Grounds crew at Storybook
my Jolly Green Giant jacket, plus ate the change purse allocated for the cookie money, coins and all. That play area was revised the next summer. No goats allowed! As with most summer jobs that combine young staff and lively spirits, it should not be surprising to learn there were quite a few behind-the-scenes shenanigans. Practical jokes being our objective, it was Barn Boys versus Castle Girls. The Boys would stealthily bump us into the water as we patrolled the grounds. The Jolly Miller’s noisy water wheel easily camouflaged their approach. On Thursdays, they scrubbed the moats and used their power hoses to launch a barrage of water from twenty feet away. If we were inside doing ticket sales, we were caught midway between the drawbridge and the back door, thus no mercy and no escaping the relentless stream of icy water. The most elaborate assault occurred when a certain Barn Boy pushed my little, 1959 Triumph onto the drawbridge. It was parked precariously with only inches on each side before it would slide into the moat below. As I headed out for the night, I was stunned to see my now inaccessible ride home and a note that implied my keys and green jacket also had been captured. Instructed to head to the Windmill for negotiations, I soon saw I had been outplayed. Twenty-five feet above me, circling round and round, were my
As soon as children saw the Big Blue Whale or wide-eyed Humpty Dumpty, they would be off clambering, sliding, and hiding. When little ones strayed, the Castle Girls would calmly search the grounds. We knew the most popular spots to search and could successfully reunite escapees with their guardians within minutes. Storybook’s only dangerous place was the Billy-Goat-Gruff Hill Slide. The hill beside the barn was treacherously steep, and the children held cookies for goat treats in their hands. Goats have amazing agility and accuracy for head-butting little human targets, causing a few tears. Those same demon goats chewed holes in
belongings, securely tied to the windmill blades. . . . tune into our July/August issue for Part 2
Find a new rhythm at Riverstone! Embrace a care-free lifestyle where every step brings new opportunity. Reignite old passions and share stories, hobbies and adventures with new friends. Tap your toes to an uplifting new tune, surrounded by the Riverstone family. It’s Seniors Month - book your tour and let’s celebrate you!
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Issue 91 - June 2024 Page 21
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