Grandpa’s Radio

Kim is at her grandfather’s house. She is in the attic with a box of old things. There is a lot of dust, and the air smells old. Under a blanket she finds a small blue radio.

“Grandpa, what is this?” Kim asks. “It’s my old radio,” he says. “I think it’s broken.” He smiles, but he looks sad.

That night, Kim cleans the radio and plugs it in. There is an old tape inside. She presses the big button. First, there is a song. Then a man’s voice says, “Hello, Anna. Today you are five years old.”

Kim runs downstairs. “Grandpa! Who is Anna?” “That’s your mother,” he says. “It’s my voice. I made that tape for her.” His eyes are wet.

Grandpa and Kim sit together and listen. The tape is ten minutes long. At the end, he says, “Tomorrow, we can make a tape for you.” Kim smiles. “Yes, please! I have a lot to say.”