Oscar and the Blue Door Bell

Oscar wanted to ring the bell before Grandad could knock.

The bell hung by the front door. It was a little brass one, and it went ding-a-ling when Oscar pulled the string. Grandad was coming on the afternoon bus, and Oscar had been waiting on the step for ages.

"He's coming at four," said Mum from the window.

"I'll hear the bus," said Oscar.

He heard a bird. He heard a bee. He heard the next-door dog. No bus.

Then he looked up. On the porch hung Grandad's old lantern, the one that burned blue on days when no rain would come. It was glowing blue right now. That meant Grandad could walk the long way, past the pond, and not get wet.

"Oh," said Oscar. "He won't come on the bus. He'll come the long way."

So he tried the garden gate. He stood there and watched the road. Nothing. He tried the apple tree, and climbed up to the first branch. Still nothing, only a leaf in his hair.

"Grandad is coming," Oscar said. "Grandad is coming."

Then he noticed something. Down by the pond, the lily pads were wobbling, one, two, three, as if somebody was stepping on them. Big lily pads, big enough to stand on. Grandad always hopped across them, because it was the quickest way.

Oscar slid down the tree and ran back to the door. He grabbed the bell string and held it tight.

A hat popped up over the hedge. It was a green hat with a feather. Under it was Grandad, with wet socks and a big smile.

Oscar pulled the string. Ding-a-ling!

"Well!" said Grandad. "Someone knew I was coming."

"I saw the lily pads wobble," said Oscar.

Grandad sat down on the step and pulled off one soggy sock. Oscar sat beside him. The lantern glowed blue above them, and the bell went on swinging, ding, ding, ding, until it slowly stopped.