The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Slapstick Grandma
She gives her grandchildren a bright, rainbow umbrella. She opens it for those cherubs–a boy and a girl in galoshes–and lets the girl hold it over them both. She follows with a smart navy blue umbrella of her own. She smiles over them. The rain doesn’t change their day, they are out on a walk with Grandma just as planned. It’s a peaceful time together.
The rain isn’t too serious. However, up above, a gutter is clogged. Just a few meters ahead water pours in a stream onto the sidewalk. Grandma spies the temptation. “Nee, nee,” she’s giving them a no, anticipating their plan to test the umbrella under the splash. The small ones have picked up their pace and Grandma follows, continuing her warning, hustling to catch them. At the last moment, they obey. They step out of the tempting waterfall.
Yet, Grandma’s protective momentum leads her onward, right under the shower, which blasts buckets of water over her thankfully hearty umbrella. The children gasp in glee, “Oooooo!” Surprised as she is, her laughter echoes up the narrow street. Grandma gets to have all the fun.
–Vienna, Austria.
Yours truly with Grandma–looking a bit like twins. 🙂
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
Outstanding! (No, really…outstandingintherain. ) Loved this story Paige and it served as the perfect break in the middle of my afternoon, taking me back to similar walks I’ve had both as the child and the parent. Those are the best walks for both parties involved. Terrific photo with you and your grandma, too!
Thank you so much, Jeff! I had intended to share this Monday and totally blanked on blogging. Oops. 🙂 So I’m glad I saved it for today, since it hit the spot for you. I appreciate you!
Paige
Delightful account! 🙂
Thank you so much! I appreciate you stopping by the read the story! 🙂
Paige
Children do like the rain and grandparents can find themselves thinking what the hell when with their grandchildren
Haha! I do think this one was intentional, but it was wonderful to see her delight in it, rather than be upset. I could hear them chatting along before I turned the corner. So happy to end up on the right Strasse at the right time!
Paige
Were you a bit of a handful, Paige …? [grin]
I am either smiling or looking off camera making a face in pictures. I was a chunky little smile on a head full of curls. 🙂
Paige
oh my gosh, your grandma looks so much like my grandma, mother and Tante R. Her maiden name wouldn’t be Bischof by any chance? 🙂
🙂 I don’t believe so, but I’ll check with Mom to see if there were any Bischofs down the line! How fun would that be!?
Paige
That would be cool! I just can’t get over how much she likes them. They do say we all have a twin somewhere in the world. My grandmothers family originated in Austria and my mother was proud of her Austrian background.
Really enjoyed this one. You are so talented at capturing the essence of a particular moment out of all the moments that swirl by in life
Thank you so much, Ellen! I appreciate the comment. It’s been so rewarding to find these little moments and be able to scrawl them down. I think I’m really on the look-out when I’m abroad. 🙂
Paige
Paige! You never told us you had a twin… 🙂
Grandma and I are looking like quite a pair here, right? 🙂 Oh, she was such a kind, caring, wonderful woman and inspiration for me.
Hugs, VP!
Paige
Reblogged this on The Nice Thing About Strangers and commented:
On a rainy day…