Ruby’s Picture Message

Ruby is making a picnic for Grandpa in the garden. Dad helps put the mat by the apple tree. “How will he find us?” asks Ruby.

“We can leave a message,” says Dad. Ruby draws a big red heart. It looks lovely, but it does not show where the picnic is.

Dad looks at the picture. “What could tell Grandpa where to go?” Ruby looks at the tree. “I can draw our apple tree.”

She draws a tree beside a picnic mat. Then she draws herself and Dad on the mat. “This is where we are,” she says.

Dad helps put the picture at Grandpa’s eye level by the back door. Ruby points along the path. “There is our tree,” she says.

Grandpa comes to the door. He looks at the message. “A tree and a picnic mat,” he says. He looks into the garden.

He follows the clear path to the apple tree. Ruby waves from the mat. “You found us!” she calls. Grandpa holds up the picture.

“Your message helped,” he says. Ruby puts it beside the picnic basket. “Next time, I could draw the bench,” she says. They sit down together.