Chapter 7
Jennifer's Mom Mom and Pop Pop lived on two hundred acre farm, across the railroad tracks, at the other end of town. Pop Pop had many animals to care for. There were cows, sheep, chickens three pigs and especially, Betsy and Chubby, the two work horses. They helped Pop Pop to plow the fields in the Spring, gather the hay in the summer and pull the wagon of turnips in the Fall. Pop Pop did not have a tractor for a long time. He didn't need one as long as Betsy and Chubby worked as a team. They could pull as much weight as a small tractor could.
One day when George and Jennifer were down at the farm, George got an idea. "Hey, Jennifer, let's take Betsy and Chubby out for a ride to the back pasture? I don't think your Pop Pop will mind do you?"
"I don't think so George, but we better ask first. What if Pop Pop needs them for some work today?" suggested Jennifer.
"I don't think he will need them today, Jennifer. He is picking apples in the orchard and the horses are loose in the barn yard."
George convinced Jennifer that it would be all right. So the children made saddles out of grain bags, stuffing them with hay, threw them on the back of the two horses, and rode off to the back pasture.
"Isn't this the greatest fun Jennifer? The saddle isn't that comfortable, but it is better than nothing. How is Betsy doing? Chubby is so slow," said George.
"Betsy is great! No problem. I can handle her. She is very gentle, George."
What the two children did not know was that just that morning, Pop Pop had let out Goliath to gaze in the back pasture. Goliath was a mean, ugly bull, that Pop Pop had agreed to keep on the farm for a short time. At first the children did not see Goliath gazing, but the two horses did. Betsy and Chubby did not like Goliath. They were afraid.of him. The horses were determined to go back to the barn, but the children were just as determined to stay! The horses started to go around and around in circles. Just than Jennifer saw Goliath up on the hill.
"Oh no, George. It is Goliath. He sees us. We better get out of here".
So the two children let Chubby and Betsy have their reins and headed back for the barn. As the horses started to run back home, Jennifer lost control of Betsy and fell off landing on her right arm on the ground. Betsy kept racing for the barn and left Jennifer crying.
George was almost back to the barn when he noticed Jennifer wasn't on Betsy back! Where was Jennifer? George knew he could not get Chubby to go out there again, so he grabbed his bicycle and heading out to the pasture. Jennifer was able to to crawl her way back to the gate, open it and lock it behind her before Goliath saw her. When George found her she was exhausted , with tears running down her face. She was in a great deal of pain.
"Oh George, I am so glad to see you, I think I broke my arm." cried Jennifer through her tears.
"Jennifer, do you think you can ride on my cross bar? I will give you a ride home"I know that it isn't the safest place of ride, but I think it will be o.k. just this time. George had a boy's bike, which made it very convenient for Jennifer to ride on.
When Pop Pop saw the two children and especially Jennifer riding on the cross bar, he called out, "What are you two kids doing? Jennifer, you know that you are not to ride on the cross bar."
George stopped his bike and explained to Pop Pop what had happened and without saying another word, Pop Pop went into the house, called Jennifer's mother, told her about the broken arm and to meet him at the emergency room.
Yes, her arm was broken all right. Jennifer had to wear a cast for six months. She wasn't very happy about that. Bedtime that night wasn't very pleasant for either George or Jennifer. Both their parents were quite upset with their disobedient children.
If you were their parents, what punishment do you think they deserved? I hope all Mom Mom's story time friends will always remember how important it is TO ASK TO PERMISSION FIRST BEFORE DECIDING TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD.
Chapter 6
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| Lady Jane |
Jennifer's grandmother had given her a beautiful china doll for her birthday. She called her "Lady Jane". She was a very beautiful, special and very fragile doll. Her grandmother had made a whole suitcase full of doll clothes just for "Lady Jane" Often she would change her outfits two or three times a day.
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| Lady Alice |
Her best friend Maria had a china doll too. Her doll's name was "Lady Alice". Together the two little girls loved to play dolls and sharing their outfits. One afternoon, while they were playing with their special dolls, Anna, the little girl with crippled feet called and asked if they could come over to her house for some homemade ice cream. Before they left, Jennifer's mother warned them, "You better put your dolls in your bedroom Jennifer and close the door before Tucker gets up from his nap." But, the girls were so excited about eating ice cream that they didn't listen to Jennifer's mother's warning, and left the dolls on the couch in the family room.
No sooner had they left when little Tucker was up from his nap, heading down stairs to find his mother. On the way to the kitchen, he noticed the two dolls sitting on the couch. Without thinking Tucker picked up Maria's doll by the neck and starting walking to the kitchen. On the way, in his socking feet, he slipped and fell to the floor. The doll went flying out of his hands and landed on the hard tile floor The head of the china doll was severely cracked. His mother heard the accident and came running out of the kitchen.
"Oh NO! Tucker, what have you done?". She picked up the doll off the floor and rescued Jennifer's doll on the couch. She was not so much upset with Tucker as she was with Jennifer. She didn't listen to her warning to put the dolls in a safe place and now look what happened.
Later in the afternoon, the girls arrived back at Jennifer's to finish their play. When they saw their dolls were missing Jennifer called out to her mother, "Where are our dolls, Mommy"
"Jennifer", responded Mommy, "You don't have to yell, I am right in the kitchen. You can come in here and talk with me. What is the problem?." Of course, Mommy knew what the problem was, but she wanted to hear it from the girls.
"We can't find....our....." Before she could get the words out, Jennifer noticed Maria's "Lady Alice" laying on the counter with her head cracked.
When Maria saw her "Lady Alice's head cracked", she was so upset. She started to cry and ran home to tell her mother. Jennifer was MAD at Tucker. "Now, look what you did! You ruined our play. Can't you leave anything alone?"
"Jennifer" exclaimed her mother, "Didn't I warn you to put her dolls in your room and close the door? Why should you be mad at Tucker."
"But Mommy, does Tucker always have to ruin our fun? I think Maria is going to mad at me and she will never play with me again. Can't you keep Tucker tied up?"
"Young lady,it is NOT Tucker's fault. How many times have I told you to keep your most valuable and breakable toys up high and away from Tucker. I think you should think about how you can earn some money to help Maria buy a new doll."
"But, Mom, it isn't my doll."
"I know, but when your friends are over to your house, you are responsible to do what is right. If you know that your doll should be out of Tucker's reach, don't you think your best friend's doll should be also? It could have been your doll's head that was cracked."
"Gee, Mom there goes all my birthday money," complained Jennifer.
From that day on, Jennifer always remembered to keep her most important things up high and away from 'little fingers'.
I
CHAPTER 5
Bully Billy was one of George's best friend, but he had a serious problem with greed. He had a very bad habit of always taking the biggest and best of everything for himself. If there were two pieces of candy or or two pieces of cake, he would always grab the largest. Whatever it was, Bully Billy had to have to biggest and the best of everything.
George and Jennifer were very much aware of this problem of
Bully Billy many times about being so greedy, but he didn't seem to change him.
It was the end of October, time to be planning for their annual. neighborhood Hallelujah party, instead of Halloween. Ever since the children were little, they never wanted to celebrate Halloween, because they knew that it was the devil's holiday. So they created for themselves a Hallelujah party. Each person dressed up in a biblical character for a contest. There was always plenty of candy, prizes and games to play.
"I know how we can help Bully Billy George, " said Jennifer, "We know that Bully Billy always picks the biggest piece of cake and the biggest present. This year at the Hallelujah party we can help him."
"What do you mean help him, Jennifer."
"It will be very easy. I will ask my mother to make cupcakes and have one particular cupcake really big but without any vanilla filling." explained Jennifer
"Not a bad idea. How about if we wrap up large box and put a small candy bar in the bottom." suggested George.
" But, what if someone else picks the big box first? Jennifer asked inquisitively
"I will take care of that, Jennifer. I have my ways."
Jennifer didn't question George any more and went to ask her mother about making the cupcakes. George went to find a big box, and wrapped it up with a big red bow.
The day of the Hallelujah party arrived and the children were all dressed up in their biblical costumes. They had great fun trying to figure out who was who. After about a half an hour, George passed out pieces of paper to take a vote, who had the best costume. After the vote was taken, guess who won? The children all voted for Bully Billy. He was dressed as Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt with staff in hand. Now, it was time for Bully Billy to pick a prize. There were three prizes. One prize was $3.00gift card for the dollar store and another one was box of delicious Hersey chocolates, the children's favorite. The third box was the biggest
and the prettiest wrapped prize.
George told Bully Billy to go over and pick a prize. Bully Billy took a minute to look them all over and you guessed it. He picked the biggest and the one wrapped the prettiest.
"Come on Bully Billy" encouraged the kids, "Open your prize. There has to be something big inside."
Bully Billy was excited to see what he had won. He ripped off the wrapping with both hands anxious to see what was inside. Tearing the box open, there on the bottom of the big box was a small candy bar. Bully Billy looked so disappointed, but didn't say anything. He closed up the box and sat down by himself to think about it. The children were all so surprised themselves to see such a small gift in a big box.
Realizing what was happening George and Jennifer started the next two games. "Come on, let's pay bob for apples and pin the nose on the clown. There will be surprise, except for Bully Billy. He already has won a prize."
After the games, Jennifer's mother arrived with the cupcakes. George made sure that Bully Billy had first choice. The cupcakes were delicious chocolate vanilla filled cupcakes with fluffy white frosting. These cupcakes were a tradition for the Hallelujah party. What a surprise on Bully Billy's face when he bit into the middle and found it empty. Bully Billy didn't say anything, but decided to leave the party after that incident. He was very embarrassed.
That night he had a long talk with his mother and told her what had happened. His mother was very wise and encouraged him to think about the situation. "Billy," she asked, (she never called him Bully Billy), "Did you pick the biggest prize and the biggest piece of cake?"
Bully Billy responded, "I always pick the biggest. It has to be the best right, Mom?"
"You are wrong Billy. That is your problem " explained Mom, "You thought because the box was big, it had to be a big prize in it, didn't you? And the same with the cupcake. I bet you picked the biggest cupcake too?"
Bully Billy hung his head down, when he realized how impolite it was to always pick the biggest and best. He felt badly and from then on he was very careful not to choose the biggest and the best. George and Jennifer never said a word to Bully Billy or their friends what they had done.They kept it a secret. Billy Bully did begin to change and was more thoughtful of his friends and many times he asked them to choose first.
chapter 4
It was a beautiful Fall weekend when both George's and Jennifer's families planned to go camping. This was always the most anticipated annual camping trip to the mountains. The children were never bored with trails to explore, mountains to hike and rivers to swim and to fish. The parents also enjoyed the break from their busy lives.
Everyone liked the campfires at night. The children cooked smores, while telling ghost stories.
This adventure starts on the second day of their vacation. They were very familiar with the trail, but this time they discovered a cave that they hadn't seen before. The entrance was covered with dry leaves and weeds. You could hardly see the front.
"Let's go inside Jennifer. Look, here is the entrance," said George excitedly .
" I don't think we should George. There might be a bear in there getting ready to hibernate for the winter."
"Don't be silly Jennifer. There are no bears around here. " George emphatically exclaimed
Jennifer reluctantly consented to go inside. It very dark and scary. Their presence stirred up the bats and caused them to fly about the cave. They finally flew out of the cave. Neither George or Jennifer had a flash light with them. They weren't expecting to investigate a cave. The children keep walking and walking down, down into the dark cave. Jennifer began to cry.
"George, I told you we shouldn't go in here. I am so scared. I want to go home." cried Jennifer anxiously.
"Oh, don't worry Jennifer. We will be fine. I will protect you ". encouraged George.
George then took Jennifer's hand and started to pray, "Lord Jesus we are lost in this cave. We need your help."
No sooner had they prayed when two eyes appeared in the far corner of the cave. "Look George, I know those are eyes of a bear. Jesus come and help us?" said Jennifer at the top of her lungs
The eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if they could see in the dark. It had to be an animal. Perhaps it was , a raccoon, a possum, or a skunk! What was it? The children huddled together waiting to see what the two eyes were. Then George remembered what he had read in school that animals always seem to know how to find their way out of places. They have special instincts for their protection.
"Jennifer," said George 'we got our answer." All we have to do is to follow this animal where it is going, because it will lead us out of this cave."
Jennifer was more relaxed knowing that George seemed more confident. The animal started to move. The children waited and then started to follow it. Within a very short time they could see some daylight
" The Lord answered our prayers George..I never want an adventure like that ever again,George". Jennifer emphatically stated..
The children were out of the cave. What kind of animal do you think it was? If you thought it was a lost kitten, you were right. George picked up the little kitten in his arms and carried it back to the campsite. His parents were waiting for him.
"Where have you children been? We were getting worried. Where did you find the find that little kitten?." asked George's Dad inquisitively.
George put the kitten down beside him while he tried to explain their adventure, but when he went to pick up the kitten it had disappeared. The children could not find the kitten anywhere? Where do you think it went? Could it have been an angel sent to rescue them from the cave. What do you think?
