Nat： There is a way, Malcolm. We get our friends to roll their sleeves¹ up and get to work.

    Grandpa： It's certainly a good idea. If I could take a look at the place, I could probably tell what it requires to fix it up. How much paint, how many hours of work……

    Nat： That's what I came to ask you to do, Malcolm.If you would supervise² the refurbishing, I'll find the people to help do it.

    Robbie： I'll help too, Mr.Baker³. I can get some of my friends to go around the neighborhood and collect the furniture we need.

    Alexandra： I'll help.

    Grandpa： Tomorrow. Yes. We'll meet tomorrow morning, right here.

    Robbie： Can we help？

    Alexandra： I'd really like to.

    Grandpa： Sure.

    Nat： We might need you to come through with your friends, Robbie. Not just to go around the neighborhood asking for furniture, but to help with the paint job. That's backbreaking work and may be too much for us.

    Robbie： I'll do it. I'll talk to them.

    Alexandra： And tomorrow morning we'll all meet here to discuss the plan？

    Grandpa： Come in, come in. Please, come in.

    Nat： I'd like you to meet my friend Malcolm Stewart. Malcolm, this Joanne Thompson

    Grandpa： Hello, Joanne. Nice to meet you.

    Joanne： My pleasure, Malcolm.

    Nat： And this is Abe Lucas. You must remember Abe. He ran the drugstore and used to play drums with the jazz band on weekends.

    Grandpa： Oh, sure I do. Hi, Abe.

    Abe： Hello, Mr. Stewart.

    Grandpa： Malcolm, please.

    Abe： Hello, Malcolm.

    Grandpa： Sit down, sit down. Have some coffee. And I've got some delicious Danish pastry⁴ for you.

    Nat： Where's your grandson Robbie and his friend Alexandra？ Weren't they going to be here this morning？

    Grandpa： I thought so, too. I'm surprised they're not here. Robbie left early this morning to meet Alexandra. Frankly⁵, I thought they'd be here, but……

    Nat： It's OK. I'm sure they meant well, but they probably had other things on their minds.

    Joanne： I understand you used to be in the construction business, Malcolm.

    Grandpa： I was, indeed.

    Joanne： I wonder if you would take a look at the old library and make sure that it is in good condition so that we don't have to worry about any structural⁶ problems.

    Grandpa： When can I do that？ I'd be happy to.

    Abe： We've got permission to go inside the old building during the week-Tuesday or Wednesday.

    Grandpa： That's fine with me. I can do it either day.

    Joanne： That would be very helpful.

    Nat： I think the building just needs a good cleaning.

    Abe： And a good paint job.

    Joanne： Then we have to furnish⁷ it.

    Grandpa： I wish Robbie and Alexandra had come to this meeting. They had some ideas about getting the place fixed⁸ up.

    Joanne： Perhaps they'll show up. In the meantime⁹, let me give you some additional¹⁰ thoughts and ideas I have.

    Grandpa： OK.

    Nat： Go ahead, Janne.

    Janne： As I said, mostly the building just needs a good cleaning.

    Nat： This place can be developed with one real intergenerational program.

    Grandpa： That's an idea I like. A community center with the kinds of programs that fit everyone.

    Nat： And programs that don't leave anyone out.

    Joanne： It's asking a lot. But we can't do it without talking to the young people. Finding¹¹ out what they want.

    Grandpa： If only Robbie and Alexandra were here.

    Nat： Don't be upset, Malcolm. We'll have a chance to talk to them later.

    Grandpa： It's not like Robbie. If he says he's going to be here, he's here. I wonder what the problem is.

 

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