Grumpy in Trouble -- Still, Again, As Usual

As most of you Readers out there know, Grumpy has lived with the Grand Mother for so many years that she has become acutely (she was always "cute", but now she has also become "acutely") aware of what Grumpy may be thinking or may be about to do. Hence, Grumpy is in trouble more often than not. Yesterday was no exception; let the Reader decide.

As the preparations for Thanksgiving Day were being assembled in the kitchen of Grumpy's Castle, the Grand Mother "hinted" (code word for "hop to it and do it now!!") that she needed some pecans from the freezer. As usual when such wishes are made known, Grumpy jumped up from whatever important thing he was doing at the moment (well, at the moment he was doing another Sudoku puzzle from the book of 200 Sudoku's that someone got him for his birthday) and, going downstairs two steps at a time, hurried to fetch a bag of frozen pecans.

After grinding a cup and a half for the Grand Mother, Grumpy resumed his aforementioned important task and then retired to the computer to check on his e-mail -- and to do some other important computer work ("play") until dinner time was announced.

After dinner was finished, Grumpy was pleasantly surprised to find out there was to be dessert! Now, dessert is not a regular event in the Castle -- Grumpy doesn't need the extra calories and the Grand Mother doesn't need the extra work (a delight, of course, if she fixes something special for Grandson Ramiro -- "Grandsons can do no wrong", is her mantra). The dessert was a rich, nutty pie of which Grumpy took a narrow slice. After Grumpy had devoured it, Ramiro asked, "What do you think the main ingredient is?" Grumpy said, "pecans" but he really had no idea. (See, this is what happens all the time: the Grandsons of the Grand Mother are forever seeking ways to get Grumpy in trouble!)

Now the pie looked like an ordinary pecan pie, and Grumpy remembered having processed the pecans earlier. But it had a distinctly different taste. It turns out that "peanut butter" was the secret ingredient! Then came the coup d'gras inflicted by the household Grandson: "Grandma!" Ramiro excitedly said, "Now Grandpa doesn't think there is enough peanut butter in the pie!"

Later, the Grand Mother was heard muttering as she typed away at e-mails she was writing to tell of the misdeeds of Grumpy including the old, untrue, unproven-in-a-court-of-law story of putting peanut butter on one of her Lemon Meringue Pies (see file photo on the right).

Won't someone out there among you Readers please commiserate with Grumpy and tell him he is still respected as the Master of his Castle?