• Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Bascomb James
Author | Scientist | Science Fiction Fan

Coffee with Grandpa

5/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Up North Stories.  My grandparents were poor Mennonite dairy farmers who lived near Fairview Michigan. Every day is a work day on a dairy farm, and workdays started early. Grandma would stoke the wood-burning cook stove and make breakfast while Grandpa brought in firewood and started his chores. When breakfast was ready, they would eat and talk about the day. After breakfast, Grandpa went down the hill to milk the cows and Grandma cleared away the dishes and attended to her chores.

When the milking was finished, Grandpa came back up the hill for coffee and toast. I remember Grandpa’s cup, a sturdy cream colored vessel with a round tapered bottom and a one-finger handle high on the side. When I see this style today it’s always a “Grandpa Cup.”

Coffee with Grandpa was instant coffee with milk and sugar and two slices of toast. I’m sure he had coffee cake or pastry once in a while, but I remember the toast. Grandpa buttered his toast, folded it in half, and dunked it into his coffee before taking a bite. He would eat soggy toast and drink his coffee every morning. I don’t think he noticed the buttery film floating on top of the coffee and coating his cup.

Grandpa and I were pretty close. Whenever we visited, I would sit with him while he had his coffee. Mom and Grandma believed children should not drink coffee – “it would stunt your growth” - so I sat at the table with my toast and a glass of milk. Sometimes, when Grandma was in the next room, Grandpa brought a second cup to the table - a cup just like his! Grandpa would wink at me and with a finger pressed to his lips, he would transfer several spoonfuls of his coffee to my cup and fill the cup with milk. I was so proud at these moments because I was having coffee, just like Grandpa. And just like Grandpa, I folded my toast and dunked it.

You may be interested in these Up North Stories:

New Feature:  Up North Stories
Skinny Dip
Radio and the Fabric of our Lives
Early Reading Experiences

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    ​@BascombJ

    Follow @BascombJ

    Archives

    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Completion
    Earth Day
    Earthrise
    Environment
    Far Orbit
    Fountain Pen
    Horror
    Hyperpowers
    Last Outpost
    Poetry
    Prompt
    Published Stories
    Publishers
    Pushpin
    Science
    SciFi General
    Sharing
    Space
    Thank You
    Up North Stories
    Writing
    Writing Help

    RSS Feed

    Tweets by @BascombJ
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.