A Visit From The Kids*

    'Twas the 11th of June, and all through the house,
    Grammie Patti and Grandpa Tom were skittering around like a couple of mouses.

     Grammie had made her lists,

...and Grandpa had hauled over to the Dollar Tree to pick up a batch of wonderful one-dollar balloons,

...in preparation for a birthday party the following afternoon.

    Grandpa let fly the balloons all through the house,    

...as a surprise to greet a couple of soon-to-be arriving little mouses.

     The toys and books were  out,

     ...and the places were set at the table with care,

...in hopes that our grand babies soon would be there.

...which they were.  But a little late.

      But no problem, we waited at the gate with all the other folks waiting for someone: a relative, a friend, a business associate, a mate.

    They watched so intently, their necks were all craned,  as they  scanned the great crowds of the just-now deplaned.

          Their faces, how they shown, their eyes, how they sparkled, when the loved one they awaited finally disembarkled!

      But the best moment of all, that makes your heart soar,

... is when you spot your own dear ones coming through that big door.

     We rounded up the luggage a quick as were were able,

      And soon we were home, Tommy arrived, and we were all sitting just like happy old times,

...around the dinner table.

     After dinner the little ones dove into the play clothes,

...and the toys, and went straight to their work.

then they joined me with mine.

     And I heard them exclaim 'ere I turned out the light, "Grammie, tell us a story!"
     What a wonderful night.

*With apologies to Clement C. Moore and all decent poets.