85-year-old printer turns 11-year-old's animal sketches into cards

An 85-year-old man in Lansing is printing greeting cards for an 11-year-old neighbor.

Riley Haughey, a fifth grader, draws colorful animals at her kitchen table. She uses markers from a tackle box to create what she calls Riley's Critters. Riley said she enjoys watching the ink land on the paper. She described the process as feeling like magic.

The family wanted to sell the drawings to pay for Riley's dance classes. They needed a way to turn the sketches into cards without spending too much. Tony Klain, who lives nearby, offered to help. The two families have known each other for six years as backyard neighbors. Klain does not have grandchildren of his own. He became a close friend to the Haughey family after they moved next door.

Whitney Haughey, Riley's mother, said Klain is very kind. She recalled him telling them he could handle the printing job. At his home office, Klain uploads Riley's artwork. He uses a computer to clean up any small mistakes in the drawings. He keeps Riley's original brush strokes intact. He also preserves her unique signature, a paw print shaped like a heart.

Klain said he does not like to change what Riley has done. He works on each image individually. While editing one card, he named the subject Cherry the squirrel. This work reminds him of his late wife, Phoebe. Phoebe also created artwork. Klain used his graphic design skills to turn her drawings into a collection of calendars after she passed away.

Klain scanned drawings from Phoebe's journals to match each month of the year. He said the artistic connection with Phoebe has helped him cope with her loss. Now he focuses on Riley's work. Riley checks the finished cards and gives a nod of approval. She told Klain the results look good.

Klain said the work makes his day every time he does it. The partnership allows Riley to earn money for her dance lessons. It also gives Klain a new project to fill his time. The two continue to work on new critters from Riley's sketchbook.