For James Shepard

My grandson has a multiplicity of names.

Driving home from work one evening, this story popped into my head. When I got home, I wrote it down for him.

My father (his great-grandpa) did the illustrations and we are going to have it printed for him into a book. The way I have laid it out below, the asterisks mark each new page. In this story, I am the Other Nana.

I wanted to give it it’s world premier right here.

So here it is:

I AM CALLED BY MANY NAMES

**********

I am

JAMES

SHEPARD

COOPER.

**********

But I am called
many other names too.

I will tell you about them.

It is a very good story.

**********

My Mom is Kate.

She calls me her Baby Boy.
And her Sweet Little Man.

I like that better than Baby Boy.

Sheesh.

I’m not a baby!!!!

*********

My Dad is James.

He calls me Mister.
Mister Man.
Big Boy.

I like all of those.

**********

Both my mom and my dad

call me Shep.

When they call me Shep,
My Other Nana rolls her eyes
and gives a big sigh.

She does not like ‘Shep’.

**********

My dad says that is because

she is a big poop.

hee hee

He said poop.

He also said
“But don’t tell her I said that.”

So don’t, ‘kay?

'Cause we love her anyway.

**********

I have two Nanas and one Poppa.

Both my Nanas are called Marie.

Isn't that funny?

I call one Nana Ree and the other

My Other Nana.

**********

Nana Ree is tall
and has long hair
and is funny.

She lives with Poppa.

He’s funny too.

**********

My Other Nana
is short and has curly hair.

My dad says when he was little

he said it was Outer Space Hair.

My dad is funny too.

**********

My Other Nana lives by herself.
She is funny too.

They all make me laugh.

They call me James

and James Shepard

and Handsome

and My Sweet Boy.

**********

I have a middle name.

It is Danger.

My dad picked it so I could say
“Danger is my middle name.”

This makes My Other Nana roll her eyes

and say “Oh, brother.”

But I like it.

**********

Remember, she is a
big poop.

hee hee

I said poop.

But don’t tell her I said so, ‘kay?

'Cause I love her anyway.

**********

My dad has a brother and sisters.

My mom has a brother and sisters.

So I have a lot of aunts and uncles.

A LOT.


**********

They call me

Shep,

Buddy,

Little Man,

Handsome,
and James Shepard.

And C’mere You
when they are going to tickle me.

**********

I have many cousins.

MANY, MANY COUSINS.

Some of them can’t talk yet,

cause they’re babies.

The babies call me

goo-goo-ga-ga.

**********

My other cousins call me

Shep

and James Shepard.

And sometimes Bad

when I take away their toys.

Big babies.

**********

I have three Great-Grandma’s

and one Great-Grandpa.

They call me Sweetie
and Adorable
and The Spitting Image of Your Father.

They kiss me a lot too.

Kisses. Yuck.

But they are nice and I love them.

**********

I have friends in school
and they call me Shep.

And sometimes Bad

when I take away their toys.

Big babies.

**********

My teachers call me Shep
and My Boy
and My Little Man
and My Guy.

And sometimes Honey.
(But I think that is really a girl’s name.)


They are all really nice.


**********

I am James Shepard Cooper.

I am called by many names.

But here is what I am called that is the best thing of all…

LOVED!!!!!