The War With Grandpa

Peter waits and waits for Grandpa to strike back. He’s in a state of suspense and feels like Damocles—an Ancient Greece figure who had a sword hung over his head by a strand of hair. He also feels like he’s waiting to go to the dentist or about to take a test. To enhance the terror, Grandpa teases Peter. He says his grandson looks nervous, and he advises “patience.” The mind games get to Peter, and one day, he leaves a schoolbook at home.

Peter’s situation reminds him of Grandpa’s “joke.” A man lives below another man who, before bed, only removes one of his shoes. The man below can’t sleep; instead, he waits for the other shoe to drop.

Peter’s mom is baking something with cinnamon, so the house smells wonderful. Jenny was helping her mom, but now she’s in the living room with Grandpa and Peter, and she wants to play Monopoly with them.

Grandpa coughs, and Peter gets mad, accusing her of stealing his game and infringing upon his rights not to play Monopoly. He tries to take the box from her, but Jenny keeps it. She’ll play with Grandpa. When she opens the box, she discovers the pieces are gone.