Hatfield's essay tops in state contest

            Chandler Hatfield, a fifth grade student in Mrs. Audrey Gay's class at the Franklin County Consolidated School, won the state award for the fifth grade essay contest sponsored by the Florida Retired Educators Association, "What My Grandparent or Grandparent Figure Means to Me."

            Chandler received a $50 savings bond and a $5 gift certificate from either Burger King or McDonald's for winning the contest at the local level sponsored by the Franklin/Gulf Retired Educators Association.

            He received a $200 savings bond and a $25 check for winning the FREA state contest.

            His essay was read at the FREA State Conference in St. Petersburg held May 27 to 29. Chandler came to the F/GREA meeting on Monday, June 8, with his father and grandfather (his Paw Paw) to read his essay to the members.

            Congratulations to Chandler, for his winning essay, reprinted below

My Paw Paw

            Have you ever loved someone so much that you would do anything for them? I have.... My Paw Paw. His name is Larry William Hatfield. We like to fish, tell Bible stories, and be tough. So let me tell you about those things.

            My Paw Paw and I like to go fishing together. When we first stop the boat and put anchor, my Paw Paw always says, "Let's see who will catch first blood." Then he says, "Let's see if Chandler can whip me now." Usually he wins, but you have to admit he does move fast for a 60-year-old man. You can't find many men like this, and when he catches a bigger fish than me he says, "What do yah say, oh yeah, what?"

            Sometimes Paw Paw sits down at the table and tells me Bible stories. My favorite is Moses. I like him because he was a loyal disciple and he freed all those Hebrews and made the Ten Commandments.

            Last, but not least, my Paw Paw is tough. One time we were offshore fishing and my Paw Paw caught a blue fish and he stuck his fingers down the blue fish's mouth and the blue fish bit my Paw Paw. He did not even scream. He said, "You little Devil" and pulled its jaws open and slung it over board. He looked up and said "ow" and smiled.

            Another time, I caught a nurse shark about as tall as Mrs. Gay. He reached down to cut the line and the shark went crazy. He calmed down and my Paw Paw rubbed his back and said "it's okay." Paw Paw cut the line and the shark flew off.

            My Paw Paw is not mean. He is really gentle, but he won't take any "fa doodle" from anyone. So that's what my Paw Paw and I do. I know he loves me as much as I love him.