Excerpt
from Book
One
day, something special was to happen at Pleasant Manor.
Some local cub scouts from a troop nearby were giving
a demonstration about what they had learned in working
on their badges. They had written to ask if they could
come give their demonstration for the residents at Pleasant
Manor.
The
activity staff and the residents were very excited about
the cub scouts' arrival. When the scouts and their den-master
arrived, everyone was surprised and pleased to see that
the cubbies had arrived with all sorts of scenery and items
for their demonstration.
"They
look so adorable in their little uniforms!" commented
one of the lady residents of the nursing home, and everyone
agreed.
While
the troop was setting up, Joseph asked the scout-master
if he would mind asking one of the parent chaperones to
take a few of the scouts back to see a special resident.
The
scoutmaster picked three boys, saying, "Timothy, Steven,
and Peter, would you please go with Mr. Johnson and Joseph
here for a few minutes while we are setting up?" He
added, "Don't be long now, the demonstration's about
to begin!"
So
off went Joseph, the parent chaperone, and the three scouts.
Down the long hall they traveled until they came to room
C24. "Here we are, the Sarge's room!" Joseph said.
"The
Sarge?" "Who's that?" and "Wow!"
the boys all said at once.
Joseph
said, "You'll see," and smiling, knocked on the
door.
"Come
in!" said Grandpa Ralph from his easy chair; and Joseph,
the chaperone, and the three scouts all entered the room
as Joseph opened the door.
"I
have some special guests I'd like for you to meet, Mr. Jones,
that is Sargent Jones. Sargent Jones, I present for inspection
Timothy, Steven, and Peter, cub scouts extraordinare, sir!"
said Joseph.
"Well,
what do we have here?" asked Grandpa Ralph. "For
goodness sakes! Quite fine scouts from the look of them,
I'd say! At ease, young men."
"Yes
sir!" the three boys exclaimed.
"We
are going to give a demonstration!" said Timothy, with
the enthusiasm and energy of the very young.
"Would
you like to come?" Steven asked, looking at Grandpa
Ralph with very large, open, trusting, and curious eyes.
"Yes,
please come!" said Peter, following up on the entreaties
of his two buddies.
Ralph
was a little caught off guard, then began considering the
boys' offer.
"Well,"
he said, "I don't normally leave my room much, you
see…"
"And
I haven't finished reading the paper yet…" said
Ralph.
"But
I think I could come out of my room- just this once!"
©2002,
Michael D. Purvis
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