The War With Grandpa

Grandpa doesn’t come down from his room until 11:00 a.m. He’s not dressed, and he doesn’t talk to Peter. In the afternoon, Sally takes Jennifer to buy shoes, and Peter throws a tennis ball against the steps. Grandpa notices that Peter drops it, and he tells his grandson to make his hands soft.

Grandpa then asks for a “flag of truce.” He wants to meet and discuss the conflict. Peter wonders if Grandpa is surrendering, but Grandpa isn’t—he didn’t control who got the room, and he didn’t want to leave Florida. He also didn’t want to stop building homes, and he didn’t want his wife (Grandma) to die.

Grandpa calls Peter “spoiled.” When he was Peter’s age, he had to share a bed with his brother. They didn’t have a large house with plenty of toys, clothes, and food. They had to eat beans and spaghetti.

Peter doesn’t budge: He wants his room. As Grandpa isn’t changing rooms, the truce is over. Peter warns Grandpa about a second strike.

After dinner, Peter steals Grandpa’s slippers and leaves another note stating that Grandpa won’t defeat him. Peter considered putting a frog or gerbil in his bed, but the surprise might give Grandpa a heart attack.