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RAP GRANDADDY RAP
By
Kim Bradshaw
Copyright © Kim Bradshaw 2007ISBN
This paperback is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the
publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed
on the subsequent purchaser.
Chapter 1
Rap Grandaddy makes a record
Grandaddy woke up early today, he was happy. He was going to the recording
studios to make a record and Nana was going with him.
Downstairs in the kitchen Nana was busy making sandwiches.
"Do we need to take sandwiches Nana?" Grandaddy asked her.
"Of course Grandaddy," Nana said, "You know how grumpy you get if you don't
eat on time and Nancy, who lives down the road, tells me her son Joe spends lots
of hours at the record shop!"
"Nana, it's a recording studio not a record shop!" Grandaddy laughed at Nana.
"Those recording studios are very fancy" he said.
"Well, record shop, recording studio, they're all the same to me!" Nana said
pulling a face.
She packed a ham and cheese sandwich for each of them, a packet of
chocolate cookies and put them into her bag along with a flask of tea. Nana was
preparing for a very long day. Nana also packed her knitting as she was making
jumpers for her grandchildren, Aston and Rosie. “Tut tut” she muttered shaking
her head; Grandaddy was too old to be making these records.
Grandaddy looked out of the window.
“Hurry up Nana, the car has arrived to take us to the studio!" he shouted
with excitement.
The driver of the car got out and knocked on Rap Grandaddy’s door. After
introducing himself to Grandaddy and Nana, the driver told them it was time to go
to the studio. He offered to carry Nana’s bag to the car for her.
"No thank you” Nana said holding the bag tightly in her arms, "I can
manage."
The driver helped Nana and Grandaddy get into the big white shiny car.
Grandaddy was touching all the knobs. "Don't touch Grandaddy" Nana
said, "You might break something!"
“Nana, look here, look at this! There is a television in this car!" Grandaddy
switched it on and leaned back to watch the news.
Nana saw a fridge inside the car. She opened it and inside were many little
bottles of drink, cans of pop and packets of peanuts. Nana looked around to see if
anyone could see her before slipping two cans of pop and two packets of peanuts
into her bag.
Nana then leaned forward and knocked on the glass that separated the driver
from where they sat. “Excuse me? Excuse me sir?" Nana said. “Can you stop at
the Post Office? I need to collect my pension today."
"Sure thing ma’am." the driver said.
Nana looked over at Rap Grandaddy and saw that he had already fallen
asleep.
She nudged Grandaddy in the hip. "Wake up!" she said crossly, "You're
snoring!"
When they arrived at the Post Office, Nana went inside to collect her
pension while Grandaddy waited outside in the car.
People were coming up to the big white car to have a look. Grandaddy got
out of the car to say hello to the people.
"We're going to make a record today" Grandaddy told the people.
"Yeah, ha ha and what do you sing Granddad, Three Blind Mice?" a little
boy shouted at him.
"I don't sing," Grandaddy said "I rap!" The little boy laughed louder.
"Show us then Granddad, do some rap!” the boy said still laughing.
Grandaddy twisted his cap backwards, hunched up his shoulders, held his
hands out in front of him and with his body he rocked a beat. Then he started to
rap…
"Come over here kids, hear what I say
Grandaddy the rapper is headed your way
I’m old and decrepit, yet built like a brick
Don’t matter any more, I get support from a stick.
The Nana indoors thinks I'm just a disgrace,
That I’m gonna bring shame all over the place!”
Grandaddy stopped rapping and said to the crowd;
"Now repeat after me, Rap Grandaddy Rap.”
“Rap Grandaddy Rap” they all repeated.
When Grandaddy had finished his rap song, he took a bow.
The people clapped, cheered, and sang.
“Rap Grandaddy Rap” they kept saying. “Rap Grandaddy Rap.”
Grandaddy happily posed for photos with the people. He felt like a star. He
had seen all this before on the television. Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Julia
Roberts… they were always having their picture taken. He couldn't wait to meet
them and have his picture took with them. Mmm, him and Julia Roberts…..his
friends would be so envious!
Nana came out of the Post Office and pushed her way through the people.
Grandaddy put his arm around Nana. "This is my wife," he told the people.
"We call her Nana Rap." The people laughed; Grandaddy was having so much fun
today.
"Oh, shut up." Nana said playfully and the people laughed again. She
smiled shyly at the crowd while they took more photos of her and Grandaddy
together.
“Rap Grandaddy Rap” the people sang as Nana and Grandaddy got back
into the car, “Rap Grandaddy Rap’.
Grandaddy waved his hat at them; his eyes were gleaming with pride.
“Goodbye and don’t forget to look for my record, it will be in the shops
soon!” he said.
Nana held up her hand and waved goodbye to them. Nana was beginning
to feel special and extremely important.
“Rap Grandaddy Rap,” they kept chanting as the car drove away. “Rap
Grandaddy Rap.”
Grandaddy hugged Nana tight.
"See I told you Nana, they like it!" he said, "And look at you acting like the
Queen in front of all those people. I told you Nana we are in the money now; you
can have that new bed you want and a washing machine. Hey, we might even buy
one of these fancy cars!” he chuckled and Nana chuckled with him
"You can't even see properly, let alone drive one of these big things!" Nana
said to him.
"Well he seems like a nice chap," Grandaddy said nodding towards the
driver, “We'll give him a job!"
Nana laughed so much her stomach wobbled.
“Stop it Grandaddy, you know it hurts my back when I laugh too much" she
said.
The big car soon arrived at the recording studio. The driver helped both
Nana and Grandaddy to get out of the car and then took them into the studio to
meet the producer. The producer was the man that was going to make
Grandaddy's record.
"Pleased to meet you” Grandaddy said to the producer shaking his hand.
“This is my wife Nana Rap." He said while grabbing Nana and pulling her forward
to meet the producer.
Nana held out her hand to the producer. He took her hand and lightly
kissed the top of it.
"Oooh" Nana blushed and curtsied to him. The producer smiled at nana.
“Right, we have a lot to do so follow me" the producer said.
Inside the recording room Grandaddy looked around in amazement. He
saw lots of equipment, wires everywhere and a long table with lots of buttons. He
was starting to feel a little uncomfortable in this big room with all the wires.
Then Grandaddy saw Joe. Joe was Nancy’s son and he worked at the
recording studios. Grandaddy had met Joe at the karaoke club where Nana and
Grandaddy went every Friday night.
Grandaddy had performed his rap on stage as he did every Friday. He
always had the people clapping and cheering because he could rap like the
youngsters. Joe told him later that night that he should make a record and that
lots of people would want to buy it. Grandaddy said he would love to make a
record. So, he and Joe arranged to practice. They had lots of practices and many
meetings after that, and then Joe said it was time for Grandaddy to go into the
studio to make the record.
Joe came over and asked Grandaddy if he wanted a drink to warm up his
throat before recording.
"Yes please”, granddad said, laughing nervously, “I could do with a big glass of
whisky!"
Joe laughed with him and handed him a bottle of water. Grandaddy took a
huge sip.
"I'm ready to make a record now." Grandaddy said.
The producer led Nana into the waiting room. The sign on the door to the
waiting room said ‘Guest Area’.
"Help yourself to anything" the producer said pointing to the table. "We'll
see you later and if there is anything else you need, just dial nine on the
telephone okay?”
Nana said thank you and then the producer left Nana alone.
Grandaddy was right, Nana thought. There on the table was tea, coffee,
biscuits and a basket full of sweets. She grabbed a handful of sweets and slid
them into her bag. It was comfortable in the guest area. There was a big long
black settee, a row of straight back chairs and there was even a big bed in the
corner! There were cushions everywhere and big fluffy cushions placed on the
floor. There was no way Nana would sit on the floor!
Nana picked up one of the smaller cushions and she sat on one of the
straight back chairs and placed the cushion behind her back.
Nana also saw there was a TV with DVD player and many DVDs to watch
but Nana didn't watch much TV, she liked to knit instead. She opened her bag,
took out her flask and poured herself a cup of tea. She then lifted out her knitting
and started to knit.
Nana could see Grandaddy through the window. He had on headphones
and she could see his lips moving but she could not hear what he was saying.
Grandaddy was working very hard making his record. The producer kept
telling him to do his rap song again and again and again. He was getting very
tired. He was also in a small glass room, and it was hot. This felt different to the
karaoke club; Grandaddy only repeated his rap song there because his friends at
the club were clapping and shouting for more.
Inside the studio, no one was clapping when Grandaddy finished, not even
Nana. He did not know where Nana was and he was worried that she was all right.
Grandaddy didn’t know that Nana could see him through the glass, because it was
magic glass. Nana could see him but he could not see nana.
Through the front of the glass, he could see the producer with Joe and he
could only just see the top of their heads peeking over that big music desk with all
the buttons. They both looked serious and spoke to him in his ears through his
headphones.
Grandaddy thought he sounded funny through the microphone, he was not
sure he wanted to make a record any more.
Nana looked at her watch and decided it was time for Grandaddy’s lunch.
She tapped on the window to let Grandaddy know it was now his lunchtime. He
couldn’t hear her so she tapped again. He still kept on singing. She looked at the
phone. The man said to dial nine if she wanted something and she did, she
wanted Grandaddy to have his lunch.
“Excuse me,” she said down the phone “it’s lunchtime for Grandaddy. He
gets grumpy if he doesn't eat on time."
“Ok” the man said to her. “We're almost finished. Give us five more
minutes.”
Nana put the phone down and waited. And waited and waited. Nearly an hour
passed.
Nana put her knitting down on the chair next to her and stood up. Nana
was mad now and when Nana got mad everyone knew it. Grabbing the phone
again she dialed nine and before she heard the man speak to her through the
phone, she shouted,
“Now! Grandaddy must have his lunch now or mark my words, I am
coming in there to get him."
The producer told Grandaddy they were taking time off for lunch. He took
Grandaddy to see Nana.
Grandaddy was so happy to see Nana, he hugged her tight and kissed her.
They sat together and ate their ham and cheese sandwiches and some
biscuits. Then they had a cup of tea.
All too soon, the producer came back for Grandaddy. However this time he
said Nana could go with them.
Nana and Grandaddy went into the studio room and they met a lady
named Harmony Brown; she had made the music for Grandaddy’s rap song.
Nana and Grandaddy were both given headphones to put on and they all
listened to Grandaddy's rap song with music.
Nana soon forgot how cross she had been with the producer for not letting
Grandaddy have lunch on time, and Grandaddy soon forgot how tired he was.
Both he and Nana were tapping their feet and smiling, this was Grandaddy
sounding like a real record. This was Grandaddy the Rapper. This was good.
The producer was smiling, Joe was smiling and Harmony Brown was
smiling, and every time the record came to the chorus, they all looked at
Grandaddy, and sang.
‘Rap Grandaddy Rap.’
Nana sang the loudest.
‘Rap Grandaddy Rap’
The driver came inside the studio to take Nana and Grandaddy home.
The producer said they had to mix down the song but that Grandaddy
could have a demo to take home with him.
Nana and Grandaddy said goodbye to Joe and Harmony Brown and the
producer.
In the big white car, Grandaddy held Nana’s hand with one hand and his
record with the other.
"Well Nana," he said. "That was hard work; it was harder than digging the
garden. In fact Nana, it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do!"
"Well, it's all over now.” Nana said taking her shoes off and getting herself
comfortable inside the big shiny car.
"Yea, but that producer said I have to have some promotional shots done
next week.”
“What’s a promotional shot?” Nana asked.
“I think it means having my photo taken” Grandaddy said.
“Well, you'd better get your haircut and you'll need a new jacket for that!"
Nana said.
Grandaddy roared with laughter. He took off his hat and rubbed his head with his
hand.
"Nana, you've been in that studio too long. Look!” he said showing Nana
his head."Where is the hair Nana? I don't have any; hair cut indeed Nana, you're
loosing your mind!"
Grandaddy then loosened his belt and he pulled his hat down over his
eyes.
Both he and Nana were comfortable and there on the back seat of the big shiny
car, they both fell asleep.
Chapter 2
Rap Grandaddy gets a makeover
Grandaddy had had a good week; he had played his demo to all his friends
and family. Everybody said Grandaddy was a good rapper and that they were all
going to buy his record when it went into the stores.
Today was the day that Grandaddy was going to have a make over. First he
had to go to the hairdressers, second he had to go to the clothes shop and third
he would have photos taken at the studio. The photos then would be put on the
cover of his grandaddy's rap record.
Joe had said that Grandaddy would look good with a makeover. This, he said,
was something that happened to all people who made a record. The photo on the
record helped people decide to buy it Joe had told them.
Grandaddy thought it would take a lot of work to make him look good but if
this was what he had to do to sell his record then he would do it.
The driver arrived to take Grandaddy to get a makeover; Nana of course was
going too.
At the hairdressing studio the young lady put a towel around grandaddy's
neck.
“I have no hair to cut” Grandaddy told her.
"Don't worry, I'm just going to give you some shape and trim up your beard"
the lady said.
Now, don't you go cutting off his beard!" Nana said to the lady, "he likes it
that way."
"Oh don’t you worry, he'll look lovely. Now you take a seat over there," the
young lady said to Nana "and we’ll have Grandaddy finished in no time."
Nana took a seat and started to read a magazine, but she still kept one eye
on the young lady.
The lady put some cream on grandaddy's head and rubbed it in. Then she
shaped his beard being careful not to cut any of it off. She knew that Nana was
watching her carefully. She then gave Grandaddy a shave to get rid of all the
bristles on his face.
"That looks good!" Grandaddy said when the young lady had finished.
"Who'd have thought you could do anything with this bald head of mine." He was
looking at himself through the mirror. His head was all shiny and soft.
"I'd like to tidy up your eyebrows now," the lady said. "A little bit of wax will
shape them up." She was stirring some orange sticky stuff in a pot with what
looked like an ice-lolly stick.
"Fine I'm ready for anything" Grandaddy said. He was feeling brave but he
knew this would hurt as he had watched his daughter using wax stuff before.
The lady spread the wax from the lolly pop stick across one of grandaddy's
eyebrows, then she put a square piece of cloth over it and pressed it down hard
with her hand.
"OK Grandaddy are you ready?" she asked.
"Yep, Ouch! Ouch' Ouch! That hurt." Grandaddy moaned as he jumped up in
his seat. She hadn't given Grandaddy time to get ready. She had taken hold of
that cloth and ripped it straight off his eyebrow!
Grandaddy had tears in his eyes. "That hurt, that really hurt." he told the
lady as she pushed him back into the chair to do the other eyebrow.
Grandaddy sat stiff in the chair, he didn't want the other eyebrow done. He'd
look funny though if he didn't, so he held his breath and waited till she ripped the
cloth off his other eyebrow. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" he said again when she'd
finished.
Grandaddy sat up and looked into the mirror, his head looked nice, his beard
looked nice. But his eyebrows were all red and puffy. His eyes were watering. He
looked liked he'd been crying and oh, how he wanted to cry. “That hurt” he said
to himself; “that really hurt a lot”.
Nana came over to have a look.
"Look at you Grandaddy, all posh." She said.
“Nana, that really hurt. How you ladies go through all this I don’t know. But I
do know one thing Nana, never again. No one is going to wax my eyebrows again.
Ever! It’s horrible and it hurts."
Nana laughed. "Well now you know what we women go through to look
beautiful. She should have waxed your legs Grandaddy, then you'd know what
real pain is about."
"No way!" Grandaddy said getting up from the chair, "I've had enough pain
for one day."
"Well let's go” Nana said, “that driver is so patient, he just sits around
waiting for us, he's such a pleasant man."
"Next stop clothes" the driver said to Nana and Grandaddy as they got back
into the car.
Grandaddy was quiet on the ride to the shops, his eyebrows were still
hurting. He would be glad when they were finished, he was ready to go home but
he couldn't do that yet. He still had to get some new clothes and have his photos
taken!
At the clothes shop, they met Simon. He was going to help Grandaddy
choose a nice suit for the photo shoot.
Simon took Grandaddy and Nana over to a clothes rail. "I have had your list
of sizes from Joe," he said to Grandaddy, "so I have prepared ahead and chosen a
selection of suitable clothes for your photo shoot".
On the rail there were suits, shirts and belts, and beneath the rail there were
shoes in every color to match the clothes that were hanging on the rail.
Nana was at the rail touching everything.
"This one Grandaddy" she said, "this is lovely, and the fabric is so soft." She
picked up a white suit and handed it to Grandaddy.
Simon took the white suit off Nana and put it back on the rail. "I think
Grandaddy would look nice in this red suit." Simon said. "Let’s try this one first,
shall we?" He picked up a red shirt to go with the red suit and he bent down and
took the red shoes from under the rail. He led Grandaddy into the dressing room.
Nana followed.
Grandaddy put on the red trousers, the red shirt and the red jacket. Then he
put on the red shoes with the red socks that Simon had tucked inside each shoe.
Nana had to admit Grandaddy looked a treat in the red outfit, so smart, so
tall, and so handsome.
"Ooh," Nana said, taking a closer look at the detail on the shirt. "Look at this
shirt; it has satin ribbon on it! What a clever idea and it's the same colour as the
suit. That is clever, you have never had a red suit before Grandaddy and now look
at you everything is red! It looks good though, you look good.” She kissed his
cheek. “You look like you are rich Grandaddy in those clothes. You look like a
star.”
Grandaddy felt proud, he did feel good in this suit and he felt different. In
fact, he felt like a young modern Grandaddy. He wanted to have this suit on for
his photo shoot.
Simon stood back watching, this was his job and he knew just what was
needed for Grandaddy to look like an entertainer. This was the suit to use.
Grandaddy didn't need to try on any of the other colors; the red suit would do just
fine. He told Grandaddy that he looked perfect in the red.
Both Nana and Grandaddy were pleased, today was going well. And for once,
the driver didn't have to wait too long for them; Nana and Grandaddy were out of
the shop in no time. The driver took Grandaddy's bag, put it into the boot, and
told them they were going to stop and have lunch before they went to the photo
shoot.
For lunch, Nana had fish with a mixed salad and although on the plate in
front of him Grandaddy had a large steak with onions and potatoes, he wasn't
very hungry. Grandaddy was too exited, he kept thinking of how good he felt in
that red suit. He couldn't wait to get his photos done and see what they looked
like.
"You should have ordered a sandwich Grandaddy," Nana scorned, "you'll
never eat all of that food."
Grandaddy ate the steak and the onions but he left the potatoes.
On the way to the photo shoot Nana was giving Grandaddy instructions.
"Now Grandaddy don't forget to smile, stand up straight and look into the camera.
Think of all those children looking at you on the cover of a record, smile at them.
They have to like you Grandaddy or they won’t buy your record."
Nana was a fuss, Grandaddy thought. Fuss, fuss, and fuss. But he wouldn't
want to be without Nana, not today, not any day. He loved Nana and she was
always there beside him. He wondered what he could do to surprise her and then
he knew just what to do to make Nana happy. He would treat Nana to a
makeover, she deserved a treat.
At the photo studio Grandaddy changed into his red clothes. The
photographers assistant had put a little bit of make up powder on Grandaddy's
face to stop his face shining on the photos, she'd put a bit of powder on his bald
head too. This was another day to remember Grandaddy thought, he had just had
his eyebrows waxed and now he was wearing make up!
Grandaddy was comfortable posing in front of the camera. He liked having
his photo taken, Nana needn't have worried. Grandaddy was smiling all the time,
he was having fun!
The photo studio had lights everywhere, big white shiny lights that were
making Grandaddy squint his eyes. The photographer had to take a lot of
pictures; he had Grandaddy sitting on a stool, Grandaddy standing with his arms
folded, Grandaddy leaning on the wall, Grandaddy with his walking stick,
Grandaddy with a hat on, Grandaddy doing his famous rapper pose. So many
different poses.
Nana was laughing at Grandaddy; he was loving every minute of this photo
shoot she thought. This was Grandaddy the rapper! He was going to be a star. He
was making a record.
"Yeah," Nana sang to him "Rap Grandaddy Rap"
"Rap Grandaddy Rap" the photographer and his assistant chorused. "Rap
Grandaddy Rap."
"That was a great day Nana." Grandaddy said to Nana on their way home as
they sat in the big shiny car. "That was a great day" he said again.
Chapter 3
In the news
Grandaddy had a letter from the postman.
"Look, Nana, look!" Grandaddy said as he passed Nana the letter to read.
Nana put on her glasses and sat at the kitchen table to read grandaddy's
letter. It read:
“Dear Mr. Harris
We have heard from your neighbor Nancy. She has told us all about your
adventure of making a record.
We here at the Canary Times are extremely interested in your story. Can we
please make an appointment for a personal interview with you to let our readers
know all about you and your new record?
Please telephone the office as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Mike Ristick”
"Well Grandaddy, you'd better call this Mike then" Nana said after reading
the letter. "Better still, let me call him now." Nana picked up the phone and called
the newspaper office and she made an appointment to have the reporter come
and interview Grandaddy at home.
"Grandaddy the reporter is coming today" Nana told him. "Now you polish
the furniture Grandaddy while I hoover and oh dear me, those curtains could do
with a wash" Nana said.
There she goes again, Grandaddy thought. Fuss, fuss, fuss. He took out the
polish and a cloth from the cleaning cupboard and started to polish the furniture.
There was no dust to dust, the house was already clean, so when nana wasn't
looking, he went upstairs to the bathroom and had a shave.
Nana was busy all morning she hoovered the carpets and washed the
curtains and when Mike arrived to interview Grandaddy, the house was sparkling
clean.
"This is a lovely house" Mike said as he introduced his self to Nana and
Grandaddy. He sat down and got out his notepad and pen. He asked Grandaddy
lots of questions about his record. Mike and Grandaddy chatted for a long time
and before Mike left, he took a picture of Grandaddy for the newspaper article. He
told Nana the story would be in Friday's paper.
Nana phoned all her friends and told them to buy the paper on Friday
because Grandaddy would be in it.
She phoned Nancy and told her the newspaper reporter had been to
interview them. She told Nancy to buy the paper on Friday, as Grandaddy would
be in it.
She phoned her son Lee John and told him to buy the paper on Friday, as
Grandaddy would be in it.
She phoned her daughters Latesha and Claytronna and told them both to
buy the paper on Friday, as Grandaddy would be in it.
"The Canary Times will sell a lot of papers on Friday" Nana said to
Grandaddy.
On Friday morning, Nana woke Grandaddy up early. He had to go to the
newsagents to buy the newspaper.
"Buy six copies Grandaddy." Nana said. She wanted to have extra copies
incase anyone had forgot Grandaddy was going to be in it.
"Six!" Grandaddy was surprised, why did nana want six copies?
"Yes Grandaddy six, now hurry up or they might be sold out." Nana said.
"Yeah… they'll be sold out all right" Grandaddy said laughing, "We're buying
them all." As Grandaddy walked down the street to the newsagents he was still
laughing about Nana wanting six copies of the paper.
"Good morning Rap Grandaddy" the newsagent said. "You're a celebrity
today, you are on the front page! This rap song of yours is getting attention, you
should sell lots of records once it’s released."
"I hope so," Grandaddy said. "I need six copies of those papers and before
you say anything, it's Nana that wants the extra copies not me." Grandaddy was
embarrassed to be asking for six copies.
"No charge today for celebrities" the newsagent said.
Celebrity, Grandaddy thought as he walked home. “Well I suppose I am a bit
of a celebrity”, he said to himself, “after all, I've just made a record and now I'm
on the front page of the Canary Times!”
Back home Nana had placed the newspaper on the table and was looking at
the article with Grandaddy in it.
"Wrinkle Rap granddad." Nana read the headline aloud and laughed.
Underneath the headline was a picture of Grandaddy holding his demo record.
Then underneath that in smaller print it said; “Welcome to the New Age
Granddad! Jimmy Harris, known to most of the locals as Rap Grandaddy, is about
to hit the music scene and bust the generation gap as well as the charts. This New
Age Granddad is all set to show the youth of today that Old is In!
Rap Grandaddy has been performing regularly to audiences at his local
karaoke club. His grandchildren have also enjoyed the Wrinkle Rap experience. He
made up rap songs to help his grandchildren learn their ABC. He made up rap
songs to help them tell the time, he made up rap songs to teach them the
different kinds of animals. "The songs turned learning into fun," Grandaddy said.
"I love music and I intend to grow old un-gracefully."
Grandaddy’s record. 'Rap Grandaddy Rap' is to be released shortly and
Grandaddy hopes to visit schools and perform his rap songs to children.
Rap Grandaddy has big plans for the future and we wish him success.”
The phone was ringing and Nana answered it. It was Nancy down the road
congratulating Grandaddy for being in the newspaper. No sooner had Nana put
the phone down then it rang again, this time it was Lee their son. And for most of
the day Nana answered the phone, every body was happy for Grandaddy.
Grandaddy sat quietly and read the rest of the paper while Nana chatted
away to everyone on the phone.
"You're going to need a fan club" Nana said to Grandaddy after the fifth
phone call. "That was a stranger on the phone asking where they could buy your
record from, and could I send a photo of you for her children!"
Nana had written down the callers address on a note pad with the telephone
number. She had promised to let the lady know when the record was in the shops.
For that day and the rest of the week the phone had not stopped ringing.
Nana took charge of all the phone calls and her notebook was soon filled up with
names, addresses and telephone numbers of people wanting to buy grandaddy's
rap.
When they went shopping, people stopped them in the street to talk about
grandaddy's song.
The kids they passed sang the chorus to him.
“Rap Grandaddy Rap”
“Rap Grandaddy Rap”
The local radio had also called Grandaddy into the studio to talk about his
record. They offered to play it on the radio once it was released.
Nana and Grandaddy also had a meeting with the record producer and Joe.
They talked about the things they were going to do to promote Grandaddy's
record. Grandaddy was going to be very busy from now on, they told him. The
record was to be released at the end of the month.
They told Nana they would help her set up a fan club for Grandaddy and that
she could be in charge of it. She would need help though they said as they were
sure Grandaddy would be extremely popular.
They had arranged for a big party for Grandaddy. It was called a record
release party they told Nana and Grandaddy. There would be hundreds of people
there including all-important people from the recording industry.
There would also be newspaper editors, radio djs and record storeowners.
Also the party would be televised. They gave Nana and Grandaddy twenty-five
invitations so that they could invite their friends and family to the record release
party.
As soon as Nana got home she and Grandaddy started to fill out the party
invitations.
Grandaddy decided he would give Nana her treat in time for the big party.
He would book a makeover for Nana in time for the party.
"Nana, we'll need to go shopping tomorrow to get some clothes to wear to
this record party" he said.
Nana had been thinking of what to wear to the party while she was filling out
the invitations.
"I want the best dress Grandaddy, I want to sparkle like a diamond when I
stand next to you at the party."
Grandaddy kissed Nana.
"You always sparkle Nana, you're my diamond all the time" he said.
Chapter 4
The record release party.
Nana and Grandaddy were in their bedroom, they were getting ready for the
record release party.
Grandaddy put on a black dinner suit, he put on a white wing tip shirt and
Nana helped him to fix his red bowtie
"You do look handsome Grandaddy" she said while turning him around and
brushing invisible fluff off the back of his jacket with her hand.
"And you Nana, look like a movie star." Nana had on a long blue sparkling
dress. Grandaddy was pleased he had treated Nana to a makeover. Her hair
glistened in the light and she had on make up. Nana was wearing lipstick.
"Come on Nana" Grandaddy said taking her by the hand. "Let's go to the
party."
Nana and Grandaddy walked downstairs to enormous applause and cheers
from their family. Tonight they were all going to travel together in the big shiny
car. And Nancy was their honored guest; she was going with them in the car.
“Rap Grandaddy Rap” they all cheered.
“Rap Grandaddy rap”
Nana had tears in her eyes. "Now don't you go crying and ruining that
makeup" Grandaddy said passing Nana his handkerchief.
The driver had arrived to take Nana, Grandaddy, Nancy and all the family to
the record release party.
In the big shiny car Aston and Rosie could not keep still. They had never
been in such a big car and they were jumping up and down with excitement.
Aston had on a grey suit, he felt all grown up. He was dressed like his daddy.
Rosie had on a pink dress with a large satin bow on the back and a pretty
lace collar. The bow had come undone because she was moving around so much.
Nana fixed the bow tight for Rosie.
Nana hoped that Aston and Rosie would behave themselves at the party.
There were going to be many people to meet and Nana wanted everyone to have
a good time.
"I'm hungry" Aston said to Grandaddy.
The big shiny car stopped outside the Virginia hotel. This was where the
party was going to be held.
The driver opened the door and helped everyone out.
Grandaddy took Nana’s hand and led her into the hotel. Behind them
followed Lee with his wife Jo. She was holding Rosie's hand tight in case she got
lost amongst all the people. Then there was Claytronna and Latesha, and finally
Nancy and Aston. Aston stayed with Nancy, he liked Nancy she was fun and
Nancy had said she would take him straight to the food. Grandaddy had told him
when they were in the car that there would be plenty of food at the party.
"Look at all these people Grandaddy" Nana said as they reached the
ballroom of the Hotel. "Oh and look at that wall Grandaddy, your pictures are
everywhere!"
Grandaddy looked around, there were pictures of him all over the walls,
made into big giant posters. They were taller than Grandaddy; in fact they were
almost as tall as the room.
"I look good in those photos Nana, in my red suit" Grandaddy said squeezing
Nana's hand tightly.
"Grandaddy's on the wall!" Rosie shouted to Aston. "Grandaddy's on the
wall" she said to her daddy. "Mommy, mommy, look! Grandaddy's on the wall.”
Rosie was tugging her hand away from her mommy's hand, she wanted to run
over to the big pictures and have a closer look.
The record producer came over to greet them all. "That's my Grandaddy on
the wall" Rosie said to him.
Grandaddy and the family were taken to a big round table with chairs for
them all. At the table, Grandaddy and Nana’s friends who they had invited to the
party were already sitting down.
There was Tony and Annie their best friends. Then there was Mary and Jack,
Ron and Francis, Peter, Bill, Roger and Jim their friends from the karaoke club.
There was Margaret and Tilley from Nana’s knitting club and Harry and Sasha
from the house next door to Nana and Grandaddy. Who was missing Nana
thought as she greeted everyone? John and Sheila were missing, they would
arrive late, and they were always late.
Nana and Grandaddy soon had to leave their friends and family at the table
because the record producer said he'd like them to meet some of the other
people at the party. Joe and Harmony Brown were with the producer.
Nana and Grandaddy were introduced to so many people Grandaddy was
sure he’d never remember everybodys name. He and Nana met with television
people, photographers, magazine and newspaper editors. They met with radio
station managers and djs. They met club and record store owners.
The most important people were the promotion team the producer told Nana
and Grandaddy. The promotion team were the people that would make the record
sell. The packaging he said was also important and he introduced them to Corrine,
she had designed the cover for Granddaddy’s record and the posters that were on
the wall.
Joe told Grandaddy that he would be performing his rap song to the people
at the party. "I will go and get the stage ready for you" he said and he took
Harmony Brown away with him.
The producer, Nana and Grandaddy met more important people. Everybody
was friendly but they asked so many questions Grandaddy thought. He was glad
to go back to the table and sit down.
John and Sheila had finally arrived and were now sitting at the table. Sheila
apologized to Nana for being late.
"We went to the wrong hotel" she said to nana.
"Never mind, you're here now" Nana said shuffling past her and sitting
herself down next to Annie.
"What's her excuse this time?" Annie asked Nana.
"Wrong hotel!" Nana said; they both knew Sheila and they both knew Sheila
was always late.
"Ladies and gentleman." The sound echoed through the room, it was coming
from the stage. Joe was speaking into the microphone. "Ladies and gentleman, if I
could have your attention please! he said.
Everybody stopped talking and the room went very quiet. They all listened to
Joe.
"Thank you" he said. "Now we all know why we are here." Everybody started
to clap and cheer. Nana looked over at Grandaddy and smiled.
"Sh, Sh," Joe waited for the clapping and cheering to stop. “We are here to
launch Granddaddy’s rap." Everybody clapped and cheered some more.
Grandaddy's friend Ron had his arm around grandaddy's neck and he was
pointing his finger at Grandaddy. "You, they're all here for you" he said grabbing
Grandaddy closer and slapping a bit wet kiss on grandaddy's face.
"Sh, sh" Joe said again. "Would you like Grandaddy to perform his rap for you
now?"
"Yeah, hurray, hurray, yeah, yeah!" everyone cheered.
"Come on Grandaddy" Joe yelled over the noise of the people." "Come to the
stage."
Grandaddy lifted Ron's arm from around his neck and gently pushed Ron
back into his own chair.
Grandaddy stood up to go to the stage but first he went over to Nana’s chair.
He kissed Nana on the top of her head and whispered "Thank you."
As Grandaddy walked to the stage, every one clapped, cheered and shouted.
Joe passed the microphone to Grandaddy.
"Ehm thank you" Grandaddy said into the microphone. No one could hear
Grandaddy they were all making so much noise clapping and cheering.
Nana stood up and waved her hands. "Sh, sh," she said. "Sh, sh" she said
again and slowly more people joined her in quieting the room. "Sh, sh" they said.
At last the people went quiet and let Grandaddy speak.
"I've been singing all my life" Grandaddy told the audience. "I love music, I
love entertaining. It hasn't always been easy being an entertainer. At times Nana
and I, we went hungry. To stand here today on this stage and see that at last, at
last I may have just made it." Everyone cheered Grandaddy again.
"I want to thank you all." He carried on talking over the noise. He thanked
everyone who was involved in making his record happen. He thanked his family
and friends for being there with him. Then he stopped talking and waited until
everyone went quiet again. He pointed his finger towards Nana. "You, it's you
Nana," he said softly into the microphone. "It’s you I have to thank the most."
The people went wild, clapping, cheering, shouting, and banging their
glasses on the tables.
Annie passed Nana a handkerchief. Nana wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You silly old fool Grandaddy" she said. "You’ve made me cry." No one but Annie
could hear Nana, they were cheering too loud.
Grandaddy started his rap song.
“Get over here kids, hear what I say.
Grandaddy the rapper is headed your way.
I’m old and decrepit, yet built like a brick.
Don’t matter anymore I get support from a stick.
The Nana indoors thinks I’m just a disgrace,
And I’m gonna bring shame all over the place.
Rap Grandaddy Rap,
So I have to let her know, its time to get slick
I tell her, lighten up, get down, get hip.
We have to show these kids Nana we can still groove
Shake that booty Nana, and get in the mood.
So… stick in your earplugs and come to my side.
Let’s show these kids Nana, we’ve nothing to hide.
Rap Grandaddy Rap.
Hey… come on Nana, I say, it’s all out war,
We gotta let these kids know we've been here before.
You must remember the time Nana we were in that race.
Ah! I see that smile now; it’s twisting your face.
She turns around, gives me a playful slap.
Get outta here Grandad, she says, with your silly rap.
Rap Grandaddy Rap
Woo… then I saw her shuffle, the slide in her feet.
Hey, baby girl, Nana, I say, turn up the heat.
I move in closer, rub up from behind,
Ah, this baby girl Nana will always be mine.
So let me say kids me and Nana ain’t through.
We gonna show you all kids a new move or two.
Rap Grandaddy Rap
Chapter 5
Time to promote
It had been a week since the record release party. Nana and Grandaddy
hadn't stopped talking about it. Everyone was talking about Grandaddy's rap and
the record was on sale in the shops.
The promotion team was doing a great job promoting Grandaddy and his rap
song.
Nana was looking at the diary; every page was full for six months. There
were radio interviews, TV interviews, Grandaddy was going to tour all the schools
and chat with the children about his rap song and his adventures of making a
record. The OK magazine was going to do an article on Grandaddy. And on top of
this, the producer wanted Grandaddy to make more records.
Nana didn't know how they were going to fit any more time into the diary to
make more records.
Sunday was the only day they would have off. Nana had insisted that
Grandaddy should have one day off a week. She didn't want him making records
on Sundays. Sunday was a family day.
Today Nana and Grandaddy were going to the Priory School in Nottingham to
promote Grandaddy's rap. The driver would be there in thirty minutes and
Grandaddy was not ready.
"Come on Grandaddy!" Nana shouted. "We have to leave soon."
There had been a team of people assigned to help Grandaddy promote his
rap song and Nana was glad. She and Grandaddy couldn't possible do all this work
on their own.
"What's the point of earning all this money nana?" Grandaddy said as they
were ready to leave. "We're not going to have any time to spend it."
"Smile Grandaddy" Nana said. She knew Grandaddy was tired. He wasn't
used to this go, go, go life anymore. "This is what you asked for Grandaddy, now
you have it so… let's enjoy every minute." Nana gave Grandaddy a push towards
the door. Once he got in that car he would change from grumpy grandad to
Rapper Grandaddy and he would have a good day and enjoy himself.
The assembly hall at the school was full of children and they all clapped
when Grandaddy arrived. The promotion team had set up a table. The team had
set up a display on it with Grandaddy's records. There were t-shirts, since the first
newspaper article Grandaddy had been nick-named 'The Wrinkle Rapper' the t-
shirts had a picture of Grandaddy as a dancing cartoon character and the cartoon
character was very old and wrinkled. It didn't really look like Grandaddy but it was
a funny picture and Grandaddy liked it. Underneath the picture was the words
'The Wrinkle Rapper'
There were also posters on the table. Grandaddy would sign these for the
children.
First though, Grandaddy would chat to the children and then he would sing
his rap song before signing pictures.
The school had held a competition to guess Grandaddy's age. The winner
would get to take a ride in the big shiny car. All the children had put their name
and their guesses to the competition on a piece of paper. The pieces of paper
were all folded neatly and then they had been put into a jar. Grandaddy had to
take one piece of paper out of the jar at a time until he found the winners.
Grandaddy took out the first piece of paper and unfolded it. He read what the
piece of paper said.
"Tommy Spears. Where is Tommy Spears?" Grandaddy said looking around
the assembly hall. A small hand shot up into the air.
"Me sir!" a small voice said. "I'm Tommy Spears."
"Well stand up Mr. Spears" Grandaddy said. "You have guessed that I am
seventy three."
Seventy-three, Nana laughed, my oh my, Grandaddy didn't look that old.
"Why did you guess seventy three Tommy? Grandaddy asked him.
"Cos, my grandads seventy three and he looks just like you." Tommy said.
"And he can sing."
"Then I need to meet your grandad, maybe he wants to make a record"
Grandaddy laughed. "I am not seventy three though Tommy so you have to sit
back down."
Tommy pulled a face and sat down.
Grandaddy took out the next piece of paper.
"Susan Redding, where are you? Stand up." Grandaddy said.
Susan stood up.
"Susan I am going to guess your age now," Grandaddy said. "Ehm"
Grandaddy pretended to think hard. "I guess you are seven."
"Eight!" Susan said. "I was eight on my last birthday."
"Oh! Eight, you're very old." Grandaddy said to her and everyone laughed.
"You have guessed that I'm ninety two, now… tell me why you think I'm ninety
two Susan?"
"Because grandaddies are old, they can be nearly a hundred years and some
are a hundred and four!" Susan said.
"Well Susan, I am not that old I'm glad to say."
Susan sat back down before Grandaddy told her to. Well, he looks that old
she thought to herself. He had wrinkles in his skin.
"Martin Watson stand up." Grandaddy said reading out the next piece of
paper.
"I think you are sixty one." Martin said straight away.
"Martin you are very clever at guessing my age, I'm nearly sixty one, but not
quite." Grandaddy told him. "Now why do you think I'm sixty one Martin?"
Grandaddy asked.
"Cos, just cos I think you are. I don’t know why, I just guessed." Martin said
before sitting back down.
Grandaddy took out many more tickets before he found a winner.
"Wendy Turner, stand up." Grandaddy said.
Wendy stood up.
"I think we have a winner" Grandaddy said. "Come to the front Wendy".
Wendy ran to the front and joined Grandaddy.
"Now Wendy you have guessed my age, so, shall we tell everybody what you
guessed, or shall we keep it a secret?
"Keep it a secret, keep it a secret." Wendy said skipping up and down. She
was going to ride in the big car and she wasn't going to tell anyone what her
guess was, not anyone.
Grandaddy finished going through all the pieces of paper, four children had
correctly guessed Grandaddy's age.
Wendy was the only girl to win. The others were boys; Trevor, Harry and
Wayne were also going to get to ride in the big car. Wendy didn’t want to go in
the big car with just boys. She had hoped another girl was going to guess
Grandaddy's age right. Boys were noisy they would show off in the big car. And
Trevor was a horrible show off at school. She didn’t want to sit with Trevor. She
had won the ride though and she was not going to let Trevor or the other boys
spoil things. She was going to ride in the big car and tell all her friends about it.
The rest of the children were all told to line up next to the table, they were
all going to win something, they could choose between a record, a t-shirt or a
poster.
Wendy, Trevor, Harry and Wayne were first in the line. Because they had
guessed Grandaddy's age properly, they were each given a record, a t-shirt and a
poster. Grandaddy signed his autograph on everything with a big felt tip pen.
Miss Middleton, the teacher came over to the table. "Now put your t-shirts on
and we'll go for a ride in the big car," she said to Wendy, Trevor Harry and
Wayne." And you." She said grabbing Trevor by the wrist. “You had better behave
yourself Trevor, or else!" she warned. "And to make sure you do I'm coming in the
car with you." The boys all pulled faces, they didn't want Miss Middleton to go in
the car with them; she would spoil their fun. Wendy was happy; Miss Middleton
would make sure that Trevor was good in the car and that he couldn't show off.
The teacher took Wendy, Trevor, Harry and Wayne out to the big car. The driver
took them all for a ride while Grandaddy finished signing autographs for the other
children.
When they got home that day Nana told Annie her best friend all about the
visit to the school and about the competition.
"One girl guessed Grandaddy to be ninety two!" Both she and Annie were
laughing.
"She said grandaddies could be a hundred years old, and you know what?"
she said to Annie.
"Many more days like this and we'll both look a hundred and two. It's fun
Annie". Nana continued. "But it's so tiring, I'm worn out. And look at Grandaddy
over there."
Nana and Annie looked across at Grandaddy. Grandaddy was on the settee
fast asleep, and snoring loudly.