[ WP ] A grandfather tells his grandchildren a story from his youth . Write how the grandpa tells it , and then write how it actually happened .

`` What happened next Grandpop?'' little Matthew asked as his elderly Grandfather fidgeted in his rocking chair. 
 
 `` Weeelllll'' his grandfather said while looking up and holding up one finger `` You would n't believe me if I told you.'' The children sat on the floor and stared up at him in quiet excitement. 
 
 `` Did you kill the dragon?'' Samantha asked quickly `` Did you ever find the magic lamp?'' Meghan chimed in. `` Tell us! Tell us!'' they cried in unison. 
 
 `` Oh alright'' Grandpa conceeded smiling brightly. `` If I tell you the story you better listen up!'' he proclaimed. Cheers of excitement poured out from his crowd of around a dozen toddlers and children and one adult sitting quietly in the back watching over the kids. Richard enjoyed taking the kids to see his father every now and again and he enjoyed listening to the same tales he listend to long ago as a kid himself. 
 
 He reminisced over the stories his father used to tell and pined to hear more while enjoying the excitement of the kids below. `` I brought cookies!'' an old woman said as she came through the kitchen door holding a warm bowl of freshly baked cookies. Cheers erupted even louder as kids stood and reached into grandma's bowl of treats. `` Now now'' she chided `` There's enough for everyone simmer down simmer down''. She was smiling the sort of warm smile only grandmothers of many years could muster. It brought a warmth and satisfaction to Richard's heart to see his mother even in her old age be so lively and happy. 
 
 `` Ah'' grandpa said `` Esther how good of you to join us. I was just about to tell these kiddos the story of when I saved that town down in Aeresdale from certain destruction!'' When the kids heard this they cheered in joy and sat back down munching on gooey warm chocolate cookies. 
 
 `` Aeresdale huh?'' Esther said `` You are n't gon na fib to these yung'uns are you now?'' 
 
 `` Fib? Me!'' grandpa asked with a harty laugh `` I would never. See here young children remember what I'm about to tell you as every word of it is true.'' He smiled and leaned back in his chair once more preparing to give the story. 
 
 Grandma looked at Richard with the sort of look that would say `` Oh, here he goes again.'' but Richard was already leaning forward in his own chair excited for the story. 
 
 `` Well you see it all began a long time ago when I was a young lad not 17 years of age.'' he began and the room fell hushed. 
 
 `` I was working the barnyards pulling hay from a cart to feed the horses when I heard the town bells anouncing a fire!'' He sprung his hands up and several of the kids gasped. Grandma rolled her eyes. 
 
 `` I sprinted down to the town quick as a rabbit trying to see what was all the fuss when I spotted your Grandmother over there tossin' buckets-o-water onto the largest raging fire this side of the Mississippi. It raged 60 feet tall and had all the young folk running around in a quick panic.'' 
 
 `` The Abernathys set their doghouse on fire ya old fart! The fire was teeny and the dog was n't even scared ya remember that?'' Grandma piped up. 
 
 `` It was n't just no dog house fire ya see,'' he continued `` It was the biggest dog house you could ever imagine! 20 stories tall and could hold 10 fire trucks no problem.'' 
 
 `` It was a poodle house Stew,'' grandma added `` twas n't nearly 4 feet tall.'' 
 
 Grandpa looked at his wife and continued on. `` That were n't the worst of it you see. From the fire raged a serpent 60 feet long and a full foot thick at it's skinniest!'' the children's eyes were full of fear `` I wrangled the beast and used it's venom to put out the fire.'' he said with a wide grin. 
 
 `` Ya darn near tripped on the neighbors water hose and used it to spray the poor dog's house ya old sillynanny'' grandma said. 
 
 `` Yes well,'' he cleared his breath. `` I remember it differently now do n't I'' he smiled. `` And you kids will just have to decide what you want to believe happened'' he said with a wink. 
 
 These are the stories I remember my father telling. These are the things that will live with me forever and I will miss him dearly. Richard stepped away from the podium and to the casket. `` I will always love you dad. I'll always chose to remember you as a hero.'' and he kissed his father gently on the forehead.
