“So, since all of us are invested in who wins this one-on-one, who's going to be the referee?”
Eight-year-old Edwina Ludlow was talking with her best friend eight-year-old Gracie Trent, and their grandfathers were due to play a one-on-one basketball game sometime in the near future.
“Well, it's not like they need all that,” Gracie said, “because neither of our grandfathers cheat.”
“Well, yeah,” Edwina said. “It's not like they are going to be hard fouling or anything.”
“Pop-Pop was saying it's going to be a gentleman's game – cain't nobody afford to get hurt,” Gracie said.
“No, because Papa was saying that it takes longer to heal a broken bone at age than when we are young,” Edwina said. “That's actually really good to know in case Glendella's Bad Grandma comes around again.”
Gracie considered this, and then put her hands on her hips like her Grandma Velma.
“You know what, Edwina – what you need is a referee on your soul,” she said.
“But failing to plan is planning to fail!” Edwina said.
“OK, but Grayson says that about building things up, not planning on breaking somebody's bones that ain't even coming around here – you gotta be done with Big Glendella Ludlow!”
“Oh, I'm done with her if she's done swinging on children!” Edwina said, “but you gotta watch and be ready for that type, because people who will harm children will be doing anything out here!”
“No, you don't gotta,” Gracie said. “Capt. Robert Edward 'Hell to Pay' Ludlow and Sgt. Vincent 'Bronze Eagle' Trent exist, along with Grandma Jubilee who can get folks two miles off – and then there's your cousin, Col. Henry Fitzhugh 'Angel of Death' Lee. And then there's God! Sometimes you gotta sit down and look cute and let the people who are supposed to do these things do them!”
Edwina considered this.
“Well, I guess I could put more time into looking cute, though,” she said.
“I'm trying to tell you!” Gracie said.
Edwina reached out and hugged Gracie.
“Thank you for being the referee my soul needed today,” she said.
“Any time, Eddie,” Gracie said. “All we gotta do is focus on what we are supposed to be doing, and God and His wrath and smitation helpers will take care of the rest when necessary!”
Mrs. Melissa Trent went into the house and said to her husband and mother-in-law, “Did y'all know that y'all are God's smitation helpers?” before adding all the context that statement needed: “Gracie!”
Gladys Jubilee Trent cracked up laughing while Sgt. Vincent Trent put his head in his hands.
“It's good when your little ones know who you are,” Grandma Jubilee purred, and smiled as Mrs. Trent fell out laughing.
“So, we're just going to own up to – well, I guess since we come from the Underground Railroad's Shooting Conductor, I suppose you're right, Mama,” the sergeant said.
“Gracie is out there trying to keep Edwina from coming on the job too soon!” Mrs. Trent said.
“Yeah, and Hell to Pay's warrior princess needs all the help she can get,” Sgt. Trent said.
“That child has been through it,” Grandma Jubilee said. “It's going to take some time, but, she'll get there.”
