* * * The Magic Spinner - Page 2

Mom assigns each of them a task.

Parker is assigned the task of looking through a pile of boxes and telling Mom what's inside each one. Punky is assigned a smaller pile of boxes to look through, but Mom doesn't expect much of her. In fact, this ends up being an accurate prediction. As soon as Punky opens her box she finds a rag doll from when she was little and starts playing with it. She forgets about clean up.

Parker sits on the floor and begins opening and sorting boxes. Now that he's gotten his task underway, it's actually kind of interesting. He finishes repacking and labeling the boxes, discards some, and gives the "question" boxes to Mom. 

Parker then moves on to an old trunk which is at the far corner of the long, dusty attic. He opens the trunk and sees some old uniforms which he takes out.
 
"Cool," he says as he unfolds them. "Mom, whose are these?" 

Mom glances over at Parker. "It's your grandfather's trunk. It's probably just a bunch of junk. Leave it for now."

Parker puts on what must be his grandfather's old navy hat. 

"Hey, Punky, look at me." Parker shows off. Then goes back to unpacking the trunk.

He then takes out a long heavy box that rattles with what's inside. He struggles to lift it out of the trunk and places it on the attic floor with a bang. When Parker opens the wooden box, he sees some handles covered with black cloth. He removes the cloth pieces and discovers that they are covering up a set of Japanese swords. 

Parker lifts one of the swords up. Luckily the blade hasn't been sharpened - it's a decorative sword. For display purposes only, not for fighting.

"Mom! Look!" Parker waves the sword above his head. "Can I have it?"

"Parker, watch out. That's dangerous!" Mom comes rushing over.

"No, it's not sharp. See." Parker shows her the dull, unsharpened blade. "Can I have it?"  

"I guess. If you promise to be extremely careful with it."

Parker continues unpacking his Grandfather's wooden box. He takes out four fighting stars, a staff, some scrolls, and a spinner board with old and interesting looking symbols and writing on it. 

"What does it say? What language is this?"

Mrs. Racoosin studies the writing on the spinner board which appears to be written on thin wood. "I think it's Japanese. Grandpa was there when he was in the Navy. A long time ago." She hands the spinner back to Parker. 

Parker lifts the strips of old black cloth. He realizes that they are six head sashes and he ties one around his head. After all this time in the attic, the sash is still in really good condition.

"Look at me. I'm a Ninja!" he shouts as he waves his sword above his head. "I'm a Ninja!"