The Five Whos

The Five Who's

Mom smiled as she reached for the first book on Grandma’s shelf. The cover was worn from years of loving hands turning its pages.

Finn leaned closer. “Mom... why did Grandma leave us all these books?”

Mom gently brushed the dust from the cover. “Because your grandmother knew one day you would begin asking questions about the world around you. And she wanted to help you discover the answers.”

Pearl climbed onto the chair beside her. “Can we read it?”

“I think Grandma would like that very much.”

Mom carefully opened the book. Inside, written across the first page in large red letters, were five questions:

Who decides? Who benefits? Who pays? Who is represented? Who is missing?

Finn pointed to the first question. “Who decides?”

Mom turned the page. “Every community has people who help make decisions. Some are elected. Some work for the city or county. Some work on roads, parks, schools, planning, or other parts of community life. Grandma believed the first step was learning who they are.”

Finn nodded. “So before I decide if something is a good idea... I should know who is making the decision.”

“Exactly.”

Tide pointed to the second question. “Who benefits?”

“Sometimes everyone benefits. A safer road. A new playground. A better library. But Grandma reminded us to ask another question. Does everyone benefit in the same way?”

Tide thought for a moment. “So... sometimes something can help one person... and make life harder for someone else?”

“Sometimes.”

Pearl pointed to the next question. “Who pays?”

“Sometimes people pay with money. Sometimes they pay with time. Sometimes they sit in traffic longer. Sometimes forests become neighborhoods. Sometimes wildlife habitat can disappear or become fragmented.”

Pearl looked down. “The bears don’t have any money.”

“No,” Mom said softly. “They can be affected in other ways.”

Finn pointed to the fourth question. “Who is represented?”

“When people meet to make decisions, many voices may be heard. Families. Business owners. Teachers. Engineers. Scientists. Neighbors. The more people who are willing to listen and learn together, the better we understand the whole picture.”

Pearl quietly looked at the last question. “Who is missing?”

She counted the chairs in Grandma’s picture. Then she frowned.

“Mom...”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Where’s the bear?”

“The bear can’t come to the meeting.”

“But... it’s his home too.”

“It is.”

“What about the turtles? And the little birds? And the little kids who aren’t old enough to come?”

Finn smiled. “They can’t talk.”

Pearl thought for a long moment. “Then somebody should talk for them.”

Finn, Pearl, and Tide looked at one another.

Mom reached over and squeezed Pearl’s little hand. “I think... that is exactly what Grandma hoped you would say.”

Mom slowly closed the book. “Your grandmother did not write these questions so everyone would agree. She wrote them so people would learn to ask good questions before making up their minds.”

Finn smiled. “So every decision has a story.”

“It does,” Mom said. “And good questions help us understand that story.”

She placed the book back on Grandma’s shelf. “Are you ready for the next lesson?”

Three little sardines smiled together.

“I think we are.”

Grandma’s Thought for Today

Before you decide...

Who decides? Who benefits? Who pays? Who is represented? Who is missing?

Because every decision has consequences, and caring about your community means taking the time to understand who may be affected.

Pearl’s Question

“If someone can’t speak for themselves... who will?”