A Few Days with the Grissoms Chapter 8

The next morning, men arrived in trucks at the same time the neighboring nuns came with breakfast. Grissom met all of them outside and swore them to this secret project. By the time the children were awake, fed, and dressed, they also knew about a secret. For them, a secret was enough excitement to cause happiness.

Bizzy found her mother resting in bed. "We have a secret!" She exclaimed.

Sara knew something was happening when Grissom was out of bed at dawn. "Am I supposed to know about the secret?" Sara asked.

"It's for you—and us. Daddy said you would really have a surprise."

"Are you supposed to tell me?"

Confusion clouded the little girl's face and then she smiled. "It's really big. Men came in big trucks with a ladder." Bizzy held her hands above her head and stretched on her tiptoes. "The ladder is this tall—only taller. And Sister Deborah was laughing."

Sara could hear some kind of construction work being done. "Is Daddy helping with this?"

Bizzy nodded. "We are watchers." She danced around the room before disappearing.

Sara went back to reading a novel. Whatever Grissom was doing had changed the mood—even if it lasted only a day.

A few hours later, Sister Deborah appeared in the doorway with a package. "For you!"

The older woman watched as Sara unwrapped a stack of paper.

"It's my physics project—I've been working on it for three years." Sara unfolded a letter. Her face fell and she sighed. "This publisher isn't interested in a subject this specialized."

Sister Deborah laughed, "All physics is way too specialized for me." She took the package from Sara. "How many rejections?"

Sara counted the publishers, "And I have not heard from three others. It's a long process—and the chances are slim."

Lunch was delivered to the bedroom. "We have a secret!" Eli and Bizzy were still excited, causing their sisters to be in the same good humor. Grissom jokingly warned them not to tell anything.

"Remember it's a secret!" Clearing away lunch, he whispered to Sara, "Your surprise will be ready later today."

Sara could only imagine what was happening. Men's voices, hammers and saws had taken over her house. The sawdust in Eli's hair was enough to let her know the condition of her house. Ava and Annie had brought small pieces of wood with them at naptime. Each piece had been sanded smooth—Grissom's work, Sara knew.

Late in the afternoon, an eager Eli and Bizzy escorted their mother to the playroom. Toy baskets were stacked in a corner, a bookcase had been moved, and against the wall was a low platform, a rectangle the size of a bed and covered with a thick pad.

The children were jumping with excitement, four voices clamoring as one as she sat on the bed and then lay down on it.

"Perfect!"

Annie was the first to show her a special feature—toe holes on the end—as the toddler climbed onto the bed.

"Annie and Ava need steps, but I don't," Eli said as he boosted himself up. "But we can't play," he stressed the word as he looked at his sisters; "we have to rest and be careful."

Grissom was smiling. "One more—let's show her the second surprise."

In seconds, the children were running to the porch, door slamming as they left.

"This is the best one. The workmen are still here; so are Lilly and Sister Deborah." He wrapped an arm around Sara. "They want to see your face." He was obviously pleased with the project.

"What have you done? The bed in the playroom is great—what else?"

He chuckled. "Anything for peace and tranquility back in our lives." He opened the door.

A half-dozen men, the housekeeper, and two neighbors were gathered at the end of the porch. The parted as Sara and Grissom came out the door. It took Sara a few seconds to realize what had taken place on her porch.