“I miss Milton; I wonder if I just should just go on and get grounded in solidarity.”
“George, don't do stuff that we just learned how to spell. Come get some Legos.”
“Yeah, OK.”
The relationship between nine-year-old George and his little brother six-year-old Grayson was a bit strange because Grayson was precociously grounded for his age and George was just as intelligent but dedicated to being just nine years old. It was also a bit strange because George loved being outside and getting into everything while Grayson did his share of running around but preferred building with his Legos in his free time. Rarely, therefore, did the two spend a lot of time together, but …
“I can't believe they grounded Milton for inventing a better bubble bath,” George said to Grayson.
“Yeah, but, without permission,” Grayson said. “Even Papa has to have permits and stuff.”
“But this is why Glendella's biological grandparents really make no sense,” George said. “I can't see why they wanted to shut our soda company down. Is it because our soda had more uses than their wine?”
“Whaddya mean?” Grayson said.
“Our soda can make thick bubble bath, while if you get into a vat of wine, you probably are going to turn into a pickle after a while,” George said.
Grayson considered this, and was quiet for some time, pressing all the limits of his vast but still six-year-old brain.
“Well,” he said, “people do get mad when you can do more than them. But I was just thinking our soda just tastes better.”
“It does – that goes without saying,” George said. “Obviously the Ludlow Bubbly is the best soda on earth, so good that we are selling it to the people who make it because they are the best in the world at what they do. And that gives me an idea – hey, Eleanor, let me see your phone – thanks – oh, hey, Velma, I need to talk to your dad for a second – hi, Sgt. Trent, I'm just calling because I thought of something. Milton is really trying to help this sale out because you can include in the price of the Ludlow Bubbly the rights to make thick bubble bath, and we didn't know the company had that before Milton!”
“You called over there to say – never mind, that's none of my business,” Grayson said, and just shook his head and returned his attention to what he was building.
“Yeah, and also, Milton was smart enough not to use our soda for the test, Sergeant – he used that off-brand stuff like in the YouTube videos,” George was saying. “Obviously, the thick bubble bath our soda can make will be better because we use all natural ingredients. Yeah, hold on – hey, Papa!”
So, Capt. R.E. Ludlow, grandfather to George and Grayson, walked in.
“Yes, George?” he said.
“I need you to talk with our business partner about Milton's great idea,” he said.
“Good afternoon, Captain,” Sgt. Vincent Trent said. “Milton and George together have discovered something we didn't account for in the sale: derivative rights to make new products with the Ludlow Bubbly as the base.”
Capt. Ludlow jumped slightly, and then tousled George's hair.
“Out of the mouths of babes,” he said. “You go speak with your father-in-law about this, and I will call Gen. Ira Hamilton for some ideas.”
“Well, wait a minute – Milton and I need something out of the deal too!” George said. “Can I get some time knocked off Milton being grounded – I miss him!”
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, and Capt. Ludlow smiled inwardly. He himself, having been raised with a father who was much less attentive to his children's feelings, had learned much from Sgt. Trent's method of being strict, fair, and also as gentle as possible with his little children and their friends.
“Well, I think I can give him a half-day off, on the night side,” he said calmly. “I'll bounce that off of you, Captain, for your opinion.”
“I think that is eminently fair,” Capt. Ludlow said calmly, though his eyes twinkled.
“Yes! Yes!” George said. “Woo hoo! Tell Milton that I love him and that I'll see him sooner and thank you, Sergeant! Thank you, Papa! Thank you, Jesus! Woo hoo!”
And George went on his way rejoicing while Capt. Ludlow said goodbye to Sgt. Trent, and then got his shirt pulled by Grayson.
“If you get a half day off from being grounded, but it's the night side and you're asleep, do you even know?” he said.
“Well, it may lead to having better dreams,” Capt. Ludlow said as he picked his younger grandson up, “but, you are right: it is what we call a distinction without a difference, because Milton is going to sleep through that particular half-day. Sgt. Trent spared hurting George's feelings, but is going to continue to discipline Milton as he sees fit – and that is fair. I could say nothing against it.”
“George was wondering if he should get grounded in solidarity, but I told him we can't do stuff we just learned how to spell,” Grayson said.
“Good advice from a caring brother, my boy,” Capt. Ludlow said, and put Grayson down by the Lego pile again with a smile and kiss.
