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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Childhood / Youth
- Published: 10/29/2022
Judy Harris paused, packing. The cause? A family photo enclosed in a sliver frame. The children, Katy and Kenny, were almost 6 years old. Everyone was smiling. Behind them, their new home gleamed with a fresh coat of paint. She ran wrinkled fingers over the print. How happy they were that day. It was 3:20 in the afternoon. The May sun in a cloudless sky was unusually warm for that time of year.
For three days, she had unpacked while her husband David painted their new house. She laughed. Kathy and Kenny trying to help got paint on their clothes, hands, bare feet and even in their hair.
Instead of scolding them as she felt like doing, she stripped them outside. Then she carried Kenny depositing him in the full bathtub.
“Don’t you move.” She said before hurrying outside to get Katy. She scrubbed both of them in the same tub. Something she rarely did at their age. She stood them on towels while she changed water.
Afterward, she dressed them in clean clothes. “Stay away from the paint.” She said.
“But we want to help. “Kenny said his lips turned down. Katy nodded.
“Let’s go see your father. I’m sure there’s something you can do. Taking both children by the hands, she led them outside.
“What do we have here?” David said, looking down from his perch on the ladder.
“Two helpers freshly scrubbed. Do you have something to keep them busy… and clean?” She said, smiling.
“I’ve got just the thing. “He said climbing down. Going into the garage, he came out with a huge barrel of nails. Then, returning to the garage, he brought out five smaller glass jugs.
“Now,” he said, setting the jars down in a row. “I want you two to separate the nails in this barrel by size into the jugs. Think you can do that?”“Daddy, that sounds boring.” Kathy said.
“We wanted to help you paint.” Kenny said.
“Tell you what, if you guys can do as your father said, I’ll reward you both with big dishes of ice cream.”
“And after you finish with the nails , I’ll let you dip your hands in paint and we’ll put handprints on all the jars.” David said.
“Can we put Katy’s on one side and mine on the other side?” Kenny said.
“I think we can do that.” David said.
“And keep your hands away from your clothes.” Their mother said.
“Can we take a picture of us in front of the house before we wash our hands?” Kenny said.
“Yes, but you have to keep your hands away from your clothes or the deal is off.” Their father said.
In the photo, Kenny and Katy stuck their hands way up in the air. Judy had to wash the children’s hands in three different waters to get them clean. After Kenny and Katy’s hands were clean, she, David, and the children enjoyed large dishes of ice cream setting on the ground in the shade of the gigantic oak.
“Mom, we’re almost packed anything else you want to take to your new home?” Kenny said, standing in the doorway.
“Yes, Judy said smiling. The five jars of nails.”
5 Jars of Nails(Darrell Case)
Judy Harris paused, packing. The cause? A family photo enclosed in a sliver frame. The children, Katy and Kenny, were almost 6 years old. Everyone was smiling. Behind them, their new home gleamed with a fresh coat of paint. She ran wrinkled fingers over the print. How happy they were that day. It was 3:20 in the afternoon. The May sun in a cloudless sky was unusually warm for that time of year.
For three days, she had unpacked while her husband David painted their new house. She laughed. Kathy and Kenny trying to help got paint on their clothes, hands, bare feet and even in their hair.
Instead of scolding them as she felt like doing, she stripped them outside. Then she carried Kenny depositing him in the full bathtub.
“Don’t you move.” She said before hurrying outside to get Katy. She scrubbed both of them in the same tub. Something she rarely did at their age. She stood them on towels while she changed water.
Afterward, she dressed them in clean clothes. “Stay away from the paint.” She said.
“But we want to help. “Kenny said his lips turned down. Katy nodded.
“Let’s go see your father. I’m sure there’s something you can do. Taking both children by the hands, she led them outside.
“What do we have here?” David said, looking down from his perch on the ladder.
“Two helpers freshly scrubbed. Do you have something to keep them busy… and clean?” She said, smiling.
“I’ve got just the thing. “He said climbing down. Going into the garage, he came out with a huge barrel of nails. Then, returning to the garage, he brought out five smaller glass jugs.
“Now,” he said, setting the jars down in a row. “I want you two to separate the nails in this barrel by size into the jugs. Think you can do that?”“Daddy, that sounds boring.” Kathy said.
“We wanted to help you paint.” Kenny said.
“Tell you what, if you guys can do as your father said, I’ll reward you both with big dishes of ice cream.”
“And after you finish with the nails , I’ll let you dip your hands in paint and we’ll put handprints on all the jars.” David said.
“Can we put Katy’s on one side and mine on the other side?” Kenny said.
“I think we can do that.” David said.
“And keep your hands away from your clothes.” Their mother said.
“Can we take a picture of us in front of the house before we wash our hands?” Kenny said.
“Yes, but you have to keep your hands away from your clothes or the deal is off.” Their father said.
In the photo, Kenny and Katy stuck their hands way up in the air. Judy had to wash the children’s hands in three different waters to get them clean. After Kenny and Katy’s hands were clean, she, David, and the children enjoyed large dishes of ice cream setting on the ground in the shade of the gigantic oak.
“Mom, we’re almost packed anything else you want to take to your new home?” Kenny said, standing in the doorway.
“Yes, Judy said smiling. The five jars of nails.”
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Darrell Case
11/12/2022As we grow older it the small things we remember. Not how much money we made the car we drive or the house we live in. For Judy it wes the 5 jars of old nails with her children's hand prints on them. For me it is the kind words of those who read my stories. Thank you all.
Darrell
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Valerie Allen
11/11/2022Nice story and oh, so true about those little helpers! A clever way to get them refocused and create a fun family activity-parents need to learn the art and the skill of doing this. Thanks for this story ~
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shirley Smothers
11/11/2022A sweet story of family. Reminds me of my youth. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
11/11/2022Aloha Darrel,
This is a very simple story...simply BRILLIANT. I don't know how many glass jars filled with nails my Dad had in our garage...and my best friend (Eddie) , well his Father was a Machinist. So if we need a nail, screw, nut, or bolt, well just a casual search would produce the exact needed piece of hardware.
And putting paint stained handprints on forts, made of wood, cardboard, or rocks...well that was standard operating procedure for us eight to ten year olds. Loved this story...and the memories it brought back too. Congrats on a well earned Award!
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shelly Garrod
11/11/2022Darrel this is a beautiful story of love and understanding. I liked how the whole family pitched in to help. The idea of having little ones sort nails and being rewarded with ice cream and the joy of painting the jars was incredible. Congratulations on Short Story Star of the Day.
Blessings Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
11/08/2022Darrel this was a wonderful story. Funny how the little things in life mean so much! You told this story so well! Children and paint are not a good mix! Lol! Thank you for sharing this heartwarming story!
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Lillian Kazmierczak
11/10/2022I loved this great piece of writing. I remember jars of hardware as a kid that we we not allowed to touch. No doubt many families will have similar memories. Congratulations on short story star of the day!
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Darrell Case
11/09/2022Lillian
You're right it is the little things we do for each other that matter most.
Thanks
Darrell
COMMENTS (8)