The next day when I went back out to the yard to hang out my laundry, I noticed my dog, Baby Cakes, was sniffing at a place at the side of my little barn. I thought it was weird, but I decided to hang the wash before I went to investigate.
When I got to the side of the barn, I couldn't believe it. There was a little 3" x 5" photograph of Gallaby, Grace and some other what. I studied it on the ground for a minute and then I picked it up. I couldn't help but smile. I sort of knew that this must be something that I wasn't supposed to see. But I tapped the side of the picture with my index finger and said aloud, to no one, "Who is that What, I wonder?"
Then I felt a tug on my shirt tail and looked down. It was Gallaby. I almost jumped three feet in the air. She giggled at me. She pointed to the picture and said, "Gallaby, this is Gallaby and that's John."
Perhaps she thought I must be confused as to which What was which and made sure I knew. I was still sort of dumbfounded so I repeated and pointed, "Gallaby, this is Gallaby and that's John?"
"Yes. He is a What but he has a human name. Maybe his What name is too hard for Grace to say, but she calls him John."
"Well, thank you, Gallaby," I managed to say in all of my fear at speaking to a What, which is something that I have never done before. "Would you like to come up on the porch and have a snack? Grace will be home from dance class soon and then you two can play."
She smiled at me and said, "We don't play. We make music and it helps the Whats to have Watts."
Well, I didn't understand at all what she was talking about, but I went to the porch anyway and she followed. I brought out some chocolate chip cookes and grape kool-aid and put them on small plates on the picnic table under the umbrella. "O.k." I say, "here is a snack to give you some energy while you wait for Grace."
"Muchas Thanks, The Mom," Gallaby said.
"You are welcome, Gallaby."
I took my laundry basket and went inside and waited for Grace to get home. She was home within 5 or 10 minutes. I don't really know because she went from the car straight to the back yard. I got up and looked out. She and Gallaby were making music with an instrument I had never seen before. It looked like a hula hoop and a harp combination. Then I heard Grace singing. It was a sweet song that I had not heard ever before.
Just then Hannah came into the kitchen. She says to me, "go take a nap or something, Mom, you look tired."
I am suddenly suspicious. "Why would I want to do that? I am not tired. Besides I am cooking dinner."
"Well, o.k." says Hannah. "Just don't let them know you hear them, it is supposed to be a secret suprise that they are making for you. Now, I am going to dance and sing with them, so don't look out the window."
"All right. I won't, but you have to be back inside by 5 o'clock sharp to sit down for dinner."
She gives me a hug and a kiss and says, "O.k. I love you! See you at 5."
Then she ran out the door. The next thing I hear sounds like a CD of music because there are the sounds many voices and other instruments. But, this time I keep my promise and don't look outside. At least I won't look as long as the dog isn't barking her head off and I keep hearing music.
