Every year Andy Shane and Granny Webb celebrated their unbirthdays. They always chose a fall day when the jam was made, the tomatoes were canned, and the grass no longer needed mowing. In other words — the perfect time for a party.

This year, Andy wanted to give Granny the best present ever. So he sat down and made a list of all the things she loved:

But he couldn’t give her any of these things. Granny didn’t want to collect living things; she just wanted to watch them. He added Binoculars to the list. Granny loved her binoculars.

Aha! That’s it! Andy knew the perfect gift. He would buy a case to protect the binoculars when he and Granny went hiking through the woods!

That afternoon, Andy rode his bike to Dolores Starbuckle’s house. “I’ve thought of the perfect present to buy Granny Webb,” he said.

“But your piggy bank is empty,” said Dolores, who was very practical.

Andy had forgotten. He’d spent all his money on marbles over the summer. Dolores Starbuckle didn’t forget anything.

“I’ll earn the money,” said Andy.

“Doing what?” asked Dolores.

Andy wasn’t sure, but he’d think of something.

Later, Dolores and Andy were walking Lucky Duck when they saw an old chair sitting by the side of the road. The chair had a sign that said, FREE. TAKE ME.

“Wow,” said Dolores. “You could give Granny Webb this chair!”

“What would she want with an old chair?” asked Andy.

“You could fix it up —”

“And sell it!” said Andy. “That’s it! I can have a barn sale!”

“I’ll help!” said Dolores.

So Andy got his wagon, and he and Dolores walked up and down the streets in their neighborhood, collecting old plates and lampshades, mops and muffin tins.

“Why, Andy Shane,” said Granny Webb. “What are you doing with all these things?”

“We’re having a barn sale!” shouted Dolores.

Granny could not believe the piles and piles and piles of things taking up the space in her barn. She collapsed into the chair with the FREE sign. “I’ll help,” she said.

Andy, Dolores, and Granny made posters to hang around town. They decorated flyers and put them up at the post office, in the barber shop, and at the grocery store. Granny even helped Andy and Dolores put an ad in the newspaper.