Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa

“First things first,” says Grandpa. “Clean paws for cooking.”

They scrub between every finger and rinse the bubbles away.

Grandpa shakes off one last drop. It lands on his nose.

Grandma carries the bowls, and Pip carries the napkins.

Pip counts four places around the table.

One for each grandparent, one for Pip, and one for Mama.

A pot of vegetable soup steams in the middle of the table.

Pip smells carrots, potatoes, and something new.

“My garden soup,” Grandma says proudly.

One green piece looks like a very small tree.

Pip has never tasted it before.

“You may try one tiny bite,” says Grandma.

Pip takes the smallest bite in the whole world.

Crunch! Pip chews and thinks.

“It is different,” Pip says, “but I like the crunch.”

Grandpa tells a story about the time he lost his hat to a goat.

He waves his paws and makes a perfect goat face.

Pip and Grandma laugh until their cheeks hurt.

Pip reaches for the bread and bumps a cup. Water rushes across the table.

For one moment, Pip freezes.

“Spills happen,” says Grandpa. Together they wipe it up.

Grandma brings out a small apple pie.

They cut it into four fair pieces and save Mama’s slice.

The apples taste sweet, warm, and spicy.

Soon the moon appears above the rooftops.

Pip thanks Grandma for dinner and Grandpa for the goat story.

“Come again soon,” they say as Pip hugs them goodbye.