Farewell Summer ~ Ray Bradbury - Marimarister

Grandpa stopped and picked up a piece of paper he‘d been holding on his lap.
―I got a phone call a little earlier from the courthouse clerk. It seems they found a whole
lot of firecracker paper somewhere in the City Hall this morning. Now that is a most peculiar
place to find burnt firecracker paper. The clerk told me they‘re going to have to do quite a lot of
repairs in City Hall. They don‘t say quite what it is they have to fi x, but the bill is sizeable and I
figure if we apportion it out to various homesteads in the town, it will come to about . . .‖ Here
Grandpa put his glasses back on his fine big nose before continuing. ―. . . $70.90 per homestead.
Now, most of the people I know around here don‘t have that kind of money. In order to get it, the
people in those homes will have to work quite a few days or maybe weeks or, who knows,
months. Would you like to see the list of repairs that have to be done in City Hall, Doug? I‘ve
got it right here.‖
Doug.
―I don‘t think so,‖ said Doug.
―I think you‘d better look and study, boy. Here goes.‖ He handed the piece of paper to
Doug stared at the list. His eyes were so fogged that he couldn‘t read it. The numbers
were immense and they seemed to extend far into the future, not just weeks or months, but
ohmigosh, years.
―Doug, I want you to do me a favor,‖ said Grandpa. ―I want you to take this list and play
the part of doctor. I want you to make a series of house calls when school lets out for the day.
First of all, go over to your house and see how Tom is doing. Tell him that Grandpa wants him to
buy a couple of Eskimo Pies and come over and eat them on the front porch with me this
afternoon. Say that to Tom, Doug, and see if his face doesn‘t brighten up.‖
―Yes, sir,‖ said Doug.
―Then, later, I want you to go to all the other boys‘ houses and see how your friends are
doing. Afterward, come back and give me a report, because all those boys who are lying low
need something to make them sit up in bed. I‘ll be waiting for you. Does that seem fair to you?‖
―Yes, sir,‖ said Doug, and stood up. ―Grandpa, can I say something?‖
―What‘s that, Doug?‖
―You‘re pretty great, Grandpa.‖
Grandpa mused over that for a few moments before saying, ―Not great, Doug, just
perceptive. Have you ever looked that word up in Webster‘s Dictionary?‖
―No, sir.‖
―Well, before you leave, open Mr. Webster and see what he has to say.‖