Short Stories

HOME FROM SCHOOL

1.

– So, how was school today?
– O.K.
– Just O.K.?
– Um-hmm.
– Nothing special?

Wellll...OH, YEAH!

I have a new teacher. Guess what! He’s a man. And he even knew my name. We’ve got our own computer, and my friend Marco has glasses, and Lisa broke her ankle and she has to wear a cast, and we’re going to get a mynah bird as our class pet, so we have to think up a good name for it. It’s a she. Will you help me, Mom? And I get to feed her on Tuesdays, and they’re taking our pictures next week. And my new running shoes are really fast, and Filip has the same kind, and...

– Hey! Slow down!
– But I’m not finished, Mom.
– Well, stop and take a breath at least.
– O.K., but can I have a cookie?
– Sure. Anyway, Grade Three sounds so great I almost wish I was in your class.

2.

– So, how was school today?
– Pretty good.
– Just pretty good?
– Um-hmmm.
– Nothing special?

Wellll...OH, YEAH!

We have a new principal. Guess what! She’s a pilot, and she’s flown to the Yukon twice. We’ve got our own computer, and the kids all want to use it. And my friend Allan grew a beard over the summer. Anyway, my class is just terrific, but poor Lisa broke her ankle, and she has to wear a cast. And the kids went nuts when they heard about the mynah bird. Oh, by the way, they’re taking our pictures next week. (Do you think I need a haircut?) And I’m teaching Phys. Ed. too this year, so I’ll need new running shoes – the kind the kids have. Will you help me shop for them? And...

– Hey! Slow down!
– But I’m not finished yet.
– Well, stop and take a breath at least.
– All right, but then I need something to eat.
– O.K., but don’t forget your diet. Anyway, Grade Three sounds so great I almost wish I was in your class.

By Clayton Graves

WHY I LIKE CHARLIE

My friend Charlie is a pretty good old friend. I couldn’t like him any better than I do, even if he owned a pony and a home computer.
There are lots of reasons why I like Charlie.

Here are some:

1. He gives me half of whatever he is eating.
2. Sometimes he lets me be the pitcher in the ball game, even though he owns the ball.
3. Charlie never laughs at my nose.
4. Sometimes when I am about to be eaten by dragons, Charlie saves me.
5. Once when I cut my hand, Charlie cried too.

And another good reason is that Charlie can think of lots of good things to do. Let me tell you about one of them.
Cats like to climb up trees, but they sure hate to climb down. Some cats will sit up in a tree all day and cry until someone comes to help them down. Most people don’t help cats in trees. They call the fire department. But my friend Charlie always helps cats.
One day Charlie heard a miaow up in a tree. That was the day he invented a new way to get cats out of trees.
He went home and got a bucket and a rope and a fish. He put the fish in the bucket and tied one end of the rope to the handle. He threw the other end of the rope over a limb up above the cat and pulled up the bucket.
The cat smelled the fish and jumped into the bucket, and Charlie brought the bucket down.
That cat had an elevator ride and a fish dinner all at the same time. She liked it. Now she won’t leave Charlie. She follows him everywhere. Charlie says she just wants more fish, but I think she really likes Charlie just as I do.

By James Flora