Chris was excited, he was going to visit Grandpa Ben and Grandma Sally at their farm. He went to visit them every summer for a week. He always looked forward to these visits.
There were enough things to do to keep an eleven-year-old happy. There were the animals, a tire swing Grandpa put in a tree,and on the farm was a pond where was a family of ducks lived.
After supper one evening Chris asked, "can we go feed the ducks after we eat.?" Grandpa nodded, "after we help with dishes."
That evening Chris and Grandpa Ben walked to the pond. Chris took some bread crumbs from his pocket then fed the ducks.
When the bread was gone Grandpa stood with his hand on Chris's shoulder. "Let's go back to the house," he suggested.
"Okay, Grandpa," Chris answered. "I like these visits."
Each night during his stay Chris would walk with his Grandpa to feed the ducks. When Chris went home he told his parents about the ducks. It was a highlight of his summer visit.
Four years went by as time often does. One evening Chris's mother told Chris that he could not go to his grandfather's house this summer.
"Why not?" Chris wanted to know.
"Grandpa Ben will have to go in a nursing home," Mother explained. "He wanders away and has trouble with his memory. He forgets who people are sometimes."
"At the nursing home he will have people who can take good care of him," she added.
One day Chris's mother asked if he would like to see Grandpa Ben.
Chris agreed.
They drove to the nursing home where Grandpa Ben was now living. There was a nice garden behind a gate that families could go to visit their loved ones out doors.
Along one fence was a stream where ducks splashed.
A nurse brought Grandpa Ben out to them in his wheel chair. She settled him then moved back.
"What would you like to do today?" Mother asked.
Grandpa Ben put a trembling hand on Chris's shoulder then asked,
"Can we go feed the ducks"?
