10 September 1955 Matt Dillon sat in his large leather armchair with his great-great-grandchildren crowded round him on the floor waiting for what he was sure would be one of their favorite TV programs the youngest of the grandchildren at 4 years was sitting in his favorite place on Gramps knee.

Matt turned his head as the door to the kitchen opened and Kitty came in to the open plan dining and living room. She carried in the flatware and cutlery the smells of the dinner cooking teased Matt's senses. He found himself wondering how Kitty could still be so beautiful. His daughter Rose carried in a large cake. Galen was talking with Newly who had been marshal of Dodge after Matt retired from the post and was now retired himself having stepped down some 20 years ago.

"The cake is bigger this year Gramps."

"Is it?"

"How old were you when you met Grandma?"

"I was 35."

"Grandma was 25?"

"Yeah I guess she was."

The ads were over on the television the kids turned to the screen as John Wayne came on and started to speak

"Good evening. My name's Wayne. Some of you may have seen me before; I hope so. I've been kicking around Hollywood a long time. I've made a lot of pictures out here, all kinds, and some of them have been westerns. And that's what I'm here to tell you about tonight: a western a new TV show called Gunsmoke. No I'm not in it. I wish I were though, because I think it's the best thing of its kind that's come along, and I hope you'll agree with me; it's honest, it's adult, it's realistic. When I first heard about the show Gunsmoke, I knew there was only one man to play it: James Arness. He's a young fellow, and maybe new to some of you, but I've worked with him and I predict he'll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you've had to get used to me! And now I'm proud to present my friend Jim Arness in Gunsmoke."

Then the theme tune with an announcer speaking.

"Gunsmoke starring James Arness as Matt Dillon."

"Gramps that's your name?"

"Yeah."

The kids watched the story unfold with rapt expressions. Matt found himself dwelling on the incident, remembering Dan Grat and how arrogant he'd been.

"Was that how it was Gramps?"

"Yeah that was how it was."

"Dinner boys come on," Kitty called smiling as Matt came to stand next to her he noticed the pile of greetings cards by his place at the head of the table. Matt sat and opened the top card intrigued he looked at the signature Dwight D Eisenhower. There was a knock at the door Galen answered it.

"May we come in?"

"Sure this way," Galen said.

James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone and Dennis Weaver followed Galen in the room.

"As soon as the studio told us that I was playing a person who'd done all that I was portraying on screen and when they told us it was your birthday. Well I just had to come visit."

"Gramps is 112 today."

"Well now that's just wonderful," Milburn said.

"Gramps what are you thinking about now?"

"Reaching 113."

Everyone laughed at that. The cake was a big hit. The kids dragged a battered photograph album out showing the photos to some very appreciative guests.