CHAPTER FOUR A Daring Trip to Watch the Olympics

Today the Lampers had a visit from Winifred Switcher.  Winifred was quite upset because she had been right in the middle of mixing the batter for a special order cake  when she discovered that she was all out of chocolate.  Frederick Sewell had ordered the cake for his wife, Elizabeth's birthday.  And Winifred wanted it to be especially good.  She needed for the Lamper boys to visit the Smith's kitchen and "borrow" some chocolate.  A couple of M&M's would do.  But, even better, would be a hot chocolate pod.  The Smith's kept the pods to use in their hot drink machine, and one would give Winifred enough chocolate to last quite awhile.

The boys were happy to take off and see what they could find.  So Muriel and Winifred settled in for a cup of hot tea and a good chat.

When the boys returned, they were happy because their trip had been a big success.  They were able to bring back a hot chocolate pod.  But the boys were really excited for a different reason.

"Mom, where is Dad?  Dad!  Dad!  We need to talk to you!"

"Boys, slow down.  What is so important?  Your dad is upstairs resting and reading his new issue of The Saturday Evening Post."

"We'll explain later, Mom."  And the boys ran upstairs to find their dad.

"Dad. we have something to tell you.  Grandpa Don is sound asleep in his reclining chair, and the TV is on showing the Olympic golf.  AND  Britton's chair is sitting right in front of the TV!"

Then Herbie joined in, "And, Dad, if we are really really super quiet, we can sneak in, climb up on Britton's chair, and watch the golf match!"

"Oh, I don't know, boys.  It sounds risky and dangerous.  What if Grandpa Don wakes up and catches us?"

"He is really snoring, Dad.  I don't think he'll wake up.....if we are super quiet."

"Pleeeea.....se, Dad.  You know you love golf.  And Ricky Fowler is playing.

Well, that did it.  For, indeed, Edward did love golf.  While the Lamper family had still been packaged and for sale at the store, they had been displayed on a counter right next to the TV sales department.
The department manager had been a big golf fan and kept the TV's tuned into golf as often as possible.
So the whole family had watched and become real golf fans.  AND Ricky Fowler was Dad's favorite golfer.  So that did it.

"Okay, boys, but let me tell your mother.  And you must be very, very quiet.  AND when I say it is time to go,  we must leave right away."

When they went downstairs and told Mother,  Winifred thought maybe her husband, Conrad, might like to go along, so she hurried home to tell him.  And the boys went with her to carry the chocolate pod.

Soon, the boys, their dad, and Conrad were quietly sneaking into the living room.  They used their climbing rope to climb up and get onto Britton's chair.

What a treat the afternoon was!  They saw a good hour, at least, of Olympic golf.  They even witnessed Justin Rose hit a hole in one!  Wow!  That doesn't happen often!

But, oh no!  They were so into the golf, that they didn't hear Grandpa Don wake up!

"Well, look at this.  Britton left his chair sitting here....and all these dollhouse guys."

The "Guys" froze.

Meanwhile, Don picked them all up.  "What's this little rope?  Oh well, I'll put all these back in the dollhouse so that Britton can find them."

Don put all the dolls and the climbing rope back into the Lamper's house.

And, even though it gave them an awful fright, it did save them a long walk home.

And later on that evening, when Don and Phyllis were sound asleep,  Conrad Switcher went home to Winifred, and everyone and everything returned to the proper places.