| It was a chilly morning in early winter 1933. And as | | | | Uni, awaiting Grandpa Walter, asked everyone she |
| usual, Uni and Grandpa Walter readied themselves for | | | | knew-or thought she knew-to be sure to stop by and |
| their journey to Uni's snowbound street corner in | | | | get introduced to her grandfather who would be with |
| downtown Minneapolis, where Uni would sell her | | | | her that afternoon. Most of Uni's friends replied with a |
| pencils. Uni who lived with Grandpa Walter-now aging | | | | warm yes. A few strangers, who were mistaken for |
| with arthritis and light symptoms of forgetfulness-was | | | | acquaintances, were promptly apologized to and they |
| always pleased to have her Grandfather accompany | | | | went on their way. |
| her each morning, although he could only walk her part | | | | There's the judge, thought Uni. He's on his way for |
| of the way. And when evening came Grandpa Walter | | | | lunch like always at 11:15 sharp. Uni knew it was him |
| would be waiting-promptly at five-right where he left | | | | because he would always tap her bucket before |
| Uni that morning to walk her back home. And although | | | | dropping in a dime and taking a pencil from her right |
| Uni was blind from birth, with her cane and keen | | | | hand. Before he got too far, Uni cried: "Mr. Holms! Mr. |
| senses she never lost her way. | | | | Holms!" |
| This morning as they were walking Uni made a | | | | "Yes, Uni?" replied the Judge. |
| request. She asked her Grandfather to keep her | | | | "My grandfather is going to be vith me today; maybe |
| company that day, saying (with her broken English): | | | | you'd like to meet him?" |
| "I vant all my friends to see my very special | | | | "Well Uni, if he's here on my way back I'd be delighted |
| Grand-Papa." | | | | to. Bye for now!" replied the judge. |
| Grandpa Walter hesitated with an answer, | | | | "Boo!" said Grandpa Walter behind Uni in a soft way |
| remembering Uni had asked so many times before: | | | | as to not scare her. |
| could he turn her down again? | | | | "I knew it vas you Grandpa," replied Uni with delight. |
| Walter walked silently, rubbing his arms for warmth | | | | "Well-how is my special and only granddaughter |
| from the brisk winter wind and shifting cold snow. He | | | | today?" |
| waved to Ernie the milkman and Tony the mailman on | | | | "Oh fine," said Uni nervously. "I've been telling my |
| his horse drawn sleigh, and Orve (a rag collector during | | | | friend's dat you are going to be vith me today." |
| the summer months and part-time janitor during the | | | | "Yah!" said Walter unexpectedly, "Do you think that |
| winter ones) walking towards downtown on the | | | | was wise?" |
| opposite side of the street. Walter thought, mumbling | | | | "Oh! But vhy not Grandpa? I vant them all to meet |
| out loud: 'Orve is on his way to pick up some sausage | | | | you," answered Uni. |
| at the meat market, he does every Thursday.' | | | | With a smile Grandpa Walter replied: "And I'm very |
| Uni, with a somber voice, requested again: "Grand- Pa | | | | please you do; and so they shall." |
| Pa Vaulter, vil you stay vith me today?" | | | | About twenty minutes elapsed. "Well," said Grandpa |
| Grandpa Water wanted to say no, but just couldn't. | | | | Walter, "where are all these fine friends of yours?" |
| "Yes, Uni," he replied, "if it pleases you I will." | | | | "They're out to lunch Grandpa," answered Uni. |
| With a cry of delight Uni quickly hugged her | | | | Then just that moment appeared Mr. Holms the judge: |
| Grandfather. | | | | thereafter, Viola and Mr. Solman; then came Ted the |
| "But" said Grandpa Walter, "I will have to finish some | | | | barber, and Mrs. Branch the seamstress, one right |
| chores at the house first. I will meet you at noon." | | | | after the other. Uni introduced all of them to her |
| "Dat's fine Grand-Pa Pa," chuckle Uni with pleasure. | | | | Grandfather but something was wrong, very wrong. |
| As Uni stood on her street corner that morning | | | | They all seemed somewhat uncomfortable, |
| awaiting for noon to arrive (pencils in one hand, a tin | | | | unfriendly-not like they usually were. And surprisingly to |
| bucket half filled with pencils in the other, thus, allowing | | | | Uni none purchased any pencils as they normally |
| folks to drop coins into the bucket while taking a pencil), | | | | would before leaving. |
| she talked to a few regular customers that stopped | | | | On the way home that evening, Uni-bewildered |
| on by: and upon their departure, asked them for the | | | | because of her friends' attitudes-questioned Grandpa |
| time. But to her disbelief, it was only 8:20 a.m. 'Gosh,' | | | | Walter saying: "I just don't understand. All my regular |
| she thought: 'when you're waiting for something special | | | | customers came by and they were so unfriendly. I just |
| to happen, as having your Grandpa to keep you | | | | don't understand." |
| company for the day, time sure goes slow.' | | | | As they walked further up Glenwood Avenue, |
| As Grandpa Walter readied himself for his journey to | | | | Grandpa Walter hesitant replied: "Uni, I know why." |
| Uni's street corner, he thought about how his son had | | | | "Oh tell me Grandpa, did I do something wrong?" |
| stayed in Oslo, Norway after being stationed there in | | | | "No Granddaughter, you did nothing wrong. It's simply |
| the American Army during World War I: and married | | | | because-because your skin is a different color than |
| Anna, Uni's mother (a Norwegian citizen). It was just | | | | mine." |
| four years that December when he had traveled to | | | | Uni stopped walking, stared in the direction of her |
| Oslo to attend their funeral: a fatal train accident had | | | | grandfather, hesitated a moment, and said: "Oh Yaw?" |
| taken their lives, whereupon, he decided-during his | | | | She took Grandpa Walter's hand in her's. "I never |
| stay-to take Uni back with him to America. | | | | noticed. In my world Grandpa, everything is dark. Is |
| He thought-putting on his jacket-how retiring from the | | | | there a difference?" |
| South Saint Paul stockyards two-years earlier gave | | | | Grandpa Walter answered: "I guess it depends what |
| him time to enjoy life, and his granddaughter: and how | | | | world you wish to live in. I myself prefer yours." |
| his small pension and two-bedroom house (paid for) on | | | | With this Grandpa Walter squeezed Uni's hand. Uni |
| Glenwood Avenue made him feel secure, and his | | | | hugged Grandpa Walter burying her face into his coat. |
| golden years brighter. | | | | "I love you Grand-Pa Pa. |