Issue 10
Hike
S. Douglas Larsen
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A Child's Truth
Harold stood with his essay in hand.
"What My Dad Does, by Harold Bottoms," he read shyly. "My dad
hikes. He's been doing it for three years and hasn't come home yet."
There were giggles in the classroom and the teacher's eyes opened
wide.
"I don't remember him much. Him and momma used to play a lot at
night, and they made lots of noise, like us at recess. Kathy, that's my big
sister, she's in junior high, would come to my room and sing to me. It was
fun."
He smiled at his classmates over the top of the page. Then frowned
as he looked down to continue reading.
"Then one day, dad didn't come home and Kathy told me that momma
had finally sent him to take a hike."
Harold slowly lowered the paper and looked at his classmates. "But
the other day I saw on TV what really happened."
Everyone in class sat on the edge of their seats. He had their
total attention.
"He was abducted, by aliens. It's true."
The rest of the seven-year-olds gasped in awe as Harold deposited
his essay on the teacher's desk.
~S. Douglas Larsen
S. Douglas Larsen lives with his wife and sons in Bilbao, Spain.
He enjoys reading, writing and playing with his boys, not always in that order. Email.
© 2002 by S. Douglas Larsen. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2002 by Cayuse Press. All Rights Reserved.
This page updated December 23, 2002.