Acts of Kindness Will Spread Light and Love in Shady Pines
Taking Note
Sometimes the little things really do matter most. When you see someone go out of their way to be nice it lifts your spirits and makes you feel good, doesn’t it? Kindness matters.
That’s what Edna Sanders is thinking about on this bright early Fall afternoon in Shady Pines Story Town.
Not far from the shops downtown, Edna sits at her kitchen desk in her home on Dogwood Drive across from Copy Cat Lane.
She’s making a list. Edna loves lists.
Only this one is different.
“I need to buy some note paper, envelopes, plastic wrap and ribbons,” she thinks to herself. “Oh. And maybe some colorful markers to write my messages.”
All of a sudden – BAMM!
The back door slams open. Edna nearly falls off her chair.
A Family Project
“Sorry, honey.” Edna’s husband Harold barges into the house balancing grocery bags in both hands along with a leash.
At the end of the leash is the family dog, Boomerang.
Harold places the bags on the kitchen counter and catches his glasses before they fall off his face.
“Goodness, Harold,” gasps Edna. “You nearly scared me to death.”
“Didn’t mean to,” says Harold. “Will you take Boomer?”
“Sure.” Edna stokes the head of the handsome Australian Shepherd dog. She unsnaps the leash and places it on a hook by the door.
Ding. Ding. Ding. The sound of a small bell on a cat’s collar comes closer.
“Oh, no,” groans Boomer. “Here she comes.”
“Pipe down you overgrown fur coat.” Halley’s Comet, a silver streak of a cat, arrives on the scene.
“What in samhill is going on?” she asks. “It was so quiet before you got home.”
“It wasn’t me,” says Boomer. “It was dad.”
Harold looks down at the elegant feline. “Hi ya, Halley. Guess we messed up your nap time with all this commotion.”
Halley looks directly at Boomer. “At least SOMEONE gets it!”
An Idea Takes Form
Edna and Harold work together to put away the groceries. “I think I got everything on your list and a few items I wanted, too,” says Harold as he winks at her.
Edna holds up a large gallon of ice cream and smiles.
“It seems you did.”
Harold looks a little guilty. “Hey, what were you working on?”
Edna’s face lights up. “Well, you know the kids are back in school.”
Harold nods. “Yesss.”
Edna continues. “And I love baking my State Fair first place Blue Ribbon chocolate chip cookies.”
Harold chuckles. “Always a mouthful in more ways than one.”
Edna claps her hands together. “I want to wrap a cookie with a note of encouragement in plastic. I’ll tie it up with ribbon. We’ll give these out once a week to the children at the Shady Pines Elementary School. They’ll be like a little gift.”
A Sweet Gesture
Harold places his hands on her shoulders and looks her right in the eyes. “What a wonderful idea, darling.”
Edna is so pleased Harold is on board. “I’ve been talking with Rita Malena since she runs the Community Center next to the school. Every Friday the kids go to the center to work on a project with some of the adults there.”
Harold nods as he sees this plan coming together.
“I really think you have something here.”
Edna is so excited she walks as she talks. “The way I see it each child will be encouraged by the adults to talk about what their special message means to them.”
“This is brilliant!” says Harold.
“It’s only the beginning,” says Edna. “But if it catches on we can get more people around town to write notes.”
Harold loves what he’s hearing. “A sweet treat delivering positive messages of kindness, caring, and more? Wow. What’s not to like?”
Testing The Concept
Edna snaps her fingers. “I just had a thought. We can test this out with Ray Robinson. He’s coming over tomorrow to play with Boomer and Halley.”
“Perfect,” says Harold.
All of a sudden Edna is quiet. “Harold. Do you really think this could work?”
Harold gathers her up in his arms. “You are trying to spread light into the world. 
The idea came from your heart. Yes it will work and I love you!”
Edna breaks free. “I LOVE YOU. That’s the first message I should wirite!”
And that’s where we leave the Sanders family on a beautiful Fall afternoon in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.