In this heartwarming story, we are introduced to Billy Grover, a young boy who struggles to start over in a different school and town after losing his parents. His sense of isolation and longing for familiarity is palpable as he navigates unfamiliar territory. But amidst his struggles, Billy finds comfort and support in his devoted grandfather, whose steadfast presence provides a beacon of hope in his life.
The story takes place against the backdrop of the school’s spring festival, an event brimming with opportunities for camaraderie and community involvement. Initially reluctant to participate due to feelings of alienation, Billy’s perspective begins to change when his grandfather, sensing his grandson’s need for connection, decides to enter the pageants with gusto. Despite initial doubts and teasing from his peers, Grandpa’s resilience and determination shine through as he surprises everyone with his remarkable talent and wins.
A young boy without parents asks his grandfather to attend the school festival. Everyone is stunned when the older gentleman takes the prize in each competition.
Billy Grover hated his new school and he was sure everyone at his new school hated HIM. Changing schools and homes at twelve because your parents were dead was terrible.
Billy missed his mom and dad and he missed his friends and all the familiar sights and sounds of New York.
His grandfather was doing his best, but Billy was sure he would hate Ohio forever.
“Billy,” said his homeroom teacher.
“You’re new so you don’t know about our Spring School Festival, we have barbecues and all kinds of competitions for kids and parents.
“It’s a lot of fun and it’ll be a good opportunity for you to get to know everyone better!”
“I don’t think so, ma’am,” muttered Billy. “I don’t think I’ll be able to come…”
Don’t underestimate the skills and wisdom of older people.
The teacher frowned. “You have to, Billy!” she said. “I’m sending a message home to your parents!”
“I don’t have any parents,” said Billy.
“Only my grandfather…
The other kids were looking at him and whispering to each other and he felt like a total freak. He lowered his head so they couldn’t see that he was blushing and that his eyes were full of tears.
“He’s crying!” one of the other kids said, honking. “Crybaby!
Crybaby!”
Billy went home with a note from his teacher that burned a hole in his backpack. He entered the kitchen and threw the note on the table.
“Here,” he said. “To some lame festival, we HAVE to go to!”
“Spring School Festival!” said Grandpa. “I forgot about that. It’s great fun! Big baking and grilling and contests…”
“Right!” Billy said. “I don’t have parents, so I’ll be even more of a freak.
“I competed when your dad was your age,” Grandpa said thoughtfully. “I even won a few times.
“You won?” Billy asked excitedly. “If you could win again this year… I would gain a lot of respect!”
“Billy,” Grandpa protested. “I was much younger then. I don’t know if I can still do it!”
“You can, Grandpa!” Billy protested. “I know you can!”
Grandpa could see that Billy was actually excited about something, for the first time since he moved to Ohio. He decided. He was going to compete and do everything to win Parent of the Year.
To win, he explained to Billy, he had to enter as many contests as he could and win three challenges.
“What kind, Grandpa?” he asked.
Grandpa picked up the list and grunted. “Let’s see: cake baking, sock patching, fly tying, egg race…”
“GRANDFATHER!” Billy howled. “They are
LAME!”
…and archery,” Grandpa concluded. “I should be able to win three of them.
Billy thought it ALL sounded lame. He knew his classmates would laugh. Why couldn’t his grandfather be fine? With a heavy heart, Billy set out for the school’s spring festival.
Billy cringed as his grandpa signed up for the sock patching and pie baking challenge and the pretty mum who was writing down the names giggled. “Are you sure sir?” she asked, curling her lips.
“Most certainly, young lady!” Grandpa said cheerfully and went to the egg race, fly tying, and shooting range. People looked at Grandpa and smiled. Billy was sure they were mocking him.
The smiles faded as Grandpa baked a delicious cranberry, apple, and nut pie with meringue frosting. The judges swooned and the moms looked very sour when Grandpa won.
The sock hunt was another triumph!
Grandpa emptied the basket of socks faster than any of the ladies and damn they were PERFECT. “HOW?” asked one of the mothers.
Grandpa smiled. “I was in the Navy as a submariner,” he explained. “We’ve been underwater for months. I’ve learned to screw my socks off and everyone else!”
The fly-tying competition was a walk in the park for Grandpa, who tied a graceful, quivering dragonfly that looked completely lifelike. He ran the egg race like a pro and crossed the finish line inches ahead of the fastest mom.
There was only one challenge left that Billy was now nervous about. All the dads who participated in the archery competition were YOUNG, burly, and muscular.
Could Grandpa even draw a bow with his skinny arms?
One of the fathers smirked. “Are you sure you can do this, paps?” he asked.
“Watch out for arthritis!”
But Grandpa was cool as a cucumber.
He picked up his bow and drew it.
Then in one powerful movement, he pulled the bowstring to his chin and Billy could see that his arm was tight with muscle. TWANG!
The arrow was off and Billy could hear gasps from the audience. Grandpa’s arrow hit the center of the target! In another hour, Grandpa mopped the floor with all the dads and won the archery trophy.
“WITH FIVE WINS, the Parent of the Year winner gets…Mr.
Grover!” said the headmaster.
“Most of you are too young to remember, but Mr. Grover is a FIVE-TIME champion!”
Billy nearly exploded with pride when Grandpa received the award! The other children looked at him respectfully.
“Hey, Billy,” one of them said. “Did your grandfather teach you how to tie flies?
Maybe we could go fishing…”
“Yeah… He’s cool. Do you think he’d teach us how to shoot a bow?” another boy asked.
“Sure!” Billy said with a smile. “Come tomorrow after school and I’ll ask him!”
“That’s ‘yes,'” said Billy’s grandfather, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, boys, and I’ll bake you all an apple pie, too!”
What can we learn from this story?
• Change is one of the hardest things to accept. Billy was unhappy because he lost his parents and had to move to Ohio with his grandfather, but he learned to make new friends.
• Do not underestimate the skills and wisdom of older people. Billy was amazed to find out that his grandfather had many different talents and was very cool!
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If you liked this story, you might like this one about a poor grandmother who stays up all night to make her orphaned granddaughter a prom dress as beautiful as the rich girls’.
In conclusion, Billy’s journey from feeling like an outsider at his new school to witnessing his grandfather’s remarkable triumphs at the school’s spring festival taught him valuable lessons about resilience, the importance of family, and the depth of one’s own abilities. Despite initial doubts and ridicule, Grandpa’s unwavering determination and hidden talent earned him not only the title of Parent of the Year but also the newfound respect of Billy’s peers. Through this heartwarming story, we were reminded that age should never be a barrier to pursuing your passions and that embracing change can lead to unexpected joys and connections. Share this uplifting story with others to spread inspiration and encouragement.