Grandfather (story)

There was a married couple living in the country side. They had two beautiful children; about 6 and 8 years old.
Their grandfather lived with them, even though the family was not "well off."
He played with the children, and listened intently to their tales of each day's events.
As grandfather grew older, more feeble, he became more burdensome to the parents.
Grandfather told his old stories to the kids, gave advice that was 40 years out of date, and retold his growing up tales over and over and over. The children still loved him greatly.
As years went on, he began to irritate the father and mother more and more.
He was loosing his ability to hold onto things, with his hands or his mind.
Several times he had dropped a bowl, or a plate and broken them.
The mother ordered her husband to carve a bowl and drinking glass out of wood, so the old man couldn't break dishes when he clumsily handled them.
The parents would complain to each other about his growing infirmities. Soon it seemed to them that everything he did was an irritant and embarrassment to them.
The grandfather's hands would shake and spill his drink at supper, sometimes he would even miss his mouth with food. That was the last straw for the parents.
The mother told her husband to build a little table for the old man. She put together a standing curtain that hid a corner in the kitchen. Then they put grandfather behind the curtain so they would not have to watch him eat. They looked at each other every time they heard him spill on himself, or drop his dish. At least they didn't have to see it happening.
Time moved on. The oldster would quietly shuffle his way to his small corner place at meal times.
Sometimes he would go behind his divider during the day. He would silently stare at the walls and remember his past. Dream of what was, and what would never be.
On a late winter night the father was telling his children a story of his saving a pet from drowning; his son interrupted him with, "you told us this story last week, tell us a new one."
Several weeks later mother was looking for her new bonnet, and her daughter laughed out loud with, "It's on your head mom !!"
On the first fine spring day, father caught his son earnestly sawing a piece of wood in the garage. He curiously watched his boy working on his unknown project.
"What are you doing son ?"
"I'm making a wooden bowl for you dad." "Oh, that's nice of you," father responded with pride. "For when you can't hold onto real dishes !" the boy finished proudly.
Father silently went back into the house. He looked at the little table in the corner, screened off from the rest of the room. The old wooden bowl and spoon looked very much out of place, drying by themselves away from the family dishes. A tear appeared in the corner of his eye. He took his wife by the hand, and lead her outside. "We have to talk," he said quietly.
The children clapped their hands to see grandfather back at the family table that night.
Father and mother began to take much better care of grandfather. It seemed that day by day, they found more appreciation in their hearts for him.
The time came when grandfather could not walk at all, and had to stay in bed.
They took turns feeding him, and caring for him with increasing love.
When grandfather could no longer talk, mother, father, and children took turns re-telling his tales to him each night. They knew all his stories very well.
Every day, grandfather proudly listened to his family, as they shared their day's stories with him.
Until, grandmother came late one night and whispered into grandfather's ear. "Come with me dear, we have a New story to share; forever........."