Photo by the author, Deeann D. Mathews, September 23, 2025
“See, I don't talk a lot, but I hear a lot, and I just think that it's just a lot of stuff that can be done better around Lofton County. Why we gotta have three water main breaks and then a whole neighborhood get completely washed out? Why we gotta have Cousin Harry almost get killed because his precinct building slid off the foundation? Why we gotta have a high school with a cotton candy and asbestos build? Grandma is telling me that Cousin Harry is gonna tell me to get done with first grade first, but it's just a lot of stuff I can build better with Legos than stuff is being built with grown-up materials.”
Six-year-old Grayson Ludlow was pouring out his heart to eight-year-old Gracie Trent his neighbor.
“Well, when you do have stuff to say, you really do and it all makes sense,” she said. “But, see, Grayson, you gotta understand: your brain is huge and your heart is huger, but your body is small and there are a lot of people who don't want better. Couple of them might try to hurt you, and then your grandpa and your sister Edwina are going to go kill them all, so, for your protection and everyone's protection, you gotta hit your growth spurt in second or third grade first.”
“You know, Gracie, I hadn't even thought about that because Papa and Edwina definitely would – yeah, I gotta wait. But aren't you starting third grade? You haven't hit a growth spurt.”
“But girls don't really do that so much,” Gracie said. “Like, I'm never going to be six feet tall like Dad, but Milton might.”
“But isn't he starting fourth grade?” Grayson said. “He's not that much taller than you or me.”
“Yeah, but, you know how Milton and George are always getting grounded, and of course, you gotta stay close to the ground for all that,” Gracie said.
“Oh – and because Andrew is ten but likes to sit down on the ground when he reads a lot, yeah,” Grayson said.
“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said. “There's gravity and decisions we make to get closer to the earth – like Amanda is probably going to be kinda short because she is sacrificing and not eating meat to take care of all animals in Creation, and so most of the animals on Earth are bugs, so if you are taking care of them you probably are going to stay close to them down there.”
“Oh,” Grayson said. “Well, I'm OK with being middle height, because I like to build skyscrapers, but people need most buildings at about middle height for buildings, so I'm OK with that.”
“Yeah, but middle height buildings are tall, so don't sell yourself short,” Gracie said.
“Thanks, Gracie,” Grayson said as he gave her a hug. “You just understand things and I appreciate you because it all makes sense when I talk with you. I would like to be your third best friend, behind Edwina and Amanda.”
“You ain't gotta be behind anyone; you're right there with them,” Gracie said. “They can share. There's enough of me to go around.”
“Because your brain is huge but your heart is huger, too,” Grayson said. “Thank you so much!”