The Gnometown Legend of Gnomes Dr. Arnie & Bonnie Jostock

"Children, the last thing that we will learn today is about Gnometown history," announced Gnome teacher Irene Ruzich. "Do you know why our hats are all bent at the top?" The gnome children looked at each other, but they had no clue.
 "It happened many years ago," added teacher Irene, "in another land, Daws, the leader of the gnomes, knew that his people needed a new place to live and asked them to vote to go to Gnometown by bending the top of their hats. It was a unanimous vote and they decided when they arrived to continue putting a bend in their hats to show others they were Gnometown gnomes and to promote a feeling of unity.”
The gnome children understood and clapped. They loved learning their history. Then one of them asked, "Why do some adults wear hearts on their sleeves?" "Good question," she said. "You think about this question overnight and observe someone who wears a heart on a sleeve. See if you can figure it out. Tomorrow I am bringing in two people who both have hearts. They will tell you why they have them and how they got them."
The gnome children left their classroom chattering excitedly about what they had learned as they ran out to catch the squirrel bus to go home. The next day they noisily came into the classroom wondering who might be coming to talk to them. There, standing by their teacher, were Gnome Arnie and Gnome Bonnie, all decked out with hearts on their sleeves.
"Good morning, little gnomes," began their teacher Gnome Irene. "You all know Gnomes Arnie and Bonnie and their children. These two gnomes, as well as all the others you know that have hearts on their sleeves, know exactly how to explain our Gnometown heart project. I'd like to begin with Arnie.”
" Arnie, how would you like to be remembered by others in Gnometown?"
"I would like people to remember that I had a heart," replied Gnome Arnie. “That thought was the main drive of almost everything I did. It was those deeds that earned the heart that is on my sleeve."
"I too," added Gnome Bonnie, “wanted to show my heart to the community that took us in and accepted our love and help."
“Arnie,” asked teacher Irene, "what kind of deeds did you do to earn the heart that you wear?"
"Many of the things that I did were in my job. Of course, I did everything to help the sick animals get well and repair their injuries, but also I felt compassion for their owners when I couldn't save their furry one or when they had to make hard decisions. I tried my best to comfort them and befriend them in those moments of grief. I was also involved in canine hospice with my dog Rascal, my buddy. We would go to visit people who knew their life was ebbing. Rascal just knew what to do to cheer up those patients and make them smile. Also, I belonged to the Lion's group in town, which was organized to raise money to give out scholarships for gnome children and improve parks and public spaces or wherever things needed to be done. Gnometown gnomes are here to help our community be the best it can be. We all need to do our part."
"What about you, Gnome Bonnie," questioned teacher Irene. "What are your contributions which caused you to wear a heart on your sleeve?"
"My career, as a nurse, put me in situations where most of the people I saw needed help, comfort and compassion," Gnome Bonnie replied. “I delivered babies to first time moms who were very scared. I had to be ready, at any time, to give loving support to my patients, whoever they were and whatever happened. Any nurse would understand that. I also saw a need for the families who had loved ones who were dying. They needed special help. They really didn't know how to care for them.
I pushed to start a hospice program, right here in our hospital and, wow, it's grown to be a huge help to our families. But I think the most caring thing I did, was write letters to the families after their loved ones died, telling them the lovely stories that they revealed about their life that they may not have ever shared. It was like getting a piece of them back. I told them how I cared for them and families were so comforted. Anything nice that you do for your community is deserving of this heart award."
"How did the hearts get on your sleeves?" asked a child. "Did it get there by magic and appear suddenly during the night?"
"No," answered Gnome Arnie with a chuckle, " another gnome noticed the good things we did and reported it to Daws. He consulted with the Gnometown Council. They gave us a piece of paper that said we had earned the coveted award. We took our shirts and blouses to Gnome Shar and she embroidered the hearts on our sleeves. We wear these hearts proudly for all to see."
"So children," concluded teacher Irene, "You are growing up. Watch the adult gnomes with hearts on their sleeves. You will observe many ways to earn the award. You can practice in your homes by doing things for your family. When you become an adult, make it your goal to help others, volunteering for community projects and reacting to people who need a hand up. When you do, someone may notice and report it to Daws. Then you too, will be able to wear a heart on your sleeve."