A young boy without parents invites his granddad to attend the school celebration. Everyone is shocked when the older gentleman wins every contest. Billy Grover despised his new school and was certain that everyone there despised him. It was dreadful to have to change schools and homes at the age of twelve since your parents had died.

Billy missed his parents, his friends, and the sights and sounds of New York City. His grandfather was doing his best, but Billy was convinced he’d loathe Ohio forever. “Billy,” his homeroom instructor said. “You’re new, therefore you’re not aware of our Spring School Festival. We have a barbecue and a variety of competitions for kids and adults.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it will be a good opportunity for you to get to know everyone better!” “I don’t think so, M’am,” Billy murmured. “I don’t think I’ll be able to come…” Do not underestimate the elderly’s powers and wisdom. The teacher frowned. “You have to, Billy!” she exclaimed. “I’m sending a note home to your parents!”

“I don’t have any parents,” Billy explained. “Only my grandpa…” The other kids were staring at him and whispering to one other, and he felt like a weirdo. He ducked his head so they wouldn’t notice he was blushing and had tears in his eyes.”He’s crying!” exclaimed one of the other children, hooting mockingly. “Cry-baby! Cry-baby!”Billy walked home with the note from his teacher burning a hole through his knapsack.

He stomped into the kitchen and tossed the note on the table. “There,” he said. “For some lame festival we HAVE to go to!” “The Spring School Festival!” Grandpa spoke. “I had forgotten about that. It’s lots of fun! A massive bake-off, barbecue, and competitions…” “Right!” Billy said. “I don’t have parents, so I’ll be even more of a freak.”

“I used to compete when your dad was your age,” Grandpa reflected. “I even won a few times.” “You WON?” Billy exclaimed, eagerly. “If you could win again this year… I’d get major respect!””Billy,” Grandpa objected. “I was much younger back then. “I’m not sure if I can still cut it!” “You can, Grandpa!” Billy protested. “I KNOW you can!”

Grandpa noticed that Billy was thrilled about anything for the first time since he got to Ohio. He made up his mind. He was going to compete and try his absolute best to win Parent of the Year. To win, he explained to Billy that he’d have to enter as many contests as possible and win three challenges. “Which ones, Grandpa?” he inquired.

Grandpa took up the list and hummed. “Let’s see: pie bake-off, sock darning, fly-tying, egg race…” “GRANDPA!” Billy howled. “Those are LAME!” “…and archery,” Grandpa finished. “I should be able to win three of those.” Billy thought everything sounded lame. He knew his classmates would be laughing. Why couldn’t his grandfather be cooler? Billy left for the Spring School Festival with a sorrowful heart.

Billy grimaced as his Grandpa entered the sock-darning and pie bake-off tasks, and the lovely mom taking down names laughed. “Are you sure, sir?” she inquired, pursing her lips. “Quite sure, young lady!” Grandpa said enthusiastically and left for the egg race, fly-tying, and archery range. People were looking at Grandpa and smiled. Billy was convinced they were mocking him.

The smiles faded when Grandpa made a magnificent cranberry, apple, and walnut pie with meringue topping. When Grandpa won, the judges swooned, and the mothers looked disappointed.The sock-darning was another success! Grandpa emptied his sock basket faster than any of the ladies, and his darning was flawless. “HOW?” questioned one of the mothers.

Grandpa grinned. “I was in the Navy, a submariner,” he explained. “We spent months underwater. I learnt how to darn my own and everyone else’s socks!” Grandpa breezed through the fly-tying competition, tying a gorgeous, tremulous dragonfly that looked exactly like the genuine thing. He ran the egg race like a pro, crossing the finish line inches ahead of the fastest mother.

The only issue left was one that Billy was apprehensive about. All of the dads competing in the archery competition were young, burly, and muscular. Would Grandpa, with his tiny arms, be able to draw the bow? One of the fathers sneered. “You sure you can do this, pops?” he said. “Mind your arthritis!”
But Grandpa remained cool as a cucumber.

He picked up the bow and strung it. Then he drew the bowstring to his chin in a single forceful stroke, and Billy noticed that his arms were wiry with muscle. TWANG! The arrow was missing, and Billy heard a gasp from the audience. Grandpa’s arrow found the center of the bullseye! In the next hour, Grandpa defeated all of the dads and took home the archery trophy.

“With FIVE VICTORIES, the winner of Parent of the Year goes to…Mr. Grover!” announced the school administrator. “Most of you are too young to remember, but Mr. Grover is a FIVE-TIME champion!” When Grandpa earned the prize, Billy nearly erupted with pride! The other kids looked at him with admiration. “Hey, Billy,” one of them said. “Did your grandfather teach you how to tie flies? Perhaps we should go fishing.”

“Yeah… He’s very cool. “Do you think he’d teach us how to shoot the bow?” said another child. “Sure!” Billy replied, smiling. “Come on over tomorrow after school and I’ll ask him!””That’s a ‘yes,'” remarked Billy’s grandfather, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. “Come on by, boys, and I’ll even bake some apple pie for you all!”