{Straight From the Heart} *A Boy's Tale* 2/28/00
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A BOY'S TALE
By: Edwin Williams
Looking down in to the valley, the river delta sparkled in the early
morning sun. The boy sat with his chin cupped in his hands, oblivious
to the morning dew on the grass and its wetness seeping through his
shorts.
For what seemed ages, he sat entranced watching people below scurrying
about like ants. He likened his position as that of a lord surveying
his land and protecting his property, or a tyrant prevailing over his
kingdom. His finger was transformed into a ray gun, able to
disintegrate any of the scurrying creatures.
Ancient dry stone walls and Hawthorne and Black Wood hedges bordered
the patchwork quilt of green meadows and golden wheat. Majestically it
spread before him. His eyes followed a heavy goods vehicle as it made
its way along the road that ran adjacent to the river, only to
disappear behind the distant wooded bank.
A sudden movement to his right caught his attention. Reaching into his
duffel bag he slowly drew out his binoculars, carefully, to not
frighten the rabbit, which slowly moved within his site range. It
appeared so close that he was sure he could almost reach out and touch
the creature. It twitched nervously pausing to graze for a moment,
looked up, head twisting left, right and then back to the middle,
nostrils testing the air and returning once again to graze. The call
of a bird suddenly caused it to momentarily freeze and in an instant,
it disappeared back to its former place in the woods.
Using his duffel as a pillow, his attention now shifted to the clouds
as they floated lazily across the blue summer's sky, expanding in an
ever-changing form and shape. They took on godlike faces or animals
and with a swirl they vanished until new ones took their place.
He propped himself up on his elbow and snapped a long grass stem, then
laid back once more and giggled while tickling his chin with the fluffy
seed head. Lacing his fingers behind his head, he drank in the warmth
of the early morning sun as it bathed his face. Closing his eyes to
block out its brightness, he noted the smells of fresh grass mingled
with the perfume of wild flowers carried by the wind.
The sun warmed the ground where he lay and insects awakened from their
slumber. They joined in a chorus of sound that only nature could
provide, birds announcing the arrival of another day and crickets
sending messages to one another. Feeling the tranquillity of solitude
and the sweet lullaby of nature's chorus, he slipped into that state
where dreams and reality exist as one, where imagination casts childish
woes aside. In his innocence, he could never comprehend that this was
a freedom he would seldom if ever, experience again.
In the distance a sound grew close becoming louder and louder as it
neared, accompanied by laboured breathing. The panting breath was
almost upon him now. Refusing to acknowledge its presence, he laid
as still as he could and heard footsteps pacing from one side to
another, and then moving all around him. Only when a great drooling
tongue, warm and sticky swiped across his mouth and nostrils did he
move. Sitting up with a jerk he scolded the source.
"You mucky pup " he scolded his friend, and uttered a disgusting
"blech" as he used the back of his hand to wipe saliva from his face.
His friend stepped back, the big gentle face almost smiling, tongue
dangling lazily to one side, bright brown eyes shimmering with glee to
be able to elicit a response from her master. Enjoying the game she
sat on her haunches and let out a playful yap. "Where you been girl?"
the boy continued to scold. For a fleeting moment he detected a
flicker of doubt in the dog's eyes, but unable to continue teasing
his friend any longer, he erupted with a playful laugh. Instantly,
the dog was upon him and they wrestled playfully, rolling and tumbling
in the soft grass and bracken. Breaking free, the dog charged around
him at full lick, yapping in an unnaturally high pitched yelp. Then
grabbing his sleeve she began a game of tug-of-war, with all four paws
taking the strain, growling ferociously while jerking backwards. The
boy was a surprised by the dog's strength - jerking once, twice and a
third time. Their play continued, neither side willing to give ground
until the sleeve ripped. Seeing the boy's expression and sensing
something was wrong, the dog instantly released its grip. "Darn! Mam's
going to kill me," he exclaimed out loud. Looking deep into his
friend's eyes, the boy knew he couldn't stay angry with her. A soft
click of the tongue signaled to the dog that all was right again and
she dashed into the boy's arms.
Together they lay on that remote hillside, he gently running his
fingers through the soft animal fur. He knew he could never have a
truer, more selfless or faithful friend. That was many years ago, in
a far off place, and in a state of being that will never be again.
My dog Peggy was my constant companion throughout my childhood, and
departed this world on New Year's Eve, 1977. Somewhere, Peggy is
running through fields and waiting until the time we can be reunited
once again. The bond between a boy and his dog is the greatest
experience a boy could wish for.
Edwin Williams
ed@ewilliams.karoo.co.uk
Send Edwin an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
© 1999 Edwin Williams
Hello, my name is Edwin Williams and I live in East Yorkshire, England. For
my work-a-day profession I am an Electrical /Mechanical Engineer. For my time
to relax I write - stories and poetry. I have recently developed a love for
words - written, spoken, getting into word play... painting pictures with
words - creating an emotional response.
Visit my site at: http://www.ewilliams.karoo.net/home.htm
currently taking submissions.
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UPDATE:
From: Trlyons1@aol.com
Thank you for God has answered our prayers. Luke must be fitted with
a helmet to correct the shape of his skull but Praise God there
is nothing internal.
Thank you, thank you, thank you and may God bless you and yours
for your faithfulness to Him.
In Jesus' love,
Tom & Deb Lyons
***
I wanted to share this link with everyone!
Christina's Cottage!
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Cottage/5286
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Thought For The Day:
"As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch
what they do."
(Andrew Carnegie)
Verse for the Day:
"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by
what I do."
James 2:18
Kid's Thought For The day:
"Whether your in or out, you usually want to be the other."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they
blossom when we love the ones we marry."
(Tom Mullen)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Hustle is: doing something that everybody is absolutely certain
cannot be done. Earning a position because you learned it first, or
stayed with it when everyone else gave up. Getting other players to
say yes when they have already said no. The sheer joy of winning.
Heaven if you are a hustler, torture if you're not."
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Did you know that the word gullible is not in the dictionary?"
(My thanks to Becky for sharing that one)
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video
we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty
seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was
the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such
a beautiful job! They were so suprised and so touched---they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for
the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html