Creative Revision of the Brothers Grimm "The Old Man and His Grandson"

“Mommy, Daddy,” begins the young boy, “Why do people take their pets to the pound?”

His mother was the first to respond. “Oh, sweetie. Those cruel people just don’t love their p-”

“They’ve abandoned their pets, son,” the father interrupts.

This seemingly random outburst was a result of an advert for the local pound encouraging pet adoption. The boy, whose curiosity is now sated, finds himself dozing off in his booster seat; his fading consciousness picking up words and phrases from his parents’ conversations.

“What’s a nursing home…” he begins before falling completely out of consciousness. He jerks awake suddenly as he hears his father’s door closing with significant force. As he wipes the yawning-tears from his eyes, he becomes especially aware of his location; he is filled with a sudden excitement.

“GRANDPA!!!” he shouts. He is quick to unbuckle and fly to his grandfather’s side. It is obvious, however, that his grandfather is being scolded, once again for mistaken action. The boy looks up and notices the two cars in the driveway are closer than usual.

“Daddy, why are Mommy and Grandpa’s car touching?”

“Because, son, some one,” this last word said with an especial pointed annoyance, “has decided to, against our best wishes, attempt to drive around town!”

“Daddy, are you angry?”

“Honey,” began the Mother, “better leave your father alone.”

The boy, at his Mother’s behest, is taken inside and instructed to play with his toys. He can hear intense and frustrated discussion between his Mother and Father through the walls. Eventually, his curiosity gets the best of him; he must investigate. He quietly trots within hearing distance of his parents’ conversation. He doesn’t understand what is being said.

“We have all the paperwork filled out. We can put your father in the nicest home in the area. It will be better for him. He will be cared for and will not be such a burden on our family.”

The boy did not understand who they were talking about, or what a “home” was. He knew that Grandpa was his Mother’s father. “Maybe,” he thought, “they are planning to take him somewhere as a surprise!”

Within a matter of days, the Grandfather is transitioned to a local nursing home. The boy, although sad to see his Grandfather leave, is excited for his surprise trip.

As several months pass and the boy finds himself in grade school with homework and projects, he begins to think less and less of his grandfather. One day, for the boy’s last homework assignment of the school year, he has to map out his dream life. While imagining how happy his life could be, the boy remembers his Grandfather.

“OH!” he exclaims. He knows exactly how he would plan his life.

As the boy is finishing his life map, his parents came to check on his work. Noticing an interesting section of the map, his mother asks, “Honey, what does this part mean? Where are your Father and I going when you grow up?”

“Mom, Dad, you will love that! I’m going to send you both on an extended and happy vacation like you did for Grandpa!”

The child’s naiveté pangs the parents. Following their evaluation of the boy’s work, the Mother and Father, after some long and difficult discussions, come to their decision.

The following day, the Father, while packing up his car for a trip, calls the nursing home.