Cheering Up Grandpa

Do you want to help me in the garden today?” William’s grandpa asked.

“Sure!” William said.

William loved gardening with Grandpa. The garden had all sorts of flowers, but their favorites were the roses. William helped Grandpa water and trim the rose bushes all summer. It didn’t feel like work—it was too fun!

When fall came, William and Grandpa trimmed the rose bushes one last time for the year. When they were done, Grandpa said, “These bushes look so healthy! I think next year’s garden will reap best.”

That winter William’s grandma passed away. At her funeral William put his arm around Grandpa when he saw him crying. “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I love you,” he said.

“I love you too,” Grandpa said with tears in his eyes.

Day after day, it was hard for William to see Grandpa look so sad. One day William thought Grandpa might enjoy walking through the garden. But as soon as Grandpa saw the frozen rose bushes, he turned around.

“You go ahead. I don’t like seeing my rose bushes so bare,” Grandpa said.

William helped Grandpa walk back to his recliner.

Maybe he’ll be happier when spring comes, William thought. Then we can work in the garden again.

When spring came, William came to help Grandpa trim the rose bushes. They worked in the garden just like before, but Grandpa hardly ever smiled.

William prayed to know how to help Grandpa feel happy again. One morning an idea popped into his head: Look in the newspaper.

That’s strange, William thought. How would that help Grandpa feel better? Then the thought came again. So he looked through the newspaper.

This is a waste of time, William thought. Then something caught his eye: “Now taking nominations for Gardener of the Year.” William didn’t understand the word nominations. But it said that readers could send in a letter about a gardener they knew. The newspaper editor would read the letters and choose a Gardener of the Year.

William asked Mom to write a letter about Grandpa. “Well, it’s your idea,” she said. “So maybe you should write it. But I’ll help you.”

William wrote about how Grandpa was a great gardener. He wrote about how much fun they had working together in the garden. And he told about how happy his grandpa would be if he won the award.

Three weeks later Grandpa got a surprise visit while he and William were working in the garden. A newspaper reporter said that she was writing a story about him.

“Why?” he asked. “Because you’ve been chosen as Gardener of the Year!” she said.

Grandpa smiled big and said, “What? I can’t believe it!” William had missed seeing Grandpa smile like that.

Later that week William, Mom, and Grandpa went to a special dinner to honor Grandpa. The people from the newspaper gave Grandpa an award and asked him to give a speech. Grandpa talked about how he enjoyed gardening with William and how much he loved flowers. Just before he sat down, Grandpa smiled right at William and said, “This year, we’re going to have one of the best rose gardens ever!”

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