The Greatest gift: Chapter three
Chapter three: Roger
…. On some nearby railroad tracks an average little boy named Roger was kicking stones on his way to visit his best pal Timmy. Today was a very special day for Roger, it was his tenth birthday (or the big ‘one-o’ as his older brothers called it). Every once in a while he would stop to examine one of the stones in hopes of finding a skipper.
A few minutes later we find Roger standing on Timmy’s back porch overlooking the railroad tracks only twenty yards away. Just beyond the tracks, beyond some nearby trees, Roger could see the pond that they fished in. It was too shallow and mucky to swim in though. Plus, they knew that there was at least one HUGE snapping turtle hiding out in there. His attention was drawn away from the sight by the sound of running footsteps behind him.
“I got it Roger, let’s get out of here before my brother finds out!” Before Roger could even ask, Timmy had already jumped the stairs of the porch and was running towards the railroad tracks. Shaking his head, Roger ran after him. “What are we running for anyway?” a breathless Roger asks as they slow to a dogged walk about hundred yards down the tracks. “Sheesh, you were running like you saw a ghost or something”.
“No, I told you already…. I GOT IT!” with this he reaches under his shirt and hands Roger a small package wrapped in a red cloth handkerchief. “I had to hawk it from my oldest brother but he is so into ‘giiiiiirls’ now that I don’t think he will miss it. Anyway… happy birthday”.
As Roger unwraps the package his eyes widen to the size of saucers. He numbly drops the handkerchief to the ground and looks at his present with such awe and reverence that for a moment Timmy thought a fly was going to land in his mouth. Then suddenly…
“This is the greatest present ever given to anyone in the whole world! You are the best Timmy, I mean it! Woooo hoooooooo!” As Roger danced wildly about waving his new gift over his head, Timmy just stood there with a little grin waiting for them to go try it out. “You better remember this next month when I turn the big ‘one-o’ Roger, your big brothers have a few things that I have had my eye on too ya know”.
-John Alexander (aka SirJohn)
