Rollin Penner

OK, I have to admit, the weather is weirder than usual this year.” Andrew Jackson leaned back in his chair at the end of the table and took a sip of his coffee. “I can’t say I like it.” The rest of the family seated around the table considered this for a second. “What makes

I remember the last time I came here with your grandpa.” Andrew Jackson spoke as he slowly reeled his lure in, watching as it occasionally flashed in the sunlight just below the surface of the lake. Jennifer, sitting on the dock with her back to her father, swung her fishing rod over her head and

How do I look?” Jennifer Jackson stood in the middle of her parents’ living room and did a slow pirouette for her mother Rose, who was standing in the doorway holding a hairbrush in one hand and a towel in the other. “You look fine dear,” said Rose. “Not too happy?” asked Jennifer. “I don’t

Lightning flashed across the night sky, illuminating the trees swaying wildly in the wind above the Jacksons’ campsite, and a moment later a crash of thunder pealed out amid the steady drum of heavy rain pouring down from the clouds onto the Jacksons’ nice new tent. Rose spoke into the darkness inside. “Well, this is

You bought what?!” Randy Jackson’s amused incredulity was clearly evident in the tone of his voice. His parents, Andrew and Rose sat comfortably in the Adirondack chairs on the lawn of the Jackson farmhouse, lemonade in hand, both wearing sunglasses against the blazing Sunday afternoon sun. “A tent,” said Andrew casually. “We bought a tent.”

The best thing about it,” Brady Jackson said as he set his beer down on the arm of the Adirondack chair in which he was seated in Andrew and Rose’s sunroom, next to his wife Amanda, “is that our walks with Rover are way shorter than usual. Yesterday when I took him out late in

So, as I predicted,” the youngish stranger sitting at Andrew Jackson’s table at the café was saying as Andrew seated himself with his freshly brewed cup of coffee, “when we landed in Winnipeg one of my suitcases was confiscated by customs. Just like I figured it would be. I had two cases and they were

My best memory of my father?” Andrew Jackson leaned back in his Adirondack chair, parked in its perpetual spot on the front lawn of the Jackson farm, and looked around at the assembled members of his family. The boys, Randy and Brady were there with their wives, Jackie and Amanda, Jennifer was there with her

What should we do Grandma?” Allison Jackson looked up from her bowl of cereal. “Can I have some more orange juice?” she added. “What’s the magic word darling?” said Rose. “Abracadabra,” said Allison, eyes twinkling. “The other magic word,” said Rose. “Please?” said Allison. “That’s the one,” said Rose. She poured half a glass of

“Now that’s what I call a barbecue!” Randy Jackson gazed in awe at the gleaming stainless steel contraption taking centre stage on the backyard deck of his parents’ house. “You could roast a whole hog on that thing!” “I could indeed,” said Andrew, “if it was a small enough hog. Although truthfully, the rotisserie is