Grandpa - Another Chance To Be A Hero

"Ok, it's funny now, but I didn't know how deep the water was," Grandpa grimaced.

After ice skating, the Knowlton grandchildren enjoyed Grandpa's story about saving Grandma, even if the freezing waters of Central Park's ice skating pond had only been over the tops of her ice skates. Steaming hot chocolate had warmed them by the fireplace in Grandpa's Central Park West home while they listened.

"You know children," Grandma smiled, placing now empty mugs onto a tray, "I can remember when your Grandpa was a hero, and saved Charlotte."

"Who was Charlotte?" "How did you save her Grandpa?" "You really were a hero?" the children shouted out.

"Oh, you don't want to hear that old story," Grandpa said sheepishly.

"Charlotte had beautiful green eyes," Grandma reminisced.

"Tell us the story Grandma," little Kathy spoke up.

"It was the Summer after the great ice skating rescue," Grandma started. Everyone smiled. It was Grandpa's turn to roll his eyes.

"There was a July 4th concert on the Park's great lawn," Grandma continued. "Everyone was there, crowded, hard to find a good spot to enjoy the show."

"Grandpa, I, and Charlotte, ended up on top of a rock outcropping over the West loop. We saw and heard everything. Spectacular night; warm, stars out."

"Then...," Grandma sighed.

"The fireworks started with a starburst!" Grandma exclaimed.

"Charlotte was startled right off of our perch! She landed in a tree over the loop."

"Was she hurt?" "How did she get down?" Questions began.

"Grandpa didn't hesitate," Grandma said, "leapt into action, stopped a taxi cab going by on the loop, climbed up on the hood, and rescued Charlotte."

"Grandpa must have been very strong," the children exclaimed.

"Well, Charlotte only weighed a couple of pounds," Grandma laughed, "she was my new little kitten."