Those 70ish Girls

By the time Miss Bessie had driven Katie, Mrs. Langford, and Annie back to the ranch, Katie seemed to be doing fine. She and Annie had cuddled up in the back seat and when Mrs. Langford looked back at them, she smiled and told Miss Bessie the two were fast asleep.

“I’ll find Dina right away and tell her what happened, but I think Katie is going to be okay, don’t you?” Miss Bessie asked.

“She’s going to be just fine, but I do hope Arf comes back soon. I have an idea for another performance involving Clark, Katie, Annie and Arf. We never did take our musical to the senior centers like we had planned, you know.”

That evening, after supper, everyone gathered in the great room to visit and have dessert. Once again, Barbie had declined to join them. Brad decided it was time to find out what was going on. He decided he would talk with her first thing in the morning. In the meantime, he had another announcement to make.

“Listen up everyone, I have some good news. I got a call from Grandpa John today. We talked for a long time and came up with a plan that we’re both excited about.”

“Clark was on his feet. “What is this all about? Is Grandpa John Okay?” Clark didn’t know whether to be worried or excited.

“I’ll get right to the point,” Brad said. “Most of you have been to the house down the road that was once owned by Steve and Dina. Well, I recently had the opportunity to buy the place. I was intending to fix it up, and keep it in case they changed their minds and decided they wanted to live there, but now, Steve is happy at the farm and Dina is going to remain here for a while. Anyway, as I talked with Grandpa John, I could tell he was beginning to face the reality of being blind. He knows how much he’s going to have to depend on his buddies to get him to doctors appointments and run other errands. He also knows that Arf won’t always be there to help him. He’s agreed to move into the little house down the road and of course, he’s bringing Biff with him.”

Clark could hardly contain his excitement. “I can’t believe you’re doing this for my grandpa, Brad. I will love having him close by even though he’ll have to give up his little recording studio, it’s totally worth it.”

• 

• 

“Oh he’s not going to have to give it up. There is a nice little shop on the property. We’ll move all of Grandpa John’s equipment there. Mark is going to start loading it up in his truck and trailer and Jamie and I are going to drive up there this weekend and finish packing what Grandpa John wants to bring with him. Then we’ll bring him to his new home.”

“Will Arf live with Grandpa John?” Katie asked.

“He’ll be staying with him until he gets used to the new house and surroundings, honey,” Jamie said. “But he’ll be close to the ranch so you’ll be able to spend a lot of time with him.”

“That’s right.” Dina added. “We can stop by there when I bring you home from school.”

“That’s okay,” Katie said. “Grandpa John needs him. I’m okay now. Besides, Clark said I could borrow Annie. She can even sleep in my room.”

Annie: I’m really happy that Arf is coming home, although I wouldn’t want him to know that. A dog sure does have to be flexible around here, but at least we feel wanted and needed…and then there’s the big bones. That lazy dog, Biff will even like those.

Arf: I’m really happy that Grandpa Jim is moving close to the ranch. I heard him say he had wanted to stay here in the cabin because he couldn’t see himself living in a mansion. It’s really not that bad.

The next morning, Brad knocked on Barbie’s door. At first he didn’t think she was going to answer, but then the door slowly opened. His sister did not look happy. Even when she found out it was her twin brother standing there.. What she didn’t know, was that the things he had brought to her would change her life.