Granddad's Toys

Granddad's Toys

James had been staring blankly through the misty, rain spattered window for almost an hour, he was, by now, thoroughly bored. He swiveled around on the cushioned chair and groaned loudly, hoping to attract the attention of his preoccupied Mum, who was attacking the carpet ferociously with a vacuum cleaner. She didn't look up. He groaned again, this time standing up and wandering over so that he was standing right in front of her. She simply waved him out of the way with one yellow rubber-gloved hand and continued her military style cleaning regime. James groaned so loudly he was practically shouting, and finally, the vacuum cleaner was switched off, and his Mum looked irritably up. "What? She asked pointedly, brushing her light brown, wavy hair out of her face and glaring at him.
"Nothing, James shrugged, before throwing himself down on the couch and groaning once more.
"What? She asked again, her eyes flashing. James noted this warning sign, and decided to come out and say it.
"I'm bored! He whined.
"Bored? She began, "Bored! I was never bored when I was your age!
"But Mum! James complained, "You were my age in the olden days! Being bored didn't exist!
"Do you know why? Mum raised her voice and continued as though James had not interrupted.
"Why? James droned, he had heard this speech many times and thought he knew what was coming.
"Books! I read books, and so should you!
"Fine! He raised himself from the couch, "I'll go and read a book.
"Good! Mum continued to rant after him long after James was out of earshot.
"Books, books¦ James searched fruitlessly through his book collection, finding nothing. He gave up, sighed and sat back on his heels. As he did this, his younger sister Stella pranced past his bedroom door, blond bunches bobbing, wearing a pink tutu and a lip-sticky smile.
"Hi James! She called, bouncing into the room and waving a purple, plastic wand. "What's up?
"Bored, James replied listlessly.
"Want me to magic up something for you to do? Stella asked, shoving her sticky, star topped wand in his face.
"No. He replied firmly, pushing the wand out from beneath his nose and standing up quickly. "I'll erm, go and ask Dad for something to do.
"Okay! Stella beamed happily, danced out of the room and pirouetted neatly across the landing. James watched her go, and then set off to locate his father.
He finally found him lying on the couch, watching some football game or other on the television. He was whooping and cheering as James entered the room.
"Dad? James asked nervously, his father had started inexplicably waving Stella's pink scarf in the air.
"What is it? Dad asked breathlessly, panting, and laying back down on the cream sofa.
"I'm bored, can you think of anything I can do?
"You could tidy up that room of yours, Dad suggested, "I can't remember the colour of the carpet. James groaned, if there was one thing more boring than being bored, it was tidying. What's the point? His room would only get messed-up again anyway! Then, an idea struck him; he couldn't believe he had not thought of it before! He would go and visit Granddad!
"I'm going out! He exclaimed, running to the hall and grabbing his large green anorak.
"Where? Mum demanded, stalking out of the kitchen clutching a mop that was dripping soapy water in a trail behind her.
"Gran's! James replied, pulling open the door excitedly.
"Take Stella with you then! Mum told him sternly.
"But¦James began, but at that moment, Stella herself came leaping down the stairs, still wearing the tutu, but now with a pair of purple Wellington boots to complete the outfit.
"Let's go! She squealed, running out of the door and grabbing her purple bike, complete with silver tassels and stabilizers. James climbed on to his bike, blue and without stabilizers or tassels of any colour, and rode after her.
The rain splashed down on to his coat, splattering his face with what could have been the contents of a filled bath. He was so wet, he was very glad to finally reach the wooden gates that led to Gran and Grandpa's house. Stella jumped off her bike the moment they were inside the gates and ran up the path, Wellington boots splashing all the way. James followed her, at a slower pace, sloshing through the puddles as he went. By the time James reached the green painted door, Stella had already knocked enthusiastically with the large brass knocker, and was peering fixedly through the window. A few seconds later, the door was opened, and an old woman with a grey perm and glasses opened the door. Her wrinkled face split in to a wide grin when she saw who it was, "James, Stella! Come in, you look soaked!
"We are! James answered, stepping gratefully in to the warm hallway and allowing Gran to remove the dripping anorak. Rubbing his hands together in the hope of getting the feeling back to his fingers, he wandered over to the living room door, which was held slightly open with a little mouse shaped door-stop. He peered inside. Over in the corner, was a big, wooden rocking chair, that usually contained Grandpa, holding a newspaper very close to his tired face, due to his weak eyesight. Today, however, Granddad was nowhere to be found. "Gran! James called, poking his head back around the door in to the hall, "Where's Granddad?
"Upstairs clearing the loft dear, he'd love it if you could help him! Gran immediately began pushing James and Stella towards the stairs.
"Well, actually, James was about to protest, but gave in as he was pushed up the stairs and in to the dim loft. Granddad had been leaning over a box when they entered, but turned around when he heard them. He, like Gran beamed when he saw them.
"James and Stella! Come to help me have you? He asked happily. "Well, look here, this might interest you! He held out an old black and white photograph, which James took nervously, holding it safely out of Stella's reach.
"That looks like me! James exclaimed in surprise, "But, I don't have those clothes.
"That's your father, Granddad explained, when he was nine, like you.
"Wow, James breathed, staring down at the little picture in awe. There was his father, with the sandy coloured hair James had inherited, flopping about his face.
"That can't be Daddy! Said Stella, frowning at the photograph, "Daddy's got no hair.
"He had hair then! Granddad told her, "Oh, here's another one, this is of your Mum and Dad, when they were twenty one! He passed them another photograph; this one had the same boy in the other picture, looking much more grown up, and a girl, with light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, both grinning cheekily at the camera.
"Granddad, what's this? Stella called over from the corner. She was looking in to a box labeled Toys, in a child's writing.
"Ah, Said Granddad, lumbering over to her, "Those were my toys from when I was a boy. Stella opened the box eagerly, and pulled out a small wooden yoyo.
"What does it do? She asked, sounding disappointed.
"This, Replied Granddad. He took it from her, and began letting it fall down, attached to a piece of string, and fly back up in to his hand.
"Cool! Stella took the yoyo back of Granddad and began trying very hard to do what he had done with it. "I can't do it! She complained.
"It just takes a bit of practice, Granddad chuckled, "you'll soon pick it up! While Stella continued practicing, Granddad reached back in to the box and pulled out some more toys, a little yellow spinning top, a model wooden horse and a puppet attached to a string, that he made walk across the floor and do a funny dance for them.
"Can we keep these? James asked, after making the puppet dance himself.
"Of course! Granddad replied happily, "I've no use for them here, they just take up space. You enjoy them.
"Thanks! James said, eagerly.
After another few hours of playing with Granddad's toys, Mum arrived to pick them up. They gathered up the toys and took them back home. Although it rained for the next few days, neither James, nor Stella was bored. Not with all of Granddad's toys!