A Lovely Day for a Picnic

Jenny was looking so forward to the school's summer picnic when the call came in. Grandpa was getting ready to make a large ice cream cake when his cellphone rang. Before he poured the ice cream on the pan he answered it.

"What's that? You're calling in sick? How convenient. Just before the biggest event of the year. This is just like the week before and the week before that. You're fired,"with that Greg slammed down the phone.

Jenny stared at Grandpa with big saucer eyes. He cleared his throat.

"Sorry Jenny. It looks like we won't be going to the picnic."

Jenny frowned, "It's not fair. "

"Now Jenny don't be like that. I have to run this shop."

"Can I at least go to Stevie's house tomorrow?"

"Sure why not?"

Jenny smiled to herself. She made sure to be extra good that evening. The next morning as Grandpa was setting up shop, Jenny went over to Stevie's house with Jasper. She knocked on the door. After a little while Stevie opened the door. The boy was still in his pajamas.

"Stevie how would like to go on a picnic with me?" asked Jenny.

"Jenny, I can't go. Mum's out working and we have nothing to bring over there," said Stevie rubbing his eyes.

"Leave that to me," said Jenny as she strode into the house.

Jasper looked around sniffing things as Jenny walked right into the kitchen. The house was messy as Stevie's Mum was away on business. Jenny ignored this as she opened the refrigerator. She peered inside.

"Jenny as much as I want to go to the picnic. I don't have anything to give to them," cried Stevie.

"Yes you do," said Jenny firmly as she pulled out some potatoes."We're making potato salad."

Jasper watched with a worried look on her face as the children peeled the potatoes and placed them in boiling water. While Jenny was chopping up the other vegetables Stevie looked into the fridge again.

"Jenny we're out of mayonnaise," called out Stevie.

"Then get some yogurt," called out Jenny. The pot was boiling over.

"How's strawberry?"

"It will have to do."

Jenny took the pot off the stove. Then she poured out the water. The potatoes were still hard and very hot. She ran some water over them. This seemed some much easier on the internet. Once she was satisfied they were cool she mixed the potatoes, vegetables and yogurt in a large bowl. Stevie looked at her creation.

"That doesn't look as nice as the potato salad on tube tube," he remarked.

"Like I said, it will have to do."

"Still how are we going to get to the picnic?"

"Leave that to me."

Jasper had heard enough. It was time to step in. Bounding up the stairs she barked at the master bedroom's door. There was no answer. Jasper charged and literally broke open the door. She looked around. The room was empty. She heard the front door close. Looking out the window she saw the children leave the house.

"Where are we going?" asked Stevie.

"To Grandpa's garage. My Mummy's mini car is in there," replied Jenny.

"We're stealing a car?"exclaimed Stevie.

"It's not stealing if it belongs to the family. Now help me open the garage door."

Greg was serving a large family their ice cream cones when Jasper charged up to the counter. The smallest child shrieked and hid behind her mother. Jasper jumped up and down barking in front of the counter.

"Keep that beast away from my child," said the mother.

"Jasper what has gotten into you?" said Greg as he stepped out of the counter.

He reached for the large corrupted gem only to have her step back. He tried again. She stepped back.

"I wants my ice cream," shouted one of the sons.

Greg pushed out Jasper and closed the door. Jasper peered in for a while and then left. After finishing the family's order, Greg reached for his cellphone.

"Hmm I must have left it upstairs," mused Greg.

Meanwhile Jenny and Stevie were traveling down the road to the picnic site.

"Are you sure this is safe?" asked Stevie.

"Sure, and with this robinoid attached to the navigation system there's no way we can get lost," replied Jenny.

Just then Jenny saw the flashing lights of a police car in her rear view mirror. The police car signaled. Jenny pulled over.

"What seems to be the trouble, officer?" asked Jenny innocently.

The man frowned, "Young lady I'll tell what the trouble is. I see two small children and a very suspect potato salad driving down the road that is what the trouble is."

"I don't need a license to drive this," countered Jenny.

The officer paused, "That is not the point young lady. Now you two get into my car. I'm calling your mothers right now."

"I'm not going to baby jail, you copper!" shouted Stevie.

The panicked boy shoved Jenny away from the wheel and drove off as fast as he could.

"Stevie, what are you doing?!" shouted Jenny.

"I'm getting away. Mummy told me that if I was ever caught alone that the fuzz would send me to baby jail," cried Steven.

Jenny looked around the police car was chasing them now, "Stevie there's no such thing as baby jail."

"Yes there is! Mummy told me all about it. They take you a foster home, where they make you do homework and eat broccoli every day, most importantly I'd never see Mummy again. That's what they would do if they found out I was in the house by myself." Stevie started sobbing uncontrollably.

"Stevie everything will be okay." Jenny put a hand on the boy to comfort him.

"No it won't. That cop is catching up to us and we have nowhere to go. Unless – robinoid drive this car to Auntie Gertrude's house."

Greg was hard at work serving a long line of customers when a friend came in. The man about Greg's age looked angry.

"Flori what brings you here?" cried Greg.

"No time for chit chat Greg. Have you seen the news?" said Florence Towry.

"No-o I've been busy."

"Do have any idea- of course not," the angry man turned on the screen.

"We interrupt this regular broadcast to update you on the Port Rush car chase. Following an anonymous tip Police officer Constable Gordon pulled over a mini car driving erratically on highway 17A. When Constable Gordon looked inside he saw two small children and I quote 'a rather suspect looking potato salad inside'. Just as Gordon was about to take them into custody one of the children panicked and drove off. "

For a while Greg just stared at the screen then he said one word, "Jenny."

It was at this time the police officer came in. "Mr. Universe, I'm Sargent Seagram we have been trying to reach you. Your granddaughter-" the man looked at the screen. "I see you've just been informed. Well Mr. Universe we would like your help in bringing Jenny in. If you could come with with in my car."

Moments later Greg was sitting beside Seagram as he joined the police chase. The cars were driving very slowly behind the mini car. It was one of Greg's worst nightmares. He just didn't think it would happen at the age of 5. Seagram jabbed him with something. Greg turned around.

"I'd like to you to talk your granddaughter down," asked Seagram as he handed Greg the microphone.

"Jenny please stop the car and tell me why you are doing this?" shouted Greg into the microphone.

By now they were side by side with the mini car. Greg could see little Stevie was at the wheel while Jenny was wedged off to the side. The little boy looked at the police car.

"No way copper, I ain't stopping," shouted the boy as he sped off.

In his mind Greg wondered how such a little boy could go so fast. Especially since he couldn't even reach the pedals. A casserole dish was flung out the window. It splattered the windshield of Greg's car in pinkish goop. Beside Greg Constable Seagram talked calmly into his CB. The wipers did their job and through the clean windshield Greg could see a blockade of police cars ahead of them. The mini car slowed and came to a stop. Jenny stumbled out of the car.

As soon as the car stopped Greg raced out and grabbed Jenny, "Jenny what were you thinking?!" Why did you did do this!? You scared me so much!"

He ignored the shouting as little Stevie drove off again. The rest of the force drove off in pursuit as Stevie drove off again. Only Seagram stayed.

"Why? I'll tell you why. That picnic is important to me," snapped Jenny.

"Jenny you have to realize, that when I say no I mean no. You can't just go behind my back and do it anyways."

"That's only because I never get to do anything fun."

"Jenny that's not true. We went to the Moon remember?" said Greg.

"Big old folks' home."

"You live next door to an amusement park and a beach."

"I wanted to spend time with you but you're always busy."

"Jenny that's not true."

"Yes it is! And you forgot my birthday."

"The weekends are busy. We were going to celebrate on Monday."

"Today's Monday."

Greg paused for a second, "Maybe so but look what happened. You got both you and Stevie into trouble. Now they're going to have to call his mother. Come on let's go home."

Seagram cleared his throat, "Not so fast. There's going to be a hearing and in the meantime I'm ordering you to family counseling."

"Hoo boy," said Greg.

Grandpa said nothing as the police officer drove them home. As soon as he dropped them off Grandpa glared down at Jenny.

"Jenny you've been a very bad girl. Until school starts you're grounded. That means no TV, no computer and no Mummy box. Get up into your room and stay there!" shouted Grandpa.

He opened the door to see Jasper on the couch watching TV. No longer was she a gem dog instead she was a big burly woman in a jumpsuit. Beside her was Greg's cellphone. They stared at each other for a while.

"Woof?" said Jasper.

"This is just too much to process right now. Jenny, room, now," ordered Greg.

A little while later Greg was watching the TV.

"-the young boy Stevie Connors is still at large. When contacting his mother it was discovered that the woman had been working for several days at sea leaving the young boy alone at home. Emily Connors has a record-"

Greg switched off the TV. He picked up the cellphone and dialed his son's number, "Steven your daughter's killing me."