Grandpa’s Secret

By Vivian Leedy Bevins

During a time long ago, Emily and her brother, Jacob, live a simple life with their parents in a Christian home complete with a big cook stove and where every Monday is wash day. Even better yet, they live near their grandparents. When Emily and Jacob are not helping their father in the fields, they love setting off down the well-worn path to visit their grandpa-pa and Grandma Allie.

Emily and Jacob love the entertaining stories their grandfather tells them about his youth. The children are particularly fond of one of the stories he tells more than others—the tale about the Haydoodle Man. While they wonder aloud if their grandpa-pa is really the old-timer, their grandfather is determined not to respond to their never-ending questions. But when a stray dog puts their family in a terrible dilemma, will they finally learn their grandpa-pa’s secret?

In this historical juvenile novel, two siblings entertained by their grandpa-pa’s fascinating tales of days gone-by wonder if he is harboring a secret about his true identity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973667414

Vivian Leedy Bevins

Vivian Leedy Bevins draws on her Swiss-German heritage and experiences growing up on a farm in Southern Ohio to create her delightful stories for children. Today she resides in Jackson, Ohio. Grandpa’s Secret is her debut book.

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Copyright © 2019 Vivian Leedy Bevins.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-6740-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6739-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6741-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019908966

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/15/2019

Remembering

Trula Zimmerly, Joy Coyan and family and friends

Contents

School Is Out

Around the Knoll and Back

The Dilemma

Burying the Dead

Grandma’s Surprise

Done with the Corn

Between Jobs

The Lord Provides

Mr. Umberger’s Announcement

Neighboring Hay Gatherings

Epilogue

School Is Out

E mily, Jacob, breakfast.

My eyelids pop open at the sound of Papa’s booming voice. I jump from bed, straighten the covers, slip into my dress, and head for the stairs.

The huge black cook stove stands against the wall near the sink. It crackles and pops, making heat for Mama to cook breakfast. Now she stands in front of the old-fashioned thing, dishing up food as I come down the stairs. Her small, thin body looks like a wisp of thread against the massive thing.

The warmth of the kitchen feels good to me on this cool late-spring morning. Hastily, I wash my hands and the sleepers from my eyes and set the bowls on the table for Mama.

Oh no! I see it is oatmeal again. The slick, slimy stuff reminds me of the slug I stepped on that left its sticky stripes on my foot last week.

Oh, Mama, I complain. My foot sticks to the floor. How do I get the stripes off? Soap doesn’t work. Mama found that salt, which adds flavor to oatmeal, would also take the slug’s stripes from my foot.

Brother Jacob is slow getting started this morning, as he is sometimes.

Papa, whose voice sounds much like Grandpa-pa’s, has bowed his head and is saying grace when the still kitchen comes to life.

Jacob, in his haste to get to the table, runs from his room and dashes down the stairs. Hitting the rug at the bottom, he plants his foot on it and skids across the floor to his chair at the table. He stretches his short legs to get in the seat and turns the chair over. Bang! What a noise! And he doesn’t even wash his hands.

Papa opens his eyes and gives him a scolding glare. But Papa cannot stay angry at him, and the glare turns quickly into an affectionate smile.

I help Jacob pick up the chair, give him an understanding wink, and hold the chair while he climbs to the seat. I too often turned the chair over when I was his size.

Papa goes on with grace, And now, Lord, about this rambunctious lad, help us to get a handle on him and settle him down. Amen.

Jacob, with downcast eyes, looks sheepishly at his bowl as Papa finishes.

Is Grandpa-pa coming, Papa?

Yes Jacob, we’re going to hoe corn. Now, wash up before you eat.

I hold his chair as he climbs off and then back on.

Emily, it’s time to go. The clock says six to seven.

"That’s seven thirty, Jacob. No, remember what happened