Why Snake has no legs
You ask me why snakes have no legs?
Well my dears, the story goes like this. Millions of years ago, when Earth was simply a swirl of gas and dust, God was feeling tired His knees were playing up something shocking and he had the most dreadful bronchitis. He’d worked hard since the beginning of time out in the freezing Universe creating lots of planets and he was feeling stressed with it all. So It was time for a holiday. But he needed to find a perfect place to go. Neptune was too cold for his arthritis and Mercury was so hot he could hardly breathe. So he decided to build himself a perfect retreat, one which was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, with a garden where he could relax and enjoy peace and quiet in the sunshine.
First he commanded the gas and the dust to mix together to form a huge sphere which rotated in space around the sun, not too close and not too far away. Then he planted a magnificent garden with forests and an orchard filled with luscious fruits, and fields of sweet smelling grass where wild flowers grew in abundance.
But he still wasn’t satisfied. His garden was beautiful with sparkling rivers and snow-capped mountains but he was lonely sitting on the river bank dangling his feet in the water all on his own. He needed companionship, a creature to welcome him home after a heavy day sorting out the universe. The lush green grass and the sparkling water was wasted when it was only him there to enjoy it. The place needed something else; something that would benefit from his wonderful creation.
‘I know,’ said God. ‘I’ll make some animals to eat the grass and drink the water. They can come and graze next to the river and I can talk to them as I walk along the river bank.’
So he made lots of different kinds of animals. Some had fur and some had feathers and others had long thin scaly bodies. Some were big and squat like a tricerotops and some were tall like a brachiosaurus, some were small like a tortoise, some could fly and some could run. They all had legs of course, except for the fish. God preferred to see them swimming in the river. Yes, my dears, even the snakes had legs in those days. God loved all of them, even the snakes and the spiders. In fact his favourite companion was Najesh, his pet snake, who used to trot along beside him on little fat legs wherever he went.
After a while God got a bit bored, which sometimes happens when life is too perfect. The problem was that none of the animals could talk to him. We all need to share an adventure or two with someone else to make life interesting, don’t we? So he decided to make a Man, a companion who could talk to him and share his experiences. After all, what was the good of having such a beautiful world if he couldn’t talk to anyone about it?
The Man was perfect, and they had wonderful conversations. God taught Man about the sun and the moon and the stars. And then he and Man made up names for all the living things; the flowers, the trees and all the animals. And they called the planet Earth. They climbed mountains and swam in the sea and sat by the river together. Life became much richer and God was pleased.
But Najesh was jealous of Man. He crept away and sulked in his hole thinking up ways he could get rid of him.
Then one day God noticed that Man was looking pretty fed up.
‘What’s the matter Man? Why are you so miserable?’
‘I’m lonely,’ moaned Man
God was shocked. ‘How can you be lonely when you have me?’ asked God.
‘It’s not the same,’ complained Man. ‘You’re – well you’re very good and all that but you’re a bit old. I need someone my own age, someone I can share my life with and cuddle up to on a cold night.
God thought for a moment. ‘Oh alright then.’ He was a bit miffed to be honest but if that was what would make Man happy he supposed he would have to give it to him. ‘I’ll make a Woman for you. Then let that be the end of of it.’
So God made a Woman and everything was hunky dory for a while until the autumn when the days shortened and the orchard was full of lush fruits ready for picking. The apple tree stood in the centre of the orchard and near the top there was one beautiful big rosy red apple, much bigger than all the rest. There it hung on the tree as if it was saying ‘Eat me’. God knew it was very tempting but he wanted to test Man and Woman to see if they would obey Him in an emergency.
He needed to be in control. After all, he was the Creator. Without him Man and Woman wouldn’t exist and he couldn’t have his children thinking they could have everything they wanted willy nilly. Man had already got himself a Woman by playing his face. He couldn’t allow that to happen again.
So he said, ‘Man, that apple up there is not for picking. Understand?’ He had that forbidding father look on his face so Man knew he was serious. ‘I shall leave you to pass on that message to Woman. She must on no account pick that apple otherwise there will be dire consequences.’ He wasn’t quite sure what those consequences would be at that stage but he had to put on a show of being stern so Man would take him seriously. With that he went and sat by himself on top of his favourite mountain and watched what would happen.
Meanwhile Najesh the serpent had heard God’s command. ‘Ah!’ he thought. ‘Here is my chance.’ He ran to the orchard. He grasped the bark of the apple tree with the claws on his front feet. and his little back legs pushed him up and up until he was able to coil his long scaly body around the topmost branch and hang down next to the BIG apple.
Minutes later Woman came into the orchard. She looked up at the apple and her mouth watered. It was so BIG and ROUND and JUICY.
OK, so Man had told her not to eat it but that didn’t stop her from wanting it, a bit like when you find a chocolate egg hidden in the cupboard and you know you can’t have it till Easter and you know you’ll get a roasting if you sneak a bite.
‘Go on,’ whispered a voice close to her ear. ‘Have a little nibble. God won’t know if you have one little bite.’
She looked up into the leering face of Najesh.
‘Oh no, I can’t. God told Man there will be dire consequences if I do.’
‘Rubbishhhh!’ hissed Najesh. ‘God is ssssitting on his mountain. He’s probably having a ssssnooze up there. He’ll never know and I shaaaan’t tell him.’
Woman was hypnotised by Najash’s soft hissing voice. She hesitated then reached up and gently plucked the apple from the tree.
There was a HUGE crash like a thousand warriors clashing spears, like a GREAT tsunami RUSHING in from the sea, like a HUNDRED dinosaurs colliding head on. And God’s angry voice BELLOWED down from the mountain felling all the trees of the forests in one resounding THUD!
‘NOW LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE. YOU’VE RUINED EVERYTHING! IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.’
Woman was terrified and after telling her what a silly creature she was Man put his arms around her to protect her.
‘GO! LEAVE MY GARDEN YOU DISOBEDIENT CREATURES. YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO SHARE ITS FRUITS,’ roared God.
Najesh rubbed his paws with glee. He just loved causing trouble for Man. With Man gone he could now be God’s favourite again.
‘AND DON’T THINK I’VE FINISHED WITH YOU!’ thundered God, pointing an accusing finger at Najesh. ‘I SAW WHAT YOU DID, YOU SNEAKY SNAKE. FROM NOW ON YOU WILL CRAWL ON YOUR BELLY TILL THE END OF TIME. NO MORE STRUTTING ABOUT FOR YOU, MY LAD’
And Najesh felt God’s mighty hand reach down and box his ears hard!
He lay on the ground beside the apple tree, seeing stars. He wanted to run and hide until God had calmed down, but his legs had shrivelled up! Without his legs all he could do was slither on his belly to his hole where he hid away in shame.
And that, my dears, is why snakes have no legs.
That old snake never did get his legs back, which is a pity because he could have been quite a good runner if he’d practised hard enough. So let that be a lesson.
It doesn’t do to upset God………… Ever!
THE END
You ask me why snakes have no legs?
Well my dears, the story goes like this. Millions of years ago, when Earth was simply a swirl of gas and dust, God was feeling tired His knees were playing up something shocking and he had the most dreadful bronchitis. He’d worked hard since the beginning of time out in the freezing Universe creating lots of planets and he was feeling stressed with it all. So It was time for a holiday. But he needed to find a perfect place to go. Neptune was too cold for his arthritis and Mercury was so hot he could hardly breathe. So he decided to build himself a perfect retreat, one which was neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, with a garden where he could relax and enjoy peace and quiet in the sunshine.
First he commanded the gas and the dust to mix together to form a huge sphere which rotated in space around the sun, not too close and not too far away. Then he planted a magnificent garden with forests and an orchard filled with luscious fruits, and fields of sweet smelling grass where wild flowers grew in abundance.
But he still wasn’t satisfied. His garden was beautiful with sparkling rivers and snow-capped mountains but he was lonely sitting on the river bank dangling his feet in the water all on his own. He needed companionship, a creature to welcome him home after a heavy day sorting out the universe. The lush green grass and the sparkling water was wasted when it was only him there to enjoy it. The place needed something else; something that would benefit from his wonderful creation.
‘I know,’ said God. ‘I’ll make some animals to eat the grass and drink the water. They can come and graze next to the river and I can talk to them as I walk along the river bank.’
So he made lots of different kinds of animals. Some had fur and some had feathers and others had long thin scaly bodies. Some were big and squat like a tricerotops and some were tall like a brachiosaurus, some were small like a tortoise, some could fly and some could run. They all had legs of course, except for the fish. God preferred to see them swimming in the river. Yes, my dears, even the snakes had legs in those days. God loved all of them, even the snakes and the spiders. In fact his favourite companion was Najesh, his pet snake, who used to trot along beside him on little fat legs wherever he went.
After a while God got a bit bored, which sometimes happens when life is too perfect. The problem was that none of the animals could talk to him. We all need to share an adventure or two with someone else to make life interesting, don’t we? So he decided to make a Man, a companion who could talk to him and share his experiences. After all, what was the good of having such a beautiful world if he couldn’t talk to anyone about it?
The Man was perfect, and they had wonderful conversations. God taught Man about the sun and the moon and the stars. And then he and Man made up names for all the living things; the flowers, the trees and all the animals. And they called the planet Earth. They climbed mountains and swam in the sea and sat by the river together. Life became much richer and God was pleased.
But Najesh was jealous of Man. He crept away and sulked in his hole thinking up ways he could get rid of him.
Then one day God noticed that Man was looking pretty fed up.
‘What’s the matter Man? Why are you so miserable?’
‘I’m lonely,’ moaned Man
God was shocked. ‘How can you be lonely when you have me?’ asked God.
‘It’s not the same,’ complained Man. ‘You’re – well you’re very good and all that but you’re a bit old. I need someone my own age, someone I can share my life with and cuddle up to on a cold night.
God thought for a moment. ‘Oh alright then.’ He was a bit miffed to be honest but if that was what would make Man happy he supposed he would have to give it to him. ‘I’ll make a Woman for you. Then let that be the end of of it.’
So God made a Woman and everything was hunky dory for a while until the autumn when the days shortened and the orchard was full of lush fruits ready for picking. The apple tree stood in the centre of the orchard and near the top there was one beautiful big rosy red apple, much bigger than all the rest. There it hung on the tree as if it was saying ‘Eat me’. God knew it was very tempting but he wanted to test Man and Woman to see if they would obey Him in an emergency.
He needed to be in control. After all, he was the Creator. Without him Man and Woman wouldn’t exist and he couldn’t have his children thinking they could have everything they wanted willy nilly. Man had already got himself a Woman by playing his face. He couldn’t allow that to happen again.
So he said, ‘Man, that apple up there is not for picking. Understand?’ He had that forbidding father look on his face so Man knew he was serious. ‘I shall leave you to pass on that message to Woman. She must on no account pick that apple otherwise there will be dire consequences.’ He wasn’t quite sure what those consequences would be at that stage but he had to put on a show of being stern so Man would take him seriously. With that he went and sat by himself on top of his favourite mountain and watched what would happen.
Meanwhile Najesh the serpent had heard God’s command. ‘Ah!’ he thought. ‘Here is my chance.’ He ran to the orchard. He grasped the bark of the apple tree with the claws on his front feet. and his little back legs pushed him up and up until he was able to coil his long scaly body around the topmost branch and hang down next to the BIG apple.
Minutes later Woman came into the orchard. She looked up at the apple and her mouth watered. It was so BIG and ROUND and JUICY.
OK, so Man had told her not to eat it but that didn’t stop her from wanting it, a bit like when you find a chocolate egg hidden in the cupboard and you know you can’t have it till Easter and you know you’ll get a roasting if you sneak a bite.
‘Go on,’ whispered a voice close to her ear. ‘Have a little nibble. God won’t know if you have one little bite.’
She looked up into the leering face of Najesh.
‘Oh no, I can’t. God told Man there will be dire consequences if I do.’
‘Rubbishhhh!’ hissed Najesh. ‘God is ssssitting on his mountain. He’s probably having a ssssnooze up there. He’ll never know and I shaaaan’t tell him.’
Woman was hypnotised by Najash’s soft hissing voice. She hesitated then reached up and gently plucked the apple from the tree.
There was a HUGE crash like a thousand warriors clashing spears, like a GREAT tsunami RUSHING in from the sea, like a HUNDRED dinosaurs colliding head on. And God’s angry voice BELLOWED down from the mountain felling all the trees of the forests in one resounding THUD!
‘NOW LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE. YOU’VE RUINED EVERYTHING! IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.’
Woman was terrified and after telling her what a silly creature she was Man put his arms around her to protect her.
‘GO! LEAVE MY GARDEN YOU DISOBEDIENT CREATURES. YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO SHARE ITS FRUITS,’ roared God.
Najesh rubbed his paws with glee. He just loved causing trouble for Man. With Man gone he could now be God’s favourite again.
‘AND DON’T THINK I’VE FINISHED WITH YOU!’ thundered God, pointing an accusing finger at Najesh. ‘I SAW WHAT YOU DID, YOU SNEAKY SNAKE. FROM NOW ON YOU WILL CRAWL ON YOUR BELLY TILL THE END OF TIME. NO MORE STRUTTING ABOUT FOR YOU, MY LAD’
And Najesh felt God’s mighty hand reach down and box his ears hard!
He lay on the ground beside the apple tree, seeing stars. He wanted to run and hide until God had calmed down, but his legs had shrivelled up! Without his legs all he could do was slither on his belly to his hole where he hid away in shame.
And that, my dears, is why snakes have no legs.
That old snake never did get his legs back, which is a pity because he could have been quite a good runner if he’d practised hard enough. So let that be a lesson.
It doesn’t do to upset God………… Ever!
THE END
Why do Owls say TwitWoo - Something must be done about the new occupant at number 3.
Once upon a time the birds in Oaktree Close felt safe. They flew from tree to tree and bush to bush gathering berries and insects for their little ones with few cares. Owl flew around in daylight and blackbirds hopped around on lawns looking for worms. All the birds went about their business happily with only the neighbourhood cat Tiddles to worry about. But he was so old and lazy no one took any notice of him. At the end of the day they flew back to their nests with not a care in the world.
Then suddenly Tiddles was nowhere to be seen at number three and his human, Mrs Mills didn't come out to put water in the birdbath or seed in the bird feeder anymore. A monster arrived and ate up the lawn then vomited it into a big metal box at the front of the house Big white slabs were laid over the worms and lots of humans in yellow helmets were hammering and drilling, making the air around them shiver and shake.
When that was over a new enemy arrived. His name was Horatio. He was black and white and furry and he prowled around in the dead of night, crouching under bushes and climbing trees, just waiting for a baby bird to fall out of bed. The birds were scared. Their life was no longer safe.
‘This is too much,’ chirped Betty Blackbird to Sally Sparrow, ‘We’re not safe in our nests anymore. We need to call a meeting to discuss a plan of action.’ So she flew from nest to nest to tell everyone to meet later that evening in the oak tree at the end of the garden.
Ruby Robin was first to arrive with her family Billy, Bobby and Bertie. Then Tom Tit flew in followed by twins Tilly and Topsy. Soon the oak tree was alive with robins, tits, blackbirds, sparrows and finches all tweeting angrily about the new tenant at number three
‘Last night I awoke and caught him with his nose in my nest,’ chirruped Betty indignantly. ‘If I'd not been there he’d have broken my eggs and eaten my babies.’
‘Yes,’ triilled Sally. ‘One of my little ones was learning to fly yesterday and he leapt up from nowhere and nearly grabbed her.’
‘O.K. O.K’. twitted Ozzie Owl, ‘we all know Horatio is dangerous. He's much younger and fitter than old Tiddles. But what are we going to do about him?’
‘Well,’ said Betty, ’I can give out a shrill alarm call if I see him during the day. That might stop him in his tracks.’
‘And I can sing from the top of the fir tree if I see him on the prowl,’ trilled Ruby puffing out her red breast.
‘The problem is at night when we are all at home looking after our families.’ tweeted Tom fluttering nervously..
Ozzie blinked his big round eyes and thought for a moment. Then he hooted excitedly.
‘Howwww about if me and my brother Ollie keep watch at night. We can sit in the oak trees at each end of the Close. Then if Ollie spots Horatio on the prowl he can shout Twit and I can answer him and shout Wooo. Then we can both swoop down at the same time screaming at him. That should frighten him away alright.’
All the birds flapped their wings and cheered. ‘ What a brilliant idea!’ they twittered happily.
So next time you’re awake in the middle of the night and hear Twit Wooo you can bet that Ozzie and Ollie are on duty keeping watch for Horatio.
THE END
Once upon a time the birds in Oaktree Close felt safe. They flew from tree to tree and bush to bush gathering berries and insects for their little ones with few cares. Owl flew around in daylight and blackbirds hopped around on lawns looking for worms. All the birds went about their business happily with only the neighbourhood cat Tiddles to worry about. But he was so old and lazy no one took any notice of him. At the end of the day they flew back to their nests with not a care in the world.
Then suddenly Tiddles was nowhere to be seen at number three and his human, Mrs Mills didn't come out to put water in the birdbath or seed in the bird feeder anymore. A monster arrived and ate up the lawn then vomited it into a big metal box at the front of the house Big white slabs were laid over the worms and lots of humans in yellow helmets were hammering and drilling, making the air around them shiver and shake.
When that was over a new enemy arrived. His name was Horatio. He was black and white and furry and he prowled around in the dead of night, crouching under bushes and climbing trees, just waiting for a baby bird to fall out of bed. The birds were scared. Their life was no longer safe.
‘This is too much,’ chirped Betty Blackbird to Sally Sparrow, ‘We’re not safe in our nests anymore. We need to call a meeting to discuss a plan of action.’ So she flew from nest to nest to tell everyone to meet later that evening in the oak tree at the end of the garden.
Ruby Robin was first to arrive with her family Billy, Bobby and Bertie. Then Tom Tit flew in followed by twins Tilly and Topsy. Soon the oak tree was alive with robins, tits, blackbirds, sparrows and finches all tweeting angrily about the new tenant at number three
‘Last night I awoke and caught him with his nose in my nest,’ chirruped Betty indignantly. ‘If I'd not been there he’d have broken my eggs and eaten my babies.’
‘Yes,’ triilled Sally. ‘One of my little ones was learning to fly yesterday and he leapt up from nowhere and nearly grabbed her.’
‘O.K. O.K’. twitted Ozzie Owl, ‘we all know Horatio is dangerous. He's much younger and fitter than old Tiddles. But what are we going to do about him?’
‘Well,’ said Betty, ’I can give out a shrill alarm call if I see him during the day. That might stop him in his tracks.’
‘And I can sing from the top of the fir tree if I see him on the prowl,’ trilled Ruby puffing out her red breast.
‘The problem is at night when we are all at home looking after our families.’ tweeted Tom fluttering nervously..
Ozzie blinked his big round eyes and thought for a moment. Then he hooted excitedly.
‘Howwww about if me and my brother Ollie keep watch at night. We can sit in the oak trees at each end of the Close. Then if Ollie spots Horatio on the prowl he can shout Twit and I can answer him and shout Wooo. Then we can both swoop down at the same time screaming at him. That should frighten him away alright.’
All the birds flapped their wings and cheered. ‘ What a brilliant idea!’ they twittered happily.
So next time you’re awake in the middle of the night and hear Twit Wooo you can bet that Ozzie and Ollie are on duty keeping watch for Horatio.
THE END
The Special Offer - A bully is taught a lesson by a pair of trainers
Johnnie looked down at his trainers. They were worn and frayed, and there were holes where his toes peeped through. The school sports day was next week and everyone in his class would be showing off their fancy new Nikes. Rolf Barker and his friends would make fun of his old worn trainers. It was bad enough that he was the fat boy in the class but not having the right trainers made things even worse. He had to find a way of persuading his mum to buy him a new pair. But he knew she was struggling to pay the bills on her own and keep a roof over their heads. What could he do?
That evening he was watching TV when an advert caught his eye.
Special Offer for one day only.
Trainers £20
Run faster, jump higher, climb further
Mmmm. That sounded just the job. Now he had to persuade his mother.
‘Mu-um!’
‘What?’ called his mother from the kitchen.
Johnnie got up and went through to the kitchen where his mum was preparing a bolognaise for their evening meal.
‘Mum, I've just seen some trainers for sale on special offer. They're twenty quid and the offer finishes tomorrow down at the Parade. Can I have them? Pleeeze mum’
‘Twenty? That's very cheap. They won’t last very long.’
‘Yes but the others start at fifty and we can't afford those. I need new ones. Look! My toes are growing through these, and it's sports day next week.’ Johnnie lifted his foot for his mother to see.
She thought for a minute, ‘OK’ she sighed, ‘but you'll have to go and buy them yourself after school. I have an evening shift tomorrow.’ She fished in her purse and gave Johnnie the single twenty pound note in the back. ‘Just check that the soles aren't glued on with prit stick.’
The following day after school Johnnie hurried down to the sports shop on the Parade.‘I've come for a pair of those trainers on special offer,’ he told the young salesman.
The salesman went to the back and brought out a box. When he opened it Johnnie looked at the contents in horror. The trainers had faces on the front with big blue eyes and a red mouth. He couldn't possibly wear those. They were for babies. They'd all laugh at him.
‘These are very special,’ said the salesman mysteriously, ‘I have a pair myself. I run much faster in mine so I can recommend them.’ The phone rang. ‘Excuse me whilst I answer that.’
Johnnie tentatively took a trainer out of the box and, as his mother had advised, he pulled at the sole to see if it was strong.
‘Ouch!’
Johnnie looked around. No one there. It must have been his imagination. He slid his hand inside the trainer and prodded the inner sole to see if it was cushioned.
‘Ha ha hee hee! Stop it! You're tickling me.’
Johnnie dropped the shoe and jumped back in alarm. The trainer was alive! Just then the salesman came back.
‘Ah, I see you've discovered why these are so special. I'd advise you to snap them up. That's our last pair.’
Johnnie paid his twenty pounds and walked out of the shop carrying his special purchase. He couldn't wait to try them out. When he got home he put them on. He looked down; an eye winked and a mouth grinned up at him.
‘My name is Terry. Where are we going?’ asked the squeaky voice. Johnnie’s heart thumped excitedly. He'd never had a pair of talking trainers before.
‘Let’s go to the park,’ said Johnnie. Immediately his feet started to move out of the front door, across the road, and very soon they were down at the park.
‘OK we’re here. Now what?’ squeaked Terry.
Johnnie looked around. ‘Let's run across to the climbing wall over there and climb to the top’
Johnnie had never managed to climb to the top of the climbing wall before. He was too fat, but now his feet began to race and before he knew what was happening he was sitting on top of the wall looking around at all the little kids on the swings and the slide, and all the grownups walking their dogs. He was very proud of himself. He couldn't believe how amazing he felt.
Over the next week Johnnie and his trainers went down to the park each day. They had a wonderful time running and jumping and climbing until Johnnie felt really fit and healthy.
The following week he put on his trainers for the school sports day and lined up with the rest of his class showing off their expensive Nikes.
‘Hey!’ shouted the class bully, Rolf Barker. ‘Look at Johnnie’s trainers! What a loser! Can't your mum afford decent trainers then?’ He laughed nastily and very soon others were laughing and pointing. Johnnie's hands balled into fists ready to hit the bully but fortunately the teacher came and led them out onto the field.
Just then Johnnie felt a little squeeze on his foot so he lagged behind the others pretending to tie his lace.
‘Don't worry,’ said Terry, ‘We'll show ‘em.’ Terry winked and his mouth widened into a huge grin.
Johnnie went to sit with his class and waited for his race to be called out, trying hard to ignore the snide whispers around him. The loudspeaker blared out a list of names; Johnnie Banks; Rolf Barker; Sadiq Begum; Peter Jones; Billy Jackson; Daniel Sefton, please line up for the boys under eleven 100 metres hurdle.’
Johnnie stood shoulder to shoulder with Rolf who was smirking, certain he would win.
The starting pistol fired and the boys were off. In less time than it took to say Rolf Barker, Johnnie was half way down the field clearing all the hurdles with ease whilst Rolf was two hurdles behind him and had already knocked over two of them.
At the finishing tape a huge cheer went up from the whole school. Johnnie was a hero. Rolf Barker puffed in twenty seconds later, looking red and sweaty and very deflated. Johnnie searched the crowd for his mother's face and there she was jumping up and down with pride and joy. He felt exhilarated.
He knelt down as if to tie his shoe-lace. ‘Thanks,’ he whispered. ‘This has been the best sports day ever.’
‘You're welcome,’ squeaked Terry. ’I’m enjoying myself. I’m looking forward to the marathon now!’
Johnnie grinned, ‘So am I.’
Rolf Barker was sure getting his come-uppance today. About time too.
THE END
Johnnie looked down at his trainers. They were worn and frayed, and there were holes where his toes peeped through. The school sports day was next week and everyone in his class would be showing off their fancy new Nikes. Rolf Barker and his friends would make fun of his old worn trainers. It was bad enough that he was the fat boy in the class but not having the right trainers made things even worse. He had to find a way of persuading his mum to buy him a new pair. But he knew she was struggling to pay the bills on her own and keep a roof over their heads. What could he do?
That evening he was watching TV when an advert caught his eye.
Special Offer for one day only.
Trainers £20
Run faster, jump higher, climb further
Mmmm. That sounded just the job. Now he had to persuade his mother.
‘Mu-um!’
‘What?’ called his mother from the kitchen.
Johnnie got up and went through to the kitchen where his mum was preparing a bolognaise for their evening meal.
‘Mum, I've just seen some trainers for sale on special offer. They're twenty quid and the offer finishes tomorrow down at the Parade. Can I have them? Pleeeze mum’
‘Twenty? That's very cheap. They won’t last very long.’
‘Yes but the others start at fifty and we can't afford those. I need new ones. Look! My toes are growing through these, and it's sports day next week.’ Johnnie lifted his foot for his mother to see.
She thought for a minute, ‘OK’ she sighed, ‘but you'll have to go and buy them yourself after school. I have an evening shift tomorrow.’ She fished in her purse and gave Johnnie the single twenty pound note in the back. ‘Just check that the soles aren't glued on with prit stick.’
The following day after school Johnnie hurried down to the sports shop on the Parade.‘I've come for a pair of those trainers on special offer,’ he told the young salesman.
The salesman went to the back and brought out a box. When he opened it Johnnie looked at the contents in horror. The trainers had faces on the front with big blue eyes and a red mouth. He couldn't possibly wear those. They were for babies. They'd all laugh at him.
‘These are very special,’ said the salesman mysteriously, ‘I have a pair myself. I run much faster in mine so I can recommend them.’ The phone rang. ‘Excuse me whilst I answer that.’
Johnnie tentatively took a trainer out of the box and, as his mother had advised, he pulled at the sole to see if it was strong.
‘Ouch!’
Johnnie looked around. No one there. It must have been his imagination. He slid his hand inside the trainer and prodded the inner sole to see if it was cushioned.
‘Ha ha hee hee! Stop it! You're tickling me.’
Johnnie dropped the shoe and jumped back in alarm. The trainer was alive! Just then the salesman came back.
‘Ah, I see you've discovered why these are so special. I'd advise you to snap them up. That's our last pair.’
Johnnie paid his twenty pounds and walked out of the shop carrying his special purchase. He couldn't wait to try them out. When he got home he put them on. He looked down; an eye winked and a mouth grinned up at him.
‘My name is Terry. Where are we going?’ asked the squeaky voice. Johnnie’s heart thumped excitedly. He'd never had a pair of talking trainers before.
‘Let’s go to the park,’ said Johnnie. Immediately his feet started to move out of the front door, across the road, and very soon they were down at the park.
‘OK we’re here. Now what?’ squeaked Terry.
Johnnie looked around. ‘Let's run across to the climbing wall over there and climb to the top’
Johnnie had never managed to climb to the top of the climbing wall before. He was too fat, but now his feet began to race and before he knew what was happening he was sitting on top of the wall looking around at all the little kids on the swings and the slide, and all the grownups walking their dogs. He was very proud of himself. He couldn't believe how amazing he felt.
Over the next week Johnnie and his trainers went down to the park each day. They had a wonderful time running and jumping and climbing until Johnnie felt really fit and healthy.
The following week he put on his trainers for the school sports day and lined up with the rest of his class showing off their expensive Nikes.
‘Hey!’ shouted the class bully, Rolf Barker. ‘Look at Johnnie’s trainers! What a loser! Can't your mum afford decent trainers then?’ He laughed nastily and very soon others were laughing and pointing. Johnnie's hands balled into fists ready to hit the bully but fortunately the teacher came and led them out onto the field.
Just then Johnnie felt a little squeeze on his foot so he lagged behind the others pretending to tie his lace.
‘Don't worry,’ said Terry, ‘We'll show ‘em.’ Terry winked and his mouth widened into a huge grin.
Johnnie went to sit with his class and waited for his race to be called out, trying hard to ignore the snide whispers around him. The loudspeaker blared out a list of names; Johnnie Banks; Rolf Barker; Sadiq Begum; Peter Jones; Billy Jackson; Daniel Sefton, please line up for the boys under eleven 100 metres hurdle.’
Johnnie stood shoulder to shoulder with Rolf who was smirking, certain he would win.
The starting pistol fired and the boys were off. In less time than it took to say Rolf Barker, Johnnie was half way down the field clearing all the hurdles with ease whilst Rolf was two hurdles behind him and had already knocked over two of them.
At the finishing tape a huge cheer went up from the whole school. Johnnie was a hero. Rolf Barker puffed in twenty seconds later, looking red and sweaty and very deflated. Johnnie searched the crowd for his mother's face and there she was jumping up and down with pride and joy. He felt exhilarated.
He knelt down as if to tie his shoe-lace. ‘Thanks,’ he whispered. ‘This has been the best sports day ever.’
‘You're welcome,’ squeaked Terry. ’I’m enjoying myself. I’m looking forward to the marathon now!’
Johnnie grinned, ‘So am I.’
Rolf Barker was sure getting his come-uppance today. About time too.
THE END
Pot of Gold - Sam finds out that he has something far more valuable than a pot of gold.
Sam and Toby had just finished playing in the under 11s soccer match when the sun shone through the rain causing a brilliant rainbow which seemed to end in the next field.
‘There's supposed to be a pot of gold at the end of that,’ observed Toby. ‘Finding it will change your life.’
‘Is that true?’ asked Sam
‘It’s a fairy story, Silly,’ replied Toby disdainfully.
Toby’s trendy mother arrived in her Lamborghini. She had just been to the hairdressers and looked very pretty. Toby's mother didn’t work and his father was a stockbroker. They lived in a big house and holidayed on the French Riviera. Sam was envious. He’d never known his father. They lived in a tower block and his mum had three cleaning jobs to make ends meet. She was always at work when he came home from school - but she always cooked and never missed his football matches.
He stared at his mum’s shabby jeans and t-shirt. Her hair was puiled back in a ponytail. They needed that pot of gold so their lives could be like Toby’s. He ran to the next field. There was the pot at the end of the rainbow.
He was about to fill his pockets when the Rainbow Fairy appeared and warned ‘Wait! Change your life if you wish. But beware! It might not be all you desire. First see this!’
Images entered Sam’s mind; Toby arriving home from school; his mother telling him to go and make his own dinner; his father arriving home late; heated arguments; Toby hiding in his bedroom; Toby all alone in a hotel room whilst his parents party.
‘Do you still desire Toby’s life, Sam?’ asked the fairy
‘No thank you. I think I like mine the way it is,’ replied Sam
He ran to his mother, hugged her and whispered, ‘Thanks mum.’
She smiled, ‘What’s that for, Sam?’
‘Love you Mum.’
THE END