Jenny’s Best Friend

My 15 year old grandson comes to visit every Sunday. He stays for lunch and supper and leaves around 8:00 p.m. Last Sunday he was accompanied by his 14 year old sister who wanted a photo from us to include in her school project. The project was decorating a box that would contain ten of her favourite things. She wanted to include a photo of grandma and grandad in that box. So we all went upstairs to the “memory cupboard” to view photo albums and discovered some of their mothers, my daughters, school projects from over 30 years ago.

One particular project I had forgotten existed and had not looked at since the day my daughter brought it home from school those many years ago was entitled “Jenny’s Best Friend.” The following is a shortened version of that project.

On Jenny’s street there are lots of kids to play with.

Jenny’s favourite person to play with though is her dad.

They play hopscotch, cards, skipping rope, soccer and run around the block.

All of the kids on Jenny’s street like to play with her dad to. Every night when Jenny and her dad walk out the front door at least five kids are waiting. Every Sunday when Jenny and her parents arrive home from visiting grandma and grandad at least eight kids are waiting for the car. Even on Saturday mornings when Jenny and her dad ride their bikes to the park at least ten kids bring their bike too.

One day Jenny was very sad because she wanted her dad all to herself.

She stood on her head in the middle of the soccer game, but dad didn’t notice. She sang crazy songs, but dad didn’t notice. She steals all the rocks during hopscotch, but dad doesn’t notice. Finally Jenny walk up to her dad, sits on his feet and announces “I’m not moving till you play with just me.’

“Jenny” says her dad ” I love you very much and you are my very favourite person to play with, But we can’t exclude the other kids who want to play.”

Jenny thought about that and said “You’re right. I’m ready to play with everyone now.”

“Good idea” agrees Jenny’s dad.

So Jenny is happy to play with all the older kids and younger kids, the short kids and the tall kids. the boys and girls.

But best of all Jenny gets to play with her favourite person and best friend her dad.

About the author:
My name is Jennifer White. I was born in Toronto. I live with my mom, dad and younger brother. Running races with my dad is still one of my favourite pastimes.