Afterthoughts

        As we rode down a country road, to my grand-parents farm, my brother, sister, and stepsister chanted, "I double dare you to jump."  Sitting on the tail gate of the pick-up, just to show bravery, I stuck my leg out as far as I could.  They didn't need to know I didn't intend to jump.  At that very moment, the tires on the old truck plunged into a deep hole.  When the vehicle bounced, I flew into the air, did a somersault, and to my surprise landed on my feet.  Immediately, I began to run.  My siblings rushed to the back of the cab and hollered, "Patricia fell out!  Patricia fell out!"       Granddad Roy lost his hearing at the age of nine.  Even though he had his hearing aids on, he couldn't hear them.  When he looked in his rearview mirror and saw me running after the truck, he stopped and opened the passenger side door.  I got in expecting to get a good chewing out.  He turned to me and said, "Are you okay?"  I nodded my head yes.  We