The War With Grandpa

Peter Stokes is in the fifth grade, and his English teacher, Mrs. Klein, wants her students to tell a “true and real” story (1), so Peter writes about his grandpa. His little sister, Jennifer, tells him to put Pac-Man and Wonder Woman in his story. She wears a Pac-Man cap and a Superman T-shirt. She also suggests including horses or a “magic fairy.” Peter rejects her ideas. His story is about him and his grandpa. Jennifer says it sounds dumb. Peter says it’ll be great, but he doesn’t know where to start. Jenny says it should start with her. She discovered before Peter that Grandpa was going to live with their family.

Peter likes to read books with short chapters, so his story will feature tiny chapters.

Returning to the story, Jennifer goes into Peter’s room, and he warns her not to sit in his rocking chair. She rocks too hard in it, causing the arm to pop out. Peter’s mom was going to throw out the rocking chair, but Peter saved it. His dad promises to glue the arm, but that hasn’t happened.

Jennifer has news: Grandpa Jack is going to move in with them.