It was time for Ward to make the phone call to his sister, Pearl. She lives here in Mayfield, so she didn't have to take very long to come over to Ward's house with his family.

"I'll be right over, Ward. I need to do one thing here at home and then I will show up."

"Thank you, Pearl. Then you can meet my younger son, Theodore. I'm just sharing a story with him about the time I had the tonsils," Ward told his sister.

"I remember when that happened. I'll be right over, Ward."

"Thank you, Pearl. See you soon."

So Ward rejoined the boys after hanging up the phone with Pearl.

"June, Pearl's on her way over," Ward told her.

"Thank you, Ward. You can tell Wally and Beaver a guest is coming over."

"That's what I'm doing now, June. Beaver hasn't met Pearl yet."

"Now would be the perfect time for that, then, Ward."

"Yes, it would."

So June watched as Ward headed upstairs to the boys' room and let them know.

"Wally, Beaver, Pearl's on her way over."

"Thanks, Dad. Does she remember what happens next in the story?" Wally asked.

"Yes, she does," Ward said.

"I'd like to meet Aunt Pearl," Beaver said.

"This is your chance," Wally told him.

"So you already know her, right, Wally?" Beaver asked.

"Yes, I do. I've met her a few times. She can be weird sometimes," Wally replied.

"Why would she be weird?" Beaver asked.

"It's just the way she's always been, I guess," Wally said.

"I bet. Maybe she' spend the night with us," Beaver told Wally.

"I don't think so, Beaver," Wally said.

"Why not? It would be a good idea for her and me to know each other since this is the first time we've met."

"Dad would probably say no."

"Probably," Beaver agreed.

"Let's go see what we can do until she comes over."

"I can't leave the bed, remember, Wally?"

"I almost forgot you were out of school for the week."

"Have you told Eddie and Lumpy yet or are they going to figure it out for themselves?"

"I'm not going to tell them, Beaver. They don't need to know everything that goes on with us like they think that they do."

"I see what you mean, Wally, but it wouldn't stop them by picking on me like they always do."

"I think Eddie had the tonsils once, but that was years before you were born."

"Really? Then get Eddie to come over so I can hear his story."

"I don't think you'll be interested, Beaver. He'll just make a joke out of it by scaring you."

"I'm not afraid of Eddie or Lumpy."

"I know, Beaver. They like to think you are."

"True, Wally."

They kept talking about what Pearl had to say about the day when they found out Ward had the tonsils.

About thirty minutes later or so, Pearl showed up like she promised.

"Hey, Ward, I'm here!" Pearl exclaimed once June and Ward were at the door when she arrived.

"Do you think Aunt Pearl's here yet?" Beaver asked Wally.

"It sounds like her to me."

"Can we go downstairs and say hello?" Beaver asked, almost forgetting that he had to stay in bed for a whole week and was already starting to get tired of it.

"I don't think so, Beaver. I'm sure Dad's already told her where we are."

"Probably," Beaver agreed.

"Let's go upstairs and you can finish the story about my tonsils," both boys heard him say.

"All right. Show me the way, Ward. It was nice seeing you again, June."

"Same with you, Pearl."

When Ward went upstairs, Pearl asked, "What makes you want to share that story about the tonsils with the children?"

"Because my youngest son has the tonsils, and the doctor said to stay in bed for a whole week."

"Including operation."

"Exactly."

"It was different when we were growing up," Pearl said as he agreed when knocking on the door.

Wally got up from the desk and opened the door.

"Hello, Wally. You haven't changed one bit," Pearl told him.

"Thank you, Aunt Pearl. The same with you. Beaver, this is Aunt Pearl."

"Hi, Pearl."

"Hello, Theodore."

Pearl whispered to Ward, "Why do you call him Beaver?"

"I'll tell you another time, Pearl. The story's more important than sharing the other stuff at the moment."

"I see what you mean, Ward. Let's pick up where Ward left off, boys. Do you remember where he left off?"

"Yes, Aunt Pearl," Wally answered, but he mentioned your mom and dad calling the doctor."

"That's where I left off, Pearl. What do you remember now?"

"If I remember right, it was on a weekend. Is that what you told them, Ward?"

"Yes. Let's hear your side of the story, Pearl."

Flashback:

I was in the living room, waiting for breakfast that Mom made and they were upstairs with the doctor, trying to figure out what was wrong.

I decided to go upstairs and see for myself what they were doing, and so I did.

"Mom, Dad, what's going on?" I asked.

"Pearl, I thought we told you to stay downstairs," Dad told me.

"You did, but it feels like you've been up here for a long time."

"I know it does, but we're just starting to figure out what's wrong with your brother."

"What is it?" I asked.

"That's what we're working on right now, Pearl," Mom said.

"Should I start breakfast without you or wait?"

"You can have the waffles without us. We'll always make seconds," Mom told me.

"Okay. Thank you. I just don't want them to get too cold."

"I understand," Mom said.

"What do you want to do with Ward, Dr.?" Dad asked.

"Since he has the tonsils, we should take him into the hospital today and see what we can do about it."

"You mean as operation?" Ward asked.

"Exactly, Ward. You'd make a perfect doctor when you grow up."

"I don't know about that," Ward told him.

I agreed with Ward I couldn't picture him as a doctor.

I headed immediately to the kitchen and help myself to what Mom already had. I usually am not a fan of syrup. I like it plan.

"I wish I could have some waffles," I heard Ward say.

"Sorry, Ward. If the doctor says we should go to the hospital now, then we will," Dad said.

"All right, but waffles sound better than having an operation."

"Can't argue there," the doctor said.

"I'll meet you at the hospital."

"See you then, Doc."

I watched as the doctor headed to the front door. I felt bad about Ward being in bed for this long."

End Flashback

And that's when Beaver interrupted her.

"Then what happened?" Beaver asked.

"I'm not going to share the entire story today, boys, but there will be more added later. I think it's a good stopping place at the moment," Pearl answered.

"She's right, Beaver," Ward agreed.

"All right," Beaver said in disappointment.

He wanted to hear more of the story all at once. How would the end of this story turn out? He and Wally will have to find out.