Grampy

By Madison York
Eight-grade student at Hodgdon Mill Pond School
    Quite some time ago in St.Francis, Maine a little French boy was born, who later I would call my Grampy.
    Grampy grew up in a very small house with twelve brothers and sisters. His mother and father were not the wealthiest people around. They lived off the garden and the wilderness. When my grandfather had just turned twelve his father died working in the woods. He had a heart attach. After this, my grandfather moved out of his house at the age of twelve and got a job in the woods. I know it’s hard to believe, but he had to do this to become a man.
    My grandfather became a very hardworking young man. He was not as fortunate as my sister and I are. He did not know how to read or write because the opportunity was not given to him. With no education under his belt, he only worked as a woodsman.
    In his early forties, my grandfather met my grandmother. They had one little girl and I am proud to call that little girl my mother. My grandfather learned how to read and write while my mother went through school. My mother also taught him English.
    My mother told me that my grandfather’s best part of his life was when My sister and I were born. My grandfather was always really good to Mackenzie and me. I do not remember my baby years really well, but I used to always and still do look back in photo albums and see him chasing Mackenzie and me around on his hands and knees. We would always have a smile on our faces and he would too. When I became eight or so Grampy would always ask me to go fishing. He would ask me all the time, but I never did. Now that I think back about it, I wish I would have gone with him.
    My grandfather was very gifted. He could pick up any instrument and play it. Grampy was especially  talented at playing the accordion. Whenever I would go to his house he would always have the old accordion out, and he would always be playing any tune that came to his mind.
    As I got older Grampy and I were not as close as we used to be. I wish I would have told him I loved him more. I know he knew I did. I can still picture him now walking in to the living room with a pocket full of candy passing it out to everyone. He sure did love candy, and he loved sharing it. My mom told me that when he was a kid he never had candy, and that made me sad.
    My grampy had a pretty good life. He gave me unconditional love, kindness, patience, and taught me about life. I celebrated his 85th birthday with him. He played his accordion, and had delicious cake and ice cream. I will never forget the look on my little brother Aiden’s face when Grampy got on his hands and knees, and played with him like he did with Mackenzie and me.
    About two weeks later my grandfather passed away. I will always remember everything about him. He will always be loved and missed. The one thing that I know is that the little boy born 85 years ago in a small town in Maine called St. Francis is now my guardian angel.