[ WP ] I want you to tell me the story again . The important one . The one existing to warn me against a very real danger or threat I ’ m too young to understand .

Lenny cracks his knuckles as Sarah watches her grandfather close his eyes, take a deep breath, and slowly open his eyes. He pushes back his gray hair with his hand, pauses, and smiles at Sarah. He pushes a plate with a sandwich towards her and says, `` Come on, eat up. Show your grandpa you're a good eater.'' 
 
 `` Grandpa, tell me that story first! The one I like,'' she pleads waving her little jam covered hands. Lenny reaches over and wipes a little jam from her mouth. She giggles. 
 
 `` Which one? The one about the farm pig who thinks he's a dog or the curious monkey?'' 
 
 `` No, no. The bears! The bears!'' 
 
 Lenny sighs, leans back, and says, `` Oh right, the bears!'' 
 
 Sarah claps her hands while beaming a smile at the old man. Jam flies from her hands and gets on Lenny's shirt. He looks down and ignores it. 
 
 He clears his throat and says, `` The little bear lost his forest home thanks to termites and was wandering the city looking for a new home. The termites were close behind so he had to be quick.'' 
 
 `` He knocked on the pig's door. He refused to answer. He knocked on the cow's door, he also refused. He knocked on the door of another bear family, but no one was home. He finally knocked on the door of the stork family and they let him in.'' 
 
 `` Yay,'' cheers Sarah. 
 
 `` Mr. Stork was very kind. Very kind. Mrs. Stork was worried and argued a lot with Mr. Stork. The little bear lived in their attic, quiet as mouse, as to not worry the storks.'' 
 
 `` Mr. Stork would bring the little bear food and the bear was thankful but could not do much to repay him as the termites were always close behind. One night the little bear overhead Mrs. Stork talking to a termite.'' 
 
 `` Boo,'' hisses the little girl. 
 
 `` The little bear snuck out of the attic that night and just as he was walking away he saw the termites run up the attic looking for him. Mrs. Stock was at the door with her head hanging low as Mr. Stork was yelling and arguing with the termites.'' 
 
 `` Poor bear,'' says the little girl. 
 
 `` Little bear had to live on the streets, sleeping in the sewers, and for a while in bear jail, but a little while later, things got better. The eagle came and took all the termites away and the little bear lived happily ever after.'' 
 
 `` Yay,'' she cheers. She pokes at her sandwich and takes one bite. Her face is covered in jam. 
 
 `` Okay, lets get you cleaned up. Maybe we can find your mother,'' says Lenny as he looks at her sticky hands and sticky face. He picks her up, groaning a little, as her little hands grab onto his forearm, partially covering his old and faded tattoo. 
 
 Sarah looks up at him and says, `` Icky termites!'' 
 
 Lenny chuckles, `` Yep, icky termites, indeed!''
