He mined for wordy treasures. And looked for love signs and signals, in this poem and that.

Searching ‘The Ground of The Greys’, Gramps had gone the extra mile to find his soul-twin. And in doing so, he’d opened an Earth-chest, full of wisdom and hope.

“I met Nanna on the Splinternet.”

Gramps’ stories required the attention of a harrier hawk. He’d glide over important stages of his life in a skip, without a second thought.

“We were on the cusp of change. A fractured Nation. Libraries still opened their doors to those in search of authenticity. Of course, there was Tweeto, Faceshook —and boy did it shake! And Dwindler and InstaBam! But the only thing that crawled out of those places was jerked beef! True love was a rarity amongst people.”

Gramps was born in Black and White. For those that progressed to Technicolor, life was not much different. Most people skipped Warnercolor and turned to KodakShine. Even though people had different ideas, they all had hope for the future. A lifetime away, from ‘The Ground of The Greys.’

“Things weren’t as established back then. They were frail times. Nowadays, you order a Blue95, Red60 or HotYou33 and you’re good to go.”

“But Gramps, that’s cheating!”

“There’s no such thing as cheating when it comes to love. You either do it, or you won’t. Have it or you don’t.”

“And now Gramps? —What about now?”

“Always and forever boys. But If I had the chance all over again? —I would gobble a HotYou33 and a Throttle18! —O’how I loved that woman! Your Nanna was a one.”

Travis shuffled about on a thick, muscular thigh. And George clung to Gramps’ other one.

‘Gramps was going to be an athlete one day.’ The boys just knew it.

Travis and George sunk into Gramps’ broad chest. They loved it when he made his pecs talk. Gramps would give each pec a high pitched ladies voice. And when his pecs really got to chatter, the boys would giggle and their heads would bounce about.

“She had the most beautiful wrinkled turned down mouth. The kind that drooped in the corners and made me want to smile for an eternity. I knew it would rise with every waking sun. And a centimetre with every passing decade.

Her cloudy cataracts, were just a temporary visor. Behind the veil, her youthful soul would flutter a royal wave. Her thick brows kept warm her perfectly round face, and gave me much expression. Her bush…

Travis? Are you listening? George? wake up!…

Her bushy caterpillars, would rise and fall at my every joke. Wispy hairs would tickle my lip.

In time, her dentures gave way to strong, ivory keys. On closer inspection, I noted the black ones too, but she was half way to a gorgeous grin.

She would mumble melodies, and could hum with 3 or 4 humbugs in her mouth at the same time! She was a perfect picture, with a pitch perfect voice.

By her 50s, she had a bell hooked nose, that chimed with the changing seasons. Her rattles were wedding bells to my ears. She was cultural change itself! A face full of enthusiasm and an eye full of twinkle.

And when she finally grew to 24, her truest beauty rewarded my patience, and long suffering. She was MAGNIFICENT!”

Gramps shuddered hard, all over. Mindful of the vulnerabilities of the boys, he firmed himself. Asthenia had set in, and the boys were not permitted to choose a path until the issue was settled.

Travis and George were grateful for Gramps’ insight. Youths returning to old age were easily phased. Reminiscing about anything in ‘The Ground of The Greys’ would send most young people into an unusual, frightful state. Not Gramps. Gramps was a trooper. He was all about punching fear in the face. Nanna was his only wobble.

Nanna had grown too young.