Patty and the rest of her family. It was a Saturday and the day was sunny and the clouds in the blue sky were big and fluffy. It was a most beautiful day. It was February 12, two days before Valentines Day, a day Patty and Grandma will never forget.

Patty had one older brother who was away at college, so she seldom was able to talk with him. She and Mother would send cookies and letters to him reassuring him of his ability to graduate and to especially remind him he was missed by his family and he was dearly loved.

Grandma arrived in late morning to spend the day with her daughter’s family. She loved to visit them and have one on one time with each member. She would be sure to express her love and appreciation for each of them.

This visit from Grandma would be totally different from other times. Grandma rang the door bell, fully anticipating Patty to open the door and embrace her. Instead, Patty’s mother opened the door and she hugged Grandma and gave her a kiss. Mother’s eyes expressed joy to see Grandma, but they also showed signs of sadness.

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