Knowing The Rules

Brendan always liked pushing the limit when it came to rules in high school. He studied the rule book and knew them by heart. He carried the rule book with him for proof and was ready to negotiate. 

The seniors were taking a trip to visit one of the colleges. Brendan showed interest in going but was told he could not go because he had not taken the college entrance exams. He informed the counselor that it was not necessary to have taken the exam but only needed to be signed up to take it. He pulled out the rule book for proof. The counselor had no choice but to approve Brendan's request to join the class. 

Brendan was all smiles as he was telling me this and added the counselor was not going to be happy with him the next day. When I questioned him why that was he laughed as he said "tomorrow he has to help me fill out the application for the test." 

I believe that rule has since been changed. However, Brendan did accompany the class on all college trips. Way to go Brendan. Stand your ground!

Knives And Forks

On one occasion my sister had a pot luck with several friends and family. Christopher was about six. I thought I had everything he liked on his plate. While walking back to sit down I looked around and Christopher was not behind me. He was back at the food table. 

As I approached the table  I could see my brother was speaking sternly to Christopher. He was correcting Christopher for using a bad word. My brother told me what was said. 

It was a misunderstanding. After laughing, which my brother did not appreciate, I looked  at Christopher and explained we ask for a knife and fork. In case you missed it by brother thought Christopher asked for a 'f*****g knife. 

Grandpa's Shoelaces

Grandpa wore the men's dress shoes with the two or three holes for laces. On Monday nights he bowled and came home late. If it were raining or snowing he would take his shoes off by the back door in the kitchen. 

On those few nights he left them in the kitchen he would wake up the next morning to find them next to his bed with the laces taken out of the holes and placed in the shoes. He thought it was funny and always asked one of us three if we did it as a joke. Of course we did not. This went on for a while. 

One night he decided he was going to stay awake to catch the culprit. Which he did. He came home, left his shoes in the kitchen and went to bed. Only that night he slept with one eye open. Shortly after going to bed he had the surprise of his life. 

The culprit ... our Old English Sheepdog, Andy. He would bring the shoes up one by one place them by his bed then sit there and take out the laces. Grandpa was always amazed there were no bite marks or drool on them. Nobody guessed it was the dog. 

After that when Grandpa came home and it was wet he would take his shoes off, wipe them dry, and carry them upstairs. I always wondered if Andy would think to himself ~ I guess you can teach an old human new tricks.