I was searching through my boring, stinky Grandpa's chest.
He keeps a chest to put things in; silly things that he collects.
I was trying to find his ancient yo yo.
Eventually I found it. I pulled it out the box and wiped away all the dust. It was a green slimy colour. I held onto the string then let go of the wooden ball. The yo yo went zooming towards the floor. The string snapped and it went rolling down the stairs. I chased after it. My foot slipped on the staircase and I went crashing down. I landed with a thump on the floor, my shoulder really hurting.
"Ow!" I yelled.
My Grandpa came tottering along. He looked down at me.
"Helena? I thought you were taller than me!"
"I am, Grandpa. I'm lying down. Where are your glasses?"
Grandpa usually loses his glasses.
"Upstairs."
"Well, step fifteen is very slippery."
"I'll remember that. Thank you Helena!"
He slowly walked up the stairs. I wasn't sure if it was him or the stairs creaking. I scrambled back to my feet and followed him.
When I reached the top of the stairs, the silly old man was going through the chest. It was a big wooden chest ornately carved.
"You've left your glasses in there?" I asked, surprised.
"Aaaagh!" he shrieked, not expecting me, falling into the chest.
I covered my mouth to stop myself laughing.
"Help! I'm under attack!" I heard him shouting.
"I'll pull you out Grandpa!"
I put my hands on his feet, that were sticking out.
"Stop! Let me get my glasses first!" came the reply.
I let go and stood there waiting. Eventually I heard the muffled words,
"Pull me out!"
So I did. I dragged him out of the box, and he wiggled and jiggled.
He came out of the box with his glasses. There were also things like china cups and a medal that he had in his arms. The medal, unlike everything else, was really shiny.
"What's this?" I asked, yanking the medal from Grandpa's arms. He dropped everything.
"Oh!" he mumbled, then looked at me, "that's just a medal."
"But that's the Victoria Cross!"
"Yes."
My mouth fell open.
"Were...were you a war hero?"
"No, not really."
"Well, you are my hero. Tell me more!"
"Why, thank you, Helena! I wanted to help in the war but not fire a shot. They made me a stretcher bearer. I had to bring in the wounded from the battle field."
"That's amazing!"
I smiled.
"Oh...and this china cup..."he began.
I sighed. That day I'd discovered my Grandpa was an amazing war hero; and that he was a complete and utter fruitcake. Well, I kind of always knew that.
"I drank from this china cup after the war! I was with a few other army generals, and the King was there, and.."
"What?! You met the-"
"Thought your Grandpa was a boring wrinkly old man, didn't you?"