The boy in the box

August 16, 2009 – Glendora, CA

“Isaiah,” I called across the yard, “pick up that empty box and take it to the trash cans.”

It’s grandpa and grandson clean-up-the-backyard day on an unusually cool Sunday morning. I was scrubbing the barbecue pad and smoker oven. I glanced to see him drop the rake and run to the box.

“Grandpa,” he called from the patio, “can I make a clubhouse in the box?”
Slightly annoyed I opened my mouth to bark, “Just throw it away like I said!”

But what came out was, “Sure.”

Isaiah in box and bubble wrap, August 16, 2009

I listened to him giggle and took this picture.

In ten or fifteen minutes he wrung all the fun out of that stupid box and threw it away where I had asked him to.

Then we went inside to fix lunch.

Author: Dave Williams

Dave Williams is a radio news/talk personality originally from Sacramento, now living in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Carolann. They have two sons and grandsons living in L.A.

3 thoughts on “The boy in the box”

  1. Isaiah, I am so glad Grandpa said, “Sure!” to your request. Boxes and bubble wrap have always been fun! A box has so many possibilities. What can you fit into it? How can you make a costume out of it? Where can it fit? Would you dare pack it full of “stuff” and mail it somewhere? Could you use it to slide down a hill? How about an animal trap? Boxes are just plain fun! Ahhh, Bubble wrap. It is the ultimate stress reliever. I am sure there is not a teacher in the world that hasn’t seen a square of bubble wrap, popped all the bubbles, smiled & walked away saying, “I feel so much better now! All that stress, clenched jaws, and bad attitude miraculously are gone! Thank you bubble wrap!

    Isaiah, your grandpa is a wise man.

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