Grandma's Secret Code

Grandma hummed happily as she tended to her colorful garden. The sun warmed her back while butterflies danced around her flowers. She loved peaceful mornings like this, with birds singing and the scent of roses in the air.

After gardening, Grandma settled into her favorite chair with a cup of tea. She thought about her grandson Ben and smiled. They had plans for him to visit this weekend for their special spaghetti dinner.

The telephone rang, interrupting Grandma's peaceful moment. "Hello, Grandma? It's Ben," said an unfamiliar voice. "I need some money for a new video game, please."

Grandma's smile faded as she listened to the voice. Something didn't sound right about her grandson's voice. "Before we talk about that, what's our secret code word?" she asked carefully.

The caller hesitated on the other end of the line. "Um, I forgot," the voice stammered nervously. Grandma's suspicion grew stronger with each passing second.

"What's your favorite ice cream flavor, Ben?" Grandma asked with a knowing smile. The voice on the phone paused too long. "Chocolate?" it guessed incorrectly.

"You're not my grandson," Grandma declared firmly. The voice suddenly changed, becoming strange and robotic. "You're too smart for this trick," it growled before hanging up.

Later that afternoon, the phone rang again. "Hi Grandma, it's Ben - bluebird!" came the cheerful voice of her real grandson. Grandma's heart filled with relief and joy.

When Ben arrived for dinner, Grandma told him about the strange call. "Someone pretended to be you today," she explained while stirring her famous spaghetti sauce. "But they didn't know our secret code."

Ben's eyes widened with worry. "Were you scared, Grandma?" he asked, his brown hair falling across his forehead. Grandma patted his hand reassuringly and smiled.

"That's why we have our special word," Grandma explained as they twirled spaghetti on their forks. "Our 'bluebird' code keeps us both safe from tricksters. It's our secret power."

Ben hugged his clever grandma tightly before leaving. "I love our secret code," he whispered. Grandma kissed his cheek, grateful for their special bond that kept them both protected.