Haley was working on Sundays and needed someone to watch Forest. She’d drop him off at our house early before work, dressed and ready to go. Haley prepared a little lunch for him which we always took with us to church as part of a bag of things we used to take care of Forest.
We liked having Forest with us. It was a bonding time. He came every Sunday for almost a year. We hadn’t had that kind of interaction with any of our grandchildren before on such a consistent basis. We walked to church together. We would always stop at the neighbors house on the corner and watch Forest pick up their newspaper and place it on the doorstep. He also made a point to stand, jump, or sit on the tree stump in their front yard. There usually was a bug or two to stop and watch too.
We sat in our usual family spot - the third pew from the front (or fourth if someone got there before us). Being front and center everyone at church had a good view of Forest. His angelic behavior sitting quietly, partaking of the Sacrament, trying to sing the hymns, participating in prayer with his arms folded and closed eyes peeking out periodically waiting to say “Amen!” He had his fun antics too like making faces at the people behind him and laying across Grampy’s lap. Everyone knew Forest. He was happy to say “Hello,” give a high five or shake someone’s hand. He always cheered everyone up with his happy countenance and personality.
After Sacrament meeting or “the big church” as we called it, it was time for nursery or “toys and friends” as Forest called it. The first time we took him to the nursery we didn’t know how willing he would be to go, but he jumped right in. Meeting new people was never a problem for Forest. He was older - two going on three. Again, he was liked by everyone, literally the star of the show - always very willing to sing and participate in all the activities that were offered. After “big church” he was always ready for “toys and friends.”
After church we would head home, again, always stopping at the neighbor’s tree stump before we got back to our house. We’d find ourselves doing it all again the next week. It was an idyllic time that we dearly missed after Forest and Haley moved.
Forest really liked Hughie. Their relationship made me think of our son,Tommy and his dad. Years ago when Tommy was small I was serving in Primary. Normally no matter what the situation was on Sunday I always seemed to have a baby in tow, but Hughie was available for a change and he walked the halls with Tom while I served the two hours in Primary. Hughie relished this time as much as Tommy. Eventually, Tom went on to nursery (the 18 month to 3 year old class). Hugh was quick to go to class with Tommy in the name of helping his boy transition to going to a class AKA being without a parent. Out of all our children during those early years of growth, Tom was the only one that preferred his dad over me. Hughie and Tom took great delight in their shared attention and consequently the feeling was mutual between Forest and his Grampy.
Hughie always brought some kind of gum, breath mint, or cough drop to church in case he’d get a tickle in his throat. Not wanting to disturb a meeting Hugh was quick to pull out his little metal tin loaded with supplies to stop a cough when the need arose. After the Sacrament that dry throat experience would usually come on and out came the tin. Forest was quick to see Grampy’s habit and decided he wanted something too which Hughie obliged, except Forest wanted another one and then another one and then another one.
Finally, Grampy told Forest that the items in the tin were just to use if you were going to cough. After that when Forest wanted something from the tin he always made a point to attempt to clear his throat several times pretending to try and unclog some flem.
Hughie noticed and asked Forest, “What are you doing?”
Forest responded by opening up his mouth and pointing down his throat then with a gravelly voice said, “I need a cough drop.”
He got one.
Grampy in action. Tommy would have gotten one too.
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