Story 5 – Ollie, Pip, and Grandpa’s “Very Important” List
The morning in Willow Patch began with a very serious announcement.
“I have a list,” Grandpa Hedgehog said.
Pip stopped chewing his toast. “A list?”
“A very important list,” Grandpa repeated, tapping a small piece of paper on the table.
Ollie looked up from his book. Lists were interesting. They meant thinking.
Mama Hedgehog smiled. “What’s on the list, Grandpa?”
Grandpa squinted at the paper. “Well… I’ll tell you once I remember.”
Pip leaned closer. “Did you forget what you wrote?”
“Not forgot,” Grandpa said proudly. “I just put it somewhere safe in my head.”
Pebble whispered, “That’s a very safe place.”
Grandpa nodded. “Exactly.”
He stood up. “First thing on the list is… something important.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Then turned around.
Then walked toward the kitchen.
Pip followed. “Grandpa, where are you going?”
“To do the thing,” Grandpa said confidently.
Ollie tilted his head. “Which thing?”
Grandpa paused. “Ah.”
Everyone waited.
Grandpa looked at the list.
The list looked back at him.
“Hmm,” Grandpa said. “It doesn’t say.”
Pip giggled. “Then why is it important?”
Grandpa smiled. “Because I wrote it.”
What do you think Grandpa’s list is for?
(If you had a guess, what would it be?)
Mama Hedgehog suggested, “Maybe it’s for the market.”
Grandpa shook his head. “No, no. I already went there yesterday.”
Pebble said, “Is it for fixing something?”
Grandpa brightened. “Yes! That sounds right.”
He walked to the shelf and picked up… a spoon.
Pip blinked. “That’s not a fixing spoon.”
Grandpa examined it. “It could be.”
Ollie watched quietly. He didn’t look at the spoon.
He looked at Grandpa.
“Grandpa,” Ollie said gently, “may I ask one small question?”
Grandpa smiled. “You may ask two.”
“What did you want to feel when you made the list?”
Grandpa thought.
“I wanted to feel helpful,” he said slowly. “And busy.”
Mama Hedgehog nodded. “That sounds like Grandpa.”
Ollie smiled. “Then maybe the list isn’t about the tasks.”
Pip tilted his head. “It’s about being busy together?”
Grandpa’s eyes sparkled. “I do like that.”
Mama Hedgehog handed Grandpa a basket. “Could you help me carry these outside?”
Grandpa beamed. “That must be on the list!”
He carried the basket very carefully.
Pebble followed him. Pip followed Pebble.
Soon everyone was outside, doing small things together—watering plants, sweeping paths, moving cushions into the sun.
Grandpa checked his list again.
Then folded it and put it in his pocket.
“All done,” he said happily.
Pip laughed. “But you didn’t finish the list!”
Grandpa winked. “I finished the feeling.”
Ollie closed his book.
The list stayed folded.
And Grandpa stayed busy—right where he belonged.
🌱 Soft family thought (never said aloud)
Sometimes being helpful matters more than remembering every task.
Review Kind Paws & Clever Minds.