Holding a Grudge

by Shauna Houser

"You should never hold a Grudge."

That’s what my mother said to me,

and I really tried to listen,

although I could never see

just how not to hold a Grudge

when I never even knew

what exactly a Grudge looks like,

and what holding one would do.

So I asked big sister one day,

when we got up out of bed,

if she’d ever held a real, live Grudge,

and she just laughed and said,

"I once saw one in the garden

eating lettuce for his sup,

but he went and ran away

when I tried to pick him up."

So I went out to the garden,

and I hid behind a tree,

and I waited with my Grudge-box,

but the Grudge I didn’t see.

And when Mother called me in for lunch

I didn’t want to go,

‘cause I was scared that when I left

that sneaky Grudge would know.

Then he’d come into the garden

from his cozy little nest,

and he’d eat up all the carrots

(Because carrots taste the best).

So I stayed there right behind my tree

although my belly growled,

and I hoped he wouldn’t hear

because my belly sounded loud!

Then right beside the cabbage patch

I thought I saw a wiggle,

and I had to cover up my mouth

so that I wouldn’t giggle.

And I saw a little animal

with fur as brown as fudge,

and I knew with all my heart

it was my sister’s little Grudge.

So I held my box up really high

and snuck out really slow,

and I crept behind my sister’s Grudge

and stood there on tip-toe.

And he never even saw me;

didn’t know that I was there…

until my box came down on him

and gave him quite a scare!

Then he jumped up and he squealed,

but he couldn’t run away

‘cause I had him trapped inside my box,

and in my box he’d stay.

But I couldn’t help but wonder,

as I yelled for Sis to come,

what would happen if I did

just what my sister’d almost done.

So I tipped the box up, just a bit,

and quickly peeked inside,

and I saw the little Grudge was

huddled up against the side,

and I put my hand around him,

‘though I’m sure that that was dumb…

and when I tried to pick him up,

he went and bit my thumb!

Well, it hurt a lot, I tell you,

so I let him go, and then

that nasty Grudge ran to his hole

and wasn’t seen again.

My sister tried to scold me

and looked angry as she could,

but she mostly only laughed at me

and wrapped my thumb up good.

"So you’ve caught a Grudge," she told me,

"and now you know just why

you should never try to hold one,

because they can make you cry."

And so when I’m in the garden

I watch out for moving fudge,

and I’ve never, ever, ever

tried to hold another Grudge!

(published and copyrighted 1999)