VOICES
A TREASURE HUNT
BY CAROLEE KOLVE
In the hopes of inducing our grandkids
to spend the night, I ordered pillows with
their names embroidered in large, color-
ful letters. They could stay up late! I would
make chocolate chip pancakes for break-
fast! But somehow, they found the prospect
highly, and continuously, resistible.
Michael, 9, and Lily, 6, have refrained
from staying over because they would
rather sleep at home with their dogs. Henry,
6, and Holland, 4, stayed over once, last
year, and seemed to enjoy themselves until
bedtime. Then they convulsed into sobs.
They missed their mom, their dad, their
dog and their own beds. Eventually, they
both ended up in bed with us, whining
about the terrible noise they claim I make
while sleeping.
One year later, I was getting a grandpar-
ent inferiority complex. My friend Julie has
her grandkids flying all over the country to
see her! My grandkids have taken countless
trips with us and their parents. They come
all the time for games, dinner, play time.
Why did they not want to stay overnight?
Finally, after coaxing from their par-
ents, they agreed to try it again, and Jerry
and I were determined to make it the best
night of their young lives. My friend Peggy
(who, like me, is known to her grandkids as
“Mimi”) coached me on the perfect “Mimi
sleepover.” She said it was essential that
we “plan copious activities, spoil them rot-
ten, go heavy on the sweets and make them
swear not to tell their parents about the
junk food they got before dinner.”
When they arrived, Holland announced
that this would be the best sleepover ever!
Henry was less effusive, but said he was
looking forward to all the games I had
planned. In a fit of insecurity, I feared I
hadn’t planned enough.
We began the first: a treasure hunt. This
involved reading skills and teamwork.
They had to read a clue, then find the next
clue, etc. There were 12 clues spread all
over the house, up and down stairs, lead-
ing eventually to the treasure. I thought it
might take them a half hour, but it took all
of 14 minutes.
Unfortunately, I forgot to buy the prizes,
so the treasure was a cookie for each.
Channeling Peggy, I told them they could
have it before dinner, but they had to prom-
ise not to tell their parents.
What’s next, they asked? A scaven-
ger hunt! There were 20 items on the list,
challenging their powers of observation
10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Jonathan Williams/The Astorian
A grandmother writes of the time she got her grandkids to the stay the night at her house.
and memory: i.e., find a bowl with painted
grapes. This will be difficult, I promised.
They got to use my phone to take a picture
of everything they found. Alas, this took all
of 18 minutes, and they were a tad disap-
pointed that the prize was another cookie.
What’s next, they asked? Maybe we
could have some chips and watch a lit-
tle football, I suggested? My favorite
team is playing Papa’s favorite team, Ore-
gon! Okay, they said agreeably, and both
decided to root for Oregon because they
“live there.” As things unfolded, they and
Papa had many more chances to cheer than
I.
Sulking just a bit, I went to cook din-
ner: Cheeseburgers, their favorite! And
corn, which Henry loves, and cantaloupe,
which Holly loves. Unfortunately, I didn’t
have the right kind of cheese, so we had
to scrape it off. For dessert: ice cream and
more cookies.
Then we watched the movie, “Minions,”
which Henry narrated as we watched.
“Don’t worry, Mimi, he’s not really dead.”
After that, we all decided it was bedtime.
They got in their jammies, brushed their
teeth and told me they wanted to sleep
together in “Henry’s room.” We read a
story. The night light was on; they had their
special blankies. Things seemed so promis-
ing! I kissed them goodnight and made my
quiet exit. Had it been too easy?
Henry: “Mimi, I need water!”
Holland: “I need water too!”
Henry: “Mimi, there is a terrible noise
outside the window. I think there might be
bad guys breaking into the house.” (Papa
was opening the garage door.)
Holland: “Mimi, I need a baggie in case
my loose tooth falls out.”
Henry: “Mimi, the covers are too tight.”
Holland: “Mimi, my pillow is too
scratchy.” (Her embroidered name.)
Henry: “So is mine!”
Loosened covers, new pillows, kisses,
good night! Finally, they went to sleep.
Briefly.
Around midnight, Henry burst into our
room, crying. “My tummy hurts, Mimi.
I think you gave me too many sweets. I
really miss my mom and dad. I need to go
home.”
“Well, Henry, I could call your mom and
dad to come get you, but then you’d miss
the morning treasure hunt.”
“Oh gosh, really? Another one? Well, I
don’t want to miss that. But I hope the trea-
sure isn’t more cookies, Mimi. Maybe we
could find some money instead?”
With that he trotted back to bed and I
went to the computer to compose a very
long morning treasure hunt. And then to
Jerry’s wallet to find the treasure.
Just as the sun rose, they burst happily
into our room, asking for the first clue.
Half-asleep but smiling, Jerry and I
high-fived.
Being so young, of course they do not
yet “get” the grandparent world view.
There was only one treasure in our house.
Them.
This essay was produced through a class
taught by Tom Hallman Jr., a Pulitzer Prize
winning reporter at The Oregonian.