William White

A Philosophical Difference With My Grandaughter

She was almost five
when we planted peanuts in the garden—
two rows for her, two for me. 

After the planting,
I said: “Now it is
up to the god of harvest. 

“We should pray
for them to grow,”
she said.  

“You pray for your two rows,” I said.
“But don’t pray for mine. They don’t need it.
And I’ll bet mine grow as well as yours.” 

(We’ve had philosophical differences
since she began
church pre-school.)           

“Don’t you dare pray for my peanuts!”
I said leaving to put
the garden tools away. 

When I returned,
she said: “I prayed
for your peanuts, too! 

                                    Ha!”
                          Ha!
                Ha!
      Ha!

(photo by Nathan Vandiver)