CHAPTER 9

Grover, Benji and Nanna Jean headed towards the garden. But they had to walk very slowly, because Benji kept bumping into the walls. He was bouncing off the sides of the hallway like a bowling ball!

‘Well, this won’t do!’ Nanna Jean said, watching Benji zigzag down the hallway.

She turned around and shuffled back towards her room. ‘Wait there, boys!’ she called.

Oh no! Grover thought. I bet she’s getting the nurse and Annie. My brilliant plan will be ruined!

But when Nanna Jean came back she was still on her own, and she was carrying a small bottle.

Nanna Jean opened the bottle and began to walk down the centre of the hallway, placing little droplets on the carpet in a straight line as she went. It didn’t take long for the whole hallway to smell of lavender.

‘Okay, Benji,’ Nanna Jean said, once she was done. ‘Just follow your nose!’

Benji sniffed his way to the first lavender drop, right in the middle of the carpet, and then he followed the droplets all the way to the end of the hallway.

‘There you go!’ Nanna Jean exclaimed. ‘Problem solved!’

Benji and Nanna Jean both looked very pleased with themselves.

Once they were outside, Grover went to find Mr Sam. He loved Sam, and Sam loved him. Grover thought he must have had a border collie in a past life, because he knew all the right spots to scratch.

Grover lay at Sam’s feet and watched Benji following Nanna Jean around the garden. They were stopping at every flower, just like Benji used to do with Nancy.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Grover saw a big red flower on the other side of the garden.

He tried to remember what Benji had told him about roses. Big and red, lots of petal layers and huge green stems with big spiky thorns … Yes, I think that’s a rose! he thought excitedly.

Grover jumped up and headed over for a closer look.

It was DEFINITELY a rose!

While no-one was watching, Grover leant forward and carefully grabbed the stem with his teeth, making sure he avoided the thorns. With a little snap, Grover took the rose from the bush, and ran with it towards the Aged Care Home.

Now I know my plan will work for sure! Grover thought.

Once he had finished inside, Grover went back to the garden, just as Annie was announcing that it was time for them to go home.

All the grandparents slowly made their way back inside, stopping to pat Grover and Benji one last time.

Standing next to Benji, Grover could feel that his friend was about to burst with excitement.

‘We did the crossword, Grover, and then Nanna Jean told me all about the flowers, just like Nancy used to,’ Benji said. ‘This was the best day EVER!’

Just then, Annie called from the doorway. ‘Benji,’ she said, ‘come over here. I have a little surprise for you.’ She winked at Grover, and then she picked up Benji and carried him inside.