Walnut Hill, 1961

Far out on the high plains of West Texas, a small town, Walnut Hill, had a few rascally families mixed with many with kind hearts. But even the kind-hearted families had their share of tension and conflict, at least when the kids were little.

The oldest boy of one of the regular families, Randall Simon Plane, was born in 1938, followed in 1941 by twin red-headed sisters, Petunia Harriet, and Miriam June. Randall soon found that it took his Mother much more time than he liked, for her to care for his new sisters. After all, he was used to having all of his Mother’s attention for himself. And the girls weren’t old enough to play with him yet.

One day when the twins had reached about three weeks old, he was caught poking little Petunia in the ribs until she cried. His Mother spoke sharply to him, “Randy, that’s ugly. Don’t ever do that again, or I’ll have to spank your hands.” Then she turned to her older sister, Mia, who had been there to help for a few weeks, but would go home tomorrow. “What am I going to do, Mia? I can’t watch him all the time. And, even with your help, the twins take up so much time. And Jerry, bless his heart, can’t be here to help when he’s off in the Pacific fighting in the war. What am I going to do?”

“Well, Diana, there’s always Jerry’s Dad, Grandpa Plane. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not lonely due to Grandma dying last year.  You could ask him to keep Randy for a while. What do you think?”

So, Randall got to experience the fun of Grampa’s farm at an early age.

****

For a three-year old, going on four, life with a loving Gramps on a farm was a thrill that began in the morning when he woke up, and went on non-stop till he fell asleep at night. Breakfast was the first fun thing that happened. Sitting on Gramps’ lap, he ate as much as he wanted from whatever Gramps had on his plate, even a spoonful of just grape jelly. After the first day, a large dish towel served as a bib to minimize the mess on their shirts, but didn’t cover Gramps’ pants leg. But Gramps didn’t care. That’s where he wiped his hands all day anyway.

After breakfast, they moseyed, hand-in-hand, out to the barn and watched Willie, the hired man, milk one of the brown, Guernsey cows, appropriately named Mable. Willie was an expert milkman and knew how to please Randy by directing a stream of milk every now and then, over near Randy’s foot. Randy giggled delightedly, and moved his foot a pace back. “Can I milk the cow, Gramps?

“I’m afraid not by yourself. But here, let’s do it together.” Willie stood to the side, while Gramps and Randy played a little at milking, spilling about half their efforts outside the bucket. Randy was enthralled. No one was bothered at all by his milk-soaked shoes. Grandpa knew they’d dry soon enough in the morning breeze and sun.

After a bit, Gramps and Randy moseyed back to the kitchen where Matilda, the cook, served them donuts and coffee. Randy’s cup was a little red one, while Gramps’s was a big white one. Randy, looking up into Gramps’ eyes, put on a happy smile that melted Gramps’ heart. Here was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh, a grandson, a dream come true for Gramps.

After the donuts and coffee, the two of them went out to the small shed to watch Willie hook up the plow to the tractor. The plow was big and heavy and Gramps and Randy had to help. Although Randy was mostly in the way, he smiled up at Gramps while he did a tiny bit of pushing. “I’m helping move the plow!”

“What’s the plan today, Willie,” Gramps asked.

“There’s a patch over on the north forty that didn’t take this year. I’m going to plow it under and get it ready for planting in the fall.”

Willie and the tractor gunned off with a giant puff of black smoke, and a loud noise. Randy grabbed Gramps’ leg and hung on for dear life. This was the first time in his life to see and hear a tractor start up. Gramps reassured him, “It’s alright Randy. Just a little noise. He’ll soon be gone.” Very shortly, Randy wrinkled up his nose as the smell from the tractor exhaust drifted over and burned his nostrils. Not everything was perfect on a farm!

Randy and Gramps walked up to the top of a little near-by hill to look around at the yellow-green ripening wheat. Randy could see wheat in every direction as far as his eyes could go. Gramps owned a big farm!

“Have a look, Randy. I’m leaving all this to your Dad. He’ll be the farmer on these six-hundred-forty acres after I’m gone.” Randy didn’t understand the part about being gone, and asked, “Where’re you going, Gramps?”

“Nowhere for a while. We’ll see after your Dad comes back from the war.”

What Randy could understand from his view at the top of that little hill, was that there was a big farm waiting for his Dad. Then they walked, hand in hand, back down to the calf-lot to look at an almost grown Guernsey bull.

“He’s almost ready to go to market, Son. He was Mable’s baby, but now he’s about a year old. See how much he’s grown!”

“Ooh, he looks mean. Will he hurt me?”

“Naw. He’ll stay over there on that side of the fence. We’ll stay over here on this side. Then everything will be alright.”

“Gramps, do you ever get twin baby cows? We got twins, red-headed twins. Look almost like little Guernsey’s. You think they are?”

Gramps chuckled. “No, Randy. Twin girls are not Guernsey’s. They’re Planes, like you. Think you’ll like them?”

“Probably not. Momma used to hold me in her lap before she went to the hospital to get ‘em. After that, she said, ‘Randy, you’re a big boy now. You can stand on the floor’. So, I don’t think I’m gonna like ‘em at all. They take up too much of Momma’s time.”

Gramps was more philosophical, “Well, don’t be too hasty, Son. They might turn out to be really nice playmates.”

That afternoon the two of them dug a few worms in the garden plot, and walked a long way to fish in the brook. Randy was given a hook, a line and a sinker under a red and white bobber, all tied to a long, old tree-branch broken off by Gramps. Gramps only had a line, hook and sinker under a long, blue bobber tied to his ankle. Gramps showed Randy how to thread a worm on the hook, and Randy got all excited by the bobber jerks. But when he pulled it all out of the water, the hook was bare. Four times a bare hook appeared before Randy tired of the whole business, and stretched out beside Gramps for a small nap. During Randy’s nap, Gramps removed a small perch from his line, and dropped it into a ‘toe-sack anchored at the edge of the stream with a large rock. Then Gramps dozed lightly while waiting for Randy to wake up. The long walk to the brook had zapped Randy’s energy and he needed the afternoon nap.

Then, the two of them marched back to the kitchen to proudly show the perch to Matilda.

She frowned, “It’s too little to cook. It’ll only be two bites.”

Gramps smiled and told her, “That’s okay. Let’s see what fried fish looks like at the supper table.”

Randy had one bite of the fried perch and decided he’d rather eat fried chicken. Gramps ate the other bite and the perch was all gone.

At the end of each perfect day on the farm, Gramps read a Bible story. One of Randy’s favorite stories was about Adam in the Garden. Gramps said Adam was the very first farmer. After prayers Gramps said, “You could be a farmer, Randy, like your Dad will be.”

Randy put on a little frown and asked, “Did Adam have a tractor to make all that noise, Gramps?”

“No, that was a time long before tractors. He had to do everything by using his two hands.”

Gramps tucked Randy into the midst of a large bed, among four pillows and an old wedding ring, patchwork quilt Grandma had made by hand when she was a young girl.

“Gramps, where is Grandma? I didn’t see her today. She’s not Matilda, is she?”

“No, Son, she’s not Matilda. Grandma has gone to heaven. That’s where we all want to be. So, we try to be as good as we can, so we can go there. You need to be nice to your sisters so one day you can go, too.”

Randy wanted to ask more about heaven, but his eyelids wouldn’t stay open. He gently drifted off to dream of another day with Gramps.

****

After the three months of summer passed, his Mother couldn’t stand to be without her son any longer, and went to fetch him from the farm. Just before climbing into the car, Randy looked up at Gramps and told him, “I’m going to help Daddy here on the farm when I get big.”

Soon after he got home from the farm, a telegram arrived about his Dad. Randy didn’t understand all the crying, and no one could really explain it. But there was no more talking about when his Dad would be coming back from the war.

****

Randy got to spend most of every summer, and many a weekend in between the summers, on the farm with Gramps. The twins loved Grandpa, too, but not the farm life.

****

For the twins third birthday, their Mother made a nice, white birthday cake. The trouble started with the aroma that escaped the oven while the cake baked. Randy’s nose stung as that smell drifted into his bedroom, and made him jump up and make a dash for the kitchen.

His Mother saw him come barreling through the door. “Randy, stop running, you’ll make the cake fall.” He hung around the kitchen for a few minutes till she took the cake out of the oven. Then she looked directly at him, “Don’t touch it. It’s for the girls.”

Randy slunk back to his bedroom to look at the latest Mickey Mouse funny-book. Don’t I get any?

After half an hour or so the smell had lessened, but not the feeling in his mouth. When he ventured back into the kitchen, the cake stood in the middle of the table, with nice, white icing. His mouth watered more and more as he looked at the cake. He spied the icing mixing-bowl in the sink and, with his forefinger, helped himself to the traces of icing left along the sides. That made matters worse. The icing tasted wonderful and made him want more!

So, he eased over to the table and used that same index finger to remove a small bit of icing that had dripped from the cake to the edge of the plate. Yummy, yummy. He was about to remove another drip, when the twins appeared.

“Mother! M-o-t-h-e-r!” they yowled. “Randy’s ruining our cake.”

Randy quickly defended himself, “No, I didn’t. I didn’t hurt that ole cake.”

When his Mother appeared, and after a long talk, she handed down her verdict. “It’s two witnesses to one, Randy. You’re now confined to your room till supper.”

That was the beginning of a long series of similar problems between the twins and Randy. They always stuck together. Somehow two witnesses to one always won the case.

****

When Randy was in the sixth grade, a Magic Show for fourth- through six-graders came to the school. Students were told the cost, twenty-five cents, the week before. But, Randy forgot all about it, and spent his allowance on Saturday for a movie and a soda. So, Monday morning he used his lunch money to buy a ticket for the afternoon Magic Show. Just as Randy was entering the auditorium that afternoon, the twins marched down the hall to the playground for recess.

****

That evening, at supper, Randy ate two helpings of almost everything.

“Randy, why are you so hungry?” his Mother wanted to know.

Randy looked up sheepishly at her. “I don’t know. I’m just hungry.”

Petunia quickly raised her hand. “I bet he didn’t eat any lunch. I saw him going to the Magic Show this afternoon.”

His Mother frowned deeply. “Randy, did you spend your lunch money on the Magic Show?” Somehow Mothers know how to ask questions that leave no room for ‘maybes’.

Randy shot back, “How would Petunia know? Third graders didn’t get to see the show.”

His Mom turned to Miriam, “Did you see him go in?”

“Yes, Ma’am, both of us saw him going in.”

So, then his Mother’s stern eyes focused on Randy, “You didn’t answer the question, Randy. You need to always tell your Mother the truth without all this wishy-washy stuff.”

Then she passed sentence, “It’s two to one again, Randy. And, I believe the twins. You’re going to have to weed an hour in the garden tomorrow as punishment for being so evasive. Now, go to your room without desert.”

****

When Randy was a sophomore in High School, he asked Patsy to go ‘steady’ and wear his letter-sweater. On a school trip the High School choir, in which Randy sang bass, and the Junior High choir, in which the twins sang soprano, were bussed over to Amarillo Junior College for a district choir competition. Patsy wasn’t in the choir, and didn’t go.

Randy took the occasion, at a break in the action, to take Elaine for a soda over at the student center. Of course, he was observed walking hand-in-hand with Elaine by the twins. Upon their return to Walnut Hill, they gleefully reported to Patsy what they had seen. The next morning, before classes began, Patsy stalked over to Randy, talking with his friends, and flung the sweater in his face.

“What’s the deal?” Randy asked, totally unaware of what she knew.

Patsy, loud enough so everyone could hear, answered, “You’re a two-timer! That’s what’s the deal. Both your sisters told me about the choir trip. And, I believe them! We’re through going steady!”

Unfortunately, that was not quite the end of that incident. When Randy asked Elaine for a date that afternoon, her reply was, “No, thank you, Randy. I didn’t know you were supposed to be going steady with Patsy. I’m not going anywhere with you!” A long time passed before any of the twins’ friends would date him.

****

A final indignity came a week later when a police officer knocked on the front door and asked to talk to Mrs. Plane. He began, “Uh, I need to talk to you about your son, Ma’am. I clocked him at nearly thirty in a twenty-mile school zone. I just gave him a warning ticket. But I think you ought to know, and help him do better. We sure don’t want any kids run over. So, we’re really watching those school zones and talking to parents.”

His Mother took immediate action and marched into Randy’s room. “Randy, were you speeding in a school zone?”

Randy ducked his head. “Well, I didn’t think so.”

“Guess we can check that,” and she called the twins.

“Petunia and Miriam, did you see Randy get a warning ticket?”

Both girls also ducked their heads, before answering. Petunia replied for both of them, “Yes, ma’am. We did.”

“Okay, Randy. It’s two to one again. You’re prohibited from driving for a month, so you can learn to control your speed. It would have been two weeks, but you didn’t tell me all about it. A police officer came by and informed me of the warning ticket he gave you. I was so embarrassed!”

Unfortunately, the consequences of Randy’s punishment affected more than just Randy. In the first place, Randy’s Mom, busy with church work and a sewing club, was often busy in the evenings and couldn’t take the girls to the many social activities teenagers can dream up. So, the answer to the many requests of, “Can you drive us to…” was, “No, I can’t. You’ll just have to walk.” Before that month, Randy was always available, and often used his old Ford Tudor Coup to take the girls places. But not now. He couldn’t drive anywhere for a month! Both Mom and the girls were dismayed at the inconvenience Randy’s punishment caused them all.

Finally, the month was over and Randy could drive again. On the evening of the first day Randy could drive again, the twins cautiously knocked on his bedroom door, and Petunia asked, “Would you please drive us over to Laura’s house. It’s a long way and we need to rehearse our choir pieces with her.”

Randy was not at all interested. “Why should I? You two are always getting me in trouble.”

Miriam quickly defended the twins, “We couldn’t help it. We couldn’t lie to Mom.”

“Okay. So, I’ve had a long time to think about all this. Don’t you think we need to make a pact? No more ratting on each other? Let’s cooperate instead. When I’m going too fast, just gently, did you hear that?…  ‘gently’ tell me. We need to work together.”

Petunia and Miriam both quickly agreed. “Oh, yeah. Let’s.”

****

The truce stayed tightly in place, and life was easier for all. But, when Randy was a senior in college and the twins were freshmen, a new problem with dating appeared. Randy’s roommate, George, spotted Randy talking to his sisters. “Hey, who are those two, gorgeous red-heads you’re friendly with?”

“I don’t know about gorgeous. But they’re both my sisters, Petunia and Miriam.” Then he paused a moment and rubbed his cheek as he looked at George. “Want an introduction? I’ll make you a deal. Introduce me to your sister, and I’ll introduce you to the twins. Want to trade introductions?”

“I sure would. But which is which? I can’t tell them apart. They must be identical twins.”

“I don’t know. I can just tell. I guess I’ve known them all their lives.” Then he stopped a moment and stared out the window as a frown developed. “Oh, I remember something. Petunia has a tiny black mole in her left eyebrow line. You can just barely see it, only part of the time. That’s a way to tell them apart.”

George was enthralled, and soon began dating Petunia, seeing the tiny mole most of the time. Randy began to date George’s sister, Alevia, who, he thought was nice-looking. She had long black hair and a sweet smile. He bombarded her with dates, taking her to the movies every week and to church on Sundays. After six weeks of dating, he took her to the local malt shop on a Sunday afternoon. “Alevia, how do you like these malts?”

“I love them, Randy. How about you?”

“Me, too. Want to hear how I got to love malts and shakes?”

“Sure. Tell me.”

Randy followed up with a long talk about milk from cows, and how he got milkshakes every summer from Gramps while he worked on the farm, ending up with a graphic discussion of harvesting wheat, and the dust and grime he accumulated every day. “It’s wonderful to come in from working all day with the combine and harvesting wheat, to have a cool shake while we wait for supper. Usually, we can see the sun sinking in the west, and the stars beginning to come out. It makes me feel wonderful. Ever been to a farm? Do you think you’d like it?”

“Ummm. Well, I’m not sure I’d like farm life. It’s a long way from plays and the theater. That’s what I like. Every summer I try to get a part in some summer play. That should help me go to Hollywood. That’s my goal in life. How about you? Ever want to be in these movies we watch?”

“Eh, well, guess not. It’s just not my cup of tea.”

That ended the dating of Alevia.

****

None of Randy’s problems affected his roommate. But George did have his own problems. After a few weeks of dating and trying to date Petunia, George began to feel a severe pinch. He was not the only young man interested in the red-heads. Several times when he asked Petunia for a date, she told him she already had a date. So, finally he asked Miriam for a date. She looked a bit surprised, frowned, but reluctantly accepted.

When Randy heard about the date with Miriam, he warned George, “That won’t do, George. You can never date both sisters. That will cause big trouble.”

And it did. The twins, of course, discussed the matter, and decided there were enough young men around who would ask for dates without George being considered. So, Miriam telephoned George and cancelled the date. George was troubled and confused. “Randy, what went wrong?”

“I told you it wouldn’t work. Wait a while and only ask Petunia.”

After several weeks, George tried to date Petunia again, who refused at first, but finally agreed when he continued to ask and ask in pitiful tones. But, later that same afternoon another young man, Harris, asked Petunia for a date. Harris was quarterback on the football team, and considered a ‘catch’ by most girls. So, Petunia just couldn’t refuse.

But, as Friday night drew near, the problem was readily apparent to Petunia. “Oh, what can I do, Miriam? I’ve got two dates with two different boys on the same night.”

“Oh, that’s easy to fix, Sis. I’ll volunteer to go with George in your place. He’ll think I’m you and never know the difference. All I have to do is put a black dot for a mole in my left eyebrow. What do you think?”

“Oh, would you do that for me? I’d really appreciate it.”

Unfortunately, George talked too much at the movie, trying to impress the girl he thought was Petunia. Between the cartoon and the main feature, he told her, “I’m glad to be dating you again, Petunia. You’re by far the most beautiful. That ugly Miriam will just have to go without dates from me.”

Miriam, pretending to be Petunia on this date with George, was enraged. “Oh, is that what you think?” and she immediately jumped up and stomped out of the movie and telephoned Randy for a ride home, George at her elbow, plaintively asking what was wrong.

Later, in the dorm room, George asked Randy about this sudden rejection, “I said that she was the most beautiful. That’s a compliment. I thought she’d be pleased for me to call Miriam ‘ugly’ and her beautiful. I don’t get it.”

Randy knew who was in his car riding home from the movie. “Well, that’s would be a classic ‘fail’ on your part. You were talking to Miriam, not Petunia.”

“Oh no I wasn’t. I saw that black mole several times. That was Petunia.”

“No. On the way home she took out a tissue from her purse and wiped off the black dot. Then she explained that Petunia had two dates with two boys on the same night and she was substituting for Petunia with you. You’ve been had by the twins.”

After that, George gave up trying to date either twin.

****

The twins wasted no time finding suitable mates in their first year of college, and both were married in June.

****

Meanwhile, in late May Randy graduated with a degree in agriculture. After attending each of the twins’ weddings, he drove out to Gramps’ farm. “Gramps, I haven’t ever gotten over the thrill I had when I came to the farm for the first time. Could you use me here on the farm? I’d like to spend the rest of my life right here, if you can use me.”

Twenty years had passed since those early days, and Gramps was no longer very active. He walked slowly with a cane, and only eased around, so as to avoid falling. Willie had aged too, along with Matilda. As Randy looked around he could see a dozen improvement projects that needed to be done right away, postponed due to the age of the three old farm workers.

“That would be great, Randy. I was hoping you would come back to the farm. There’s much work for you to do every day. Glad to have you.”

“Thanks Gramps. Glad to have the job and be here. But, I do have a problem with being here. Want to help me fix it?”

“Sure, Son. What’s the problem?”

“Well, farms are socially isolated and I don’t have a wife, or any prospects. I’m twenty-three years old. I tried to date those college friends of the twins, and my roommate. Somehow that never clicked. They all looked forward to city or town life. Not a single one seemed at all interested in a farm or farming. Since I was hoping you’d take me on, I just couldn’t get interested in any of them. How do you think a man finds a wife to live on a farm these days? Where did you find Grandma?”

“Well, Son. That was a long time ago. Things were different then. I didn’t go to college. All the church girls I knew expected to be farm wives. There was no problem finding a wife among them. Of course, Grandma was a good cook. You should have been able to eat some of her peach pie. I bet that’s what made me interested in her.”

“Okay. Fine and good. But that doesn’t help me.”

“What you need to do, Son, is look around the farm community. To find a wife to suit you, go where that kind of girl can be found.”

“Okay. I’ll try that. But what would that be? Any ideas?”

“Sure. Church is the place to start. And go to all the socials and get-togethers. There’s a local attempt to imitate the Grand Ole Opry. See what they have at that get-to-gather. If you find a girl, see if she’ll come to church with you.”

Randy started the very next Sunday morning to look around, after services, at the girls at church. But, unfortunately, they all looked to be high school age and seemed too silly for him. There were four young couples his age that attended services, all newly-weds. “Guess I’m too late for those girls. They’re already married.”

The next Friday he went to the local ‘Sing Along’. Three young girls, all high school seniors, sang. That won’t do for me, he thought. Over to the side he spotted a young lady that looked to be his age wearing too tight blue-jeans and a big black hat. When he eased over to have a better look, he was dismayed to see her enjoying a cigarette. Again, he thought, Not for me.

Soon, Randy fell into the swing of the wheat harvest and then taking the one-year old calves to market. He was so busy he mostly forgot about being lonely and looking for a girlfriend.

****

At the cattle auction barn, Randy and Gramps saw a posted notice about a barn-raising for a local Mennonite family, and both decided to go help.

Gramps gave him some background. “That family has helped everyone around in one way or another. When there’s a disaster, they are right there to help. I’m so old and crippled, I can’t do much. But I’m going over to help if I can. I can pour coffee, at least. I’m glad you’re going. All the neighbors will appreciate it.”

****

Randy worked like a dog all day at the barn-raising. The sun was slowly sinking in the west, when he made his way over to the temporary food tent to have something to eat. He filled his plate and noticed a cute, dishwater-blond, sweat streaming down her face and making her hair stringy, serving chili and beans to all comers. He sat down by Gramps, who was pretty much exhausted from trying to help out all day.

“Who’s the girl serving, Gramps? Do you know her?”

“Yep. Seen her several times. Her name’s Helen. She’s been helping out all day here in the food tent. She attends the little congregation out at Tall Oak, and comes over to our Gospel Singings. I see her visiting on Sundays when their preacher is gone or sick. That whole, little congregation comes over and worships with us on those Sundays. She seems to be really nice and friendly. Talk to her. You might like her.”

When Randy went back for a second helping, he paused and caught her eye, “Hi. I’m Randy, Randy Plane. I’m going to be working for Grandpa Plane.”

She smiled a million-dollar smile and answered, “I’m Helen, Helen South. Glad to meet you.”

Randy hesitated, then stumbling over his words said, “Uh, glad to meet you, too. Gramps said you go to the Tall Oak congregation. I attend the Walnut Hill church. So, we have something in common.”

“Yes. We sure do.”

When he didn’t leave, she asked, “Can I get you something else?”

“Uh… no. Say, I’m looking for someone to go to the movies with me. You go to movies? Want to go next Friday?”

She eyed him up and down, easily spotting the dirt and grime on his shirt and pants before she answered with a smile, “Sure, provided you get all cleaned up. You don’t usually take a girl to the movies with dirt on your forehead, do you?” She gasped a little, covered her mouth with one hand and dropped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just kidding. I would love to go. I live on a farm just out of Tall Oak on Highway 29. You can see our mailbox from the road. It’ll have ‘South’ in big black letters. Okay?”

“Sure. Can I pick you up around six? We wouldn’t want to miss the cartoon, would we?” They smiled at each other, and Randy went to tell Gramps of his success.

A long string of weekly dates followed. After a movie, and just before Christmas, they stood in the square and admired the beautifully decorated giant Christmas tree in front of the court house. Randy seemed nervous. He had shifted back and forth all during the movie, and almost got up to leave before the cartoon came on. “Helen, it’s only nine-thirty. Let’s sit on the bench here and take in the sights of the season. Want to?”

“That would be nice.”

Although Randy fidgeted constantly, they both sat silently, Helen enjoying the Christmas magic. He put his arm around her, and she snuggled close. After a while, he took both her hands in his and looked into her eyes, “Helen, I’ve grown to love you, and appreciate your gentle, Christian character. And, I would like to ask you a question I’ve never asked any girl before. Would you be willing to listen?”

She tilted her head to one side and smiled her million-dollar smile. “Sure, Randy. What is it?”

“Would you marry me and come live on Gramps’ farm? That would make me the happiest man in the world.”

“Oh, Randy! Yes! Yes! I’d love to.” And they kissed there in the moonlight.

****

They were married at Easter, in a simple ceremony in her parent’s farmhouse.

After the wedding vows and as everyone was milling about, Gramps eased over to Randy and, with a twinkle in his eyes, asked, “Think she’ll make a farmer’s wife?”

“Oh, Gramps! You know she will.”

They’d agreed the young couple would live with Gramps, till they decided where to be on a more permanent basis. Gramps volunteered to move out of the big bedroom he and Grandma had shared, and Randy and Helen moved in. The first Sunday in the new home, Helen made peach pie. After his second piece with a plug of ice cream, Gramps said, “Well, Randy, I think you’ve hit the jackpot!”

Not long after, Gramps had a serious talk with the two of them. “I’ve been wanting to tell you about my will. I’m leaving everything to you, Randy. When I’m gone, this farm will be all yours.”

“Uh, is that a good idea, Gramps? What about the twins? They’ll raise a fuss if you don’t include them in the will.”

“Don’t worry, Son. I gave each of them a cash wedding gift to match the farm I’m giving you. I made sure they understood about the farm going to you. Neither one was really interested in the farm. Plus, they got the money last summer. All you get now is an old house and land to farm.”

“I’m thrilled, Gramps. But then you knew I would be.

You know, I owe you for more than just giving me the land. I owe you for Helen! You told me the way to find a wife is to look in the middle of what you want to do with your life.

You keep on giving young men that advice. It works. See what I got!”

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