THE BLANKET
Petey was a boy of eleven. His mother had died. He lived with his dad and Granddad. His dad was getting married again. A new girl was coming into the house. So Granddad was being sent away to live in a Government Charity Home. Petey never believed it would happen. But one day a double blanket was brought for Granddad. He was to take it with him for the winter. Now Petey knew for certain that his Granddad would be going away.
Petey was very sad. He wanted to cry. But he was too old to do this. His father had gone to meet the girl he was going to marry. It was night. The moon was shining in the sky. It was the last night that Petey was to spend with his Granddad. The two sat together in the porch.
Granddad first praised the double blanket. He also praised the wool and quality of the blanket. He then played different tunes on the fiddle. He pretended that he was happy to leave the house. He said that there would be new life for his son. But he said that there would be babies in the house. And he would not like to hear their cries all the time. Granddad tried to show that he was not at all angry with his son. But Petey understood everything.
While Granddad was playing a tune, Petey’s dad and the girl came in. The girl told Granddad she would not be able to see him in the morning. So she had come at that late hour to say goodbye.
Granddad showed her the costly double blanket that Petey’s father had brought for him. The girl did not like it. She took Petey’s dad aside. She rebuked him for giving such a costly blanket to the old man. At this Petey’s dad got angry with the girl. But the two talked in a low tone. However, Petey heard all that the girl had said. He was very sad, but he did not say anything.
The girl went away in an angry mood. Now Petey did a wonderful thing. He brought out a pair of scissors. He gave these to his father. “Father”, he said, “cut the blanket in two.” The Granddad, too, said that he did not need a so big blanket. Petey said harshly, “A single blanket is enough for an old man.” On hearing this, Petey’s dad was very angry. He said, “What do you mean by all this?” At this Petey replied, “Dad, I shall give you other half when you are old and I am sending you away.”
There was silence. Everybody understood the meaning. Petey’s dad went close to his father. Granddad put his hand on his son’s shoulder. He said, “It’s all right, son, - I know you did not mean it.” And then Petey began to cry. Soon the three were crying. In fact, all the three loved each other very dearly.
Petey was a boy of eleven. His mother had died. He lived with his dad and Granddad. His dad was getting married again. A new girl was coming into the house. So Granddad was being sent away to live in a Government Charity Home. Petey never believed it would happen. But one day a double blanket was brought for Granddad. He was to take it with him for the winter. Now Petey knew for certain that his Granddad would be going away.
Petey was very sad. He wanted to cry. But he was too old to do this. His father had gone to meet the girl he was going to marry. It was night. The moon was shining in the sky. It was the last night that Petey was to spend with his Granddad. The two sat together in the porch.
Granddad first praised the double blanket. He also praised the wool and quality of the blanket. He then played different tunes on the fiddle. He pretended that he was happy to leave the house. He said that there would be new life for his son. But he said that there would be babies in the house. And he would not like to hear their cries all the time. Granddad tried to show that he was not at all angry with his son. But Petey understood everything.
While Granddad was playing a tune, Petey’s dad and the girl came in. The girl told Granddad she would not be able to see him in the morning. So she had come at that late hour to say goodbye.
Granddad showed her the costly double blanket that Petey’s father had brought for him. The girl did not like it. She took Petey’s dad aside. She rebuked him for giving such a costly blanket to the old man. At this Petey’s dad got angry with the girl. But the two talked in a low tone. However, Petey heard all that the girl had said. He was very sad, but he did not say anything.
The girl went away in an angry mood. Now Petey did a wonderful thing. He brought out a pair of scissors. He gave these to his father. “Father”, he said, “cut the blanket in two.” The Granddad, too, said that he did not need a so big blanket. Petey said harshly, “A single blanket is enough for an old man.” On hearing this, Petey’s dad was very angry. He said, “What do you mean by all this?” At this Petey replied, “Dad, I shall give you other half when you are old and I am sending you away.”
There was silence. Everybody understood the meaning. Petey’s dad went close to his father. Granddad put his hand on his son’s shoulder. He said, “It’s all right, son, - I know you did not mean it.” And then Petey began to cry. Soon the three were crying. In fact, all the three loved each other very dearly.
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