Papa Ron Tells a Story
by Maryann Whitfield
Papa Ron Tells a Story
“Let’s make a fire in the chiminea, Papa. Then you can tell me stories!”
Papa smiled at the invitation. Oh, how he loved telling stories. He especially loved telling stories to his little granddaughter Avery. Soon the crackles and pops of a bright fire could be heard, and its flames flickered in the early evening light.
“Once there was a boy named Ronnie.”
“The story is about you, Papa!” Avery could barely contain her excitement.
“That’s right. My daddy called me Ronnie. We lived on a small ranch near Austin. One day my daddy told me we were going to the river bottom to look for animal tracks. I was so excited. I followed him to the river bottom where many animals roamed. I loved following the tracks like hunters do, and I wondered what we’d find.”
Papa continued, “As we walked the river bottom where the soil was soft, my daddy stopped suddenly and stared down at the loose dirt. I looked down too and saw tracks that looked like small hooves. They weren’t the big cow hooves that we usually saw.”
Avery whispered, “What animal made those tracks?”
“Keep listening to the story Avery,” Papa said with a big smile. He knew Avery was right beside him looking at the tracks he’d seen so long ago. “When I looked up from the tracks, I saw a little deer staring right at me! It was so close I could have reached out and touched it. But I stood completely still. My heart pounded. Then in a flash the deer took off running into the woods.”
“Oh, Papa! Let’s go tracking like you did. Would you take me to look for animal tracks when we go to Uncle Dan’s ranch next time?”
Papa grinned. “I think it’s time for us to plan a trip to the ranch.”
“Good! Now, please tell me another story about when you were a little boy.”
Storytelling: A Magical Way to Learn
Avery loved spending time with her papa, and she took special delight in the stories he told her. Over time these storytelling experiences had a powerful influence over her. She learned about her grandfather’s childhood and what life was like for him while growing up during the 50s and 60s. She learned about her great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins who she would never meet. His stories were sometimes like mini-history lessons with a deeply personal touch.
These engaging experiences with her papa’s stories were helping Avery as a budding reader and writer. Through his stories she learned the power of story. She was fascinated by characters who were sometimes her relatives. The settings of the stories might be places she had seen, or they might introduce her to places she had never been. Papa Ron often added a bit of humor to make his little granddaughter giggle. He liked making them suspenseful, and Avery would listen in rapt silence.
Papa Ron’s stories were magical times for him and Avery, for they were times when Avery learned about life and the world.
Tips for telling stories–
• They can be utterly simple and short or they can be elaborate and detailed. (Let the age of the child be a guide.)
• They can be real or totally made up. They can be folktales, fairy tales, or fables.
• A cozy place to tell the story makes storytelling even more delightful.
