Saturday Help

The wood-red barn has its doors turned wide open.
Cow, horse, and tractor move out near the fence.
A rooster is carried up to hayed barn loft.
The horse and Holstein cow slide closer to feed trough.

"Neigh", "moo", "bah-ah", and "oink" sound in the barnyard.
One "Erk-ah erk-ah-ooh" from the lofting rooster.
This is how Grandaughter Kylie brings her barnyard to life in our family room.

Empty bowl and measuring instruments sit on table.
Oatmeal, chocolate, sugar, flour, and eggs are nearby.
Nana/Rosie takes command in her kitchen.
Kylie and Grampa/Bernie are called from the family room to help.
"Measure this", "pour that", "mix it", "mix it more", directs Nana.
"Divide into spoonfuls."
"Fill up those cookie sheets!"

Nana carries the sheet pans to oven.
Minutes later they are back, suntanned and baked.
A plate with 2 cookies are payments to Kylie and Grampa.
The crumb-less plate is returned to Nana in short time.

Sun hat, bean picking container, and Grampa, ease over garden fence.
Partner Kylie tags not far behind.
Grampa picks. Kylie taste tests.
One bean gets crunched. Then two. Three. Now four beans less are in container.
"I like them, Grampa!", smiles back Kylie. "Another one?"

A noon break is taken.
Grampa teaches his Roll-Down-the Hill game to Kylie on back yard lawn.
Kylie repeats the rolling with ease and returns for more. And more.
"Let's do it again!".
But Grampa slows, then stops when everything in eyesight keeps moving.
When stomach rides up into esophagus.
Kylie motions for Grampa to continue but his game time is done.

Grampa pulls the wood wagon up from basement.
A seat cushion is fitted in from Nana.
Kylie starts her ride down the bump-bump still not paved street.
Grampa pulls and Nana strides close behind.
"Stop!" says Kylie, whenever something needs touching or picking.
A neighbor chats. Some are nodded to. Waved at-
Until red wagon ride ends its circular route back home again.

Kylie and Grampa search upstairs for a board game.
Kylie directs Grampa to find one she will win at.
Familiar games. The same ones Grampa's daughters played.
And probably those they won at too.

Supper is eaten with garden beans and red beets.
Daughter Anna turns on TV to tame the evening.
Kylie keeps the eye lids open til 8 pm.
She ends her day resting against Anna's lap.

Daughter Holly and son-in-law Andrew return from Milwaukee.
To pick up sleeping daughter Kylie on their home-bound ride.
And to stay some time longer to chat about Kylie's full day.
Smiles go around the room as today's stories are told.

Hugs and good nights are shared.
The three-some head out to car.
Tail lights move down the street.
Grampa and Nana figure they'll call again soon for more help.