Try a Little Tenderness

By Ervin F. Johnston

A little tenderness goes a long way in heart-to-heart communication. It renews a right spirit and warms the hearts of all participants. Just a smile or a wave can make a good day for someone. Don't forget the hugs. The twenty-four chapters in this book provide examples of tenderness. Many of the chapters are devoted to family members. Other chapters are devoted to helping someone else, like neighbors.

In one of the chapters, Emily shovels snow off a neighbor's walkway, and Kevin, her brother, who is resting on a couch, gets an inner feeling to go help Emily. He approaches Emily with a tear in his eye, and they work together shoveling snow.

In several chapters, Emily and Kevin help a poor organ grinder and his little monkey. The organ grinder's house is more like a shack than a house. Emily and Kevin replace many sideboards on the exterior of the house and wallboard on the walls and ceiling inside the house. Emily and Kevin train five chimps to stand on one another's shoulders so that they are five chimps high with a paint can and brush in the hands of the top chimp. The bottom chimp moves sidewise, and when the topmost chimp is through painting his section, he hands the paint can and brush to the next chimp down. The top chimp then jumps down, and the remaining chimps continue this scenario until the entire house is painted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887934877

Book preview

Try a Little Tenderness

Ervin F. Johnston

Copyright © 2023 Ervin F. Johnston

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88793-493-8 (hc)

ISBN 979-8-88793-487-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Try a Little Tenderness I

Chapter 2

Try a Little Tenderness II

Chapter 3

Try a Little Tenderness III

Chapter 4

Emily's Slumber Party

Chapter 5

Salt and Pepper Shakers Fight

Chapter 6

Hummingbirds Sing

Chapter 7

Try a Little Tenderness IV

Chapter 8

Appreciation for a Job Well Done

Chapter 9

Kevin Rides on Mrs. Cloud

Chapter 10

Kevin Eats Three Free Double Cheeseburgers

Chapter 11

Umpapa, Umpapa

Chapter 12

Kevin Rides Double Soap Bubble

Chapter 13

Kevin and Betty Dance with the Bugs

Chapter 14

Hippo in Emily's Bedroom

Chapter 15

Greasy Spoon Diner

Chapter 16

Sam's Traveling Band

Chapter 17

Racoon Platoon

Chapter 18

Jungle Trip to Get Flamingos

Chapter 19

Big Circus Day

Chapter 20

Organ Grinder and His Monkey

Chapter 21

Emily Speaks to the Town Council

Chapter 22

Organ Grinder's House

Chapter 23

Chimp Training

Chapter 24

Try a Little Tenderness V

About the Author

Chapter 1

Try a Little Tenderness I

It was good to be home after school. Mom and Emily were fixing dinner—roast beef, mashed potatoes, and a salad. Dad was sitting at the kitchen table, and he was unusually quiet. He did say, Good to see you, son. Mom and Emily were really quiet. Mom was standing almost motionless at the kitchen sink. I knew something was not right. It was kind of like something was in the air, and it depressed my inner being. I figured I would just sit and stare at the salt and pepper shakers until the unhappy cloud blows away.

Then Dad got up from the kitchen table and walked over behind Mom. He put his arms on Mom's shoulders and turned her around, facing him. He then said, I love you very much. Mom melted into Dad's arms, and they hugged each other real tight. When they finally turned our way, I could see tears in their eyes.

I looked at Emily and whispered, Did you see that?

Emily could hardly talk, but I think she said, Yes, I did.

Then I noticed that Emily had tears in her eyes.

After we had a wonderful dinner, we all pitched in cleaning up the kitchen. I told Emily I wanted to talk to her, so we met in my bedroom, and I asked her why Mom was so unhappy.

Emily said she wasn't quite sure, but she believes that Dad forgot that it was Mother's Day and that the least that Dad could do was acknowledge, in some way, that she gave him you and me.

I didn't think that was something to get upset about, but I had another question for Emily. I asked Emily how come Mom was so happy after Dad gave her a hug and said I love you very much.

Emily was quick with her answer. She said, Just try a little tenderness.

I had to think that over for a little while, and then I said, Emily, you are exactly right.

Emily said, I know that I am right, and you can start with me.

I said, Emily, I am not going to upset you, so don't expect any free hugs from me.

Emily said, That doesn't even make sense. And then she walked out of my room.

I thought over what I said to Emily, and I think I was wrong. I went to Emily's room, and I said, I am sorry for what I said. And then I gave her a hug. I said, I am trying a little tenderness.

Emily said, You're doing a good job at it.

Emily and I went back downstairs and watched a jungle movie with Mom and Dad. Dad really liked jungle movies. After the movie, Dad said that he will be going to the jungle soon to get more animals for the Jungle Animals Circus.

Chapter 2

Try a Little Tenderness II

We had a heavy snow overnight that left everything covered with over twelve inches of snow. My dad and I worked all morning clearing the snow from our driveway and sidewalk. It was hard work, and we were both very tired. We sat down on the couch and turned on the TV to get the news. My dad always liked to get the latest news. I figured that I would rest on the couch for the rest of the day.

Then I saw Emily leave the house. I opened the front door and saw that Emily had one of the snow shovels in her hand. I said, Emily, Dad and I already cleared all the snow at our house. What are you going to do with that snow shovel?

She said, I am going to Mrs. Krebs' house to clear the snow off her driveway and her sidewalk.

I went back in the house and sat down on the couch to watch some more news. I wasn't really interested in the news. It just felt good to sit and rest on the couch. Then I got that inner feeling as I visualized little Emily shoveling snow at Mrs. Krebs' house. The couch was no longer comfortable. I told Dad that I was going to go