Looking Deeper

On a bright fall day, Erin stopped by her grandma's house after school. She found her in the kitchen, pulling a batch of cookies out of the oven.

"Hello, sweetheart," Grandma said. "Grab a cookie. How was school?"

"Good," Erin said, reaching for a cookie. "There's a new girl in my class. She just moved here. I don't like her."

"Oh?" Grandma said. "That doesn't sound like my kind granddaughter. Why don't you like her? Is she mean to you?"

Erin blushed. "I'm sorry, Grandma, I didn't mean to sound unkind. I've never talked to her, but she just looks so grumpy! She never smiles."

Grandma put a hand on Erin's shoulder. "Would you do me a favor, honey? Run upstairs to my bedroom and get the box underneath my bed."

Soon Erin was back downstairs with the box. "What is it?" she asked curiously.

Grandma opened the box and pulled out a very old violin. It was dirty and missing parts, and all the strings were broken.

"Oh, ew!" Erin exclaimed.

Grandma smiled. "Yes, this old thing ha