EVERYONE LOVES SCOTT story

“RINGGG!!” went Scott’s alarm clock.

He jumped out of bed then ran to the window. Three or four Pine Siskin were on the ground, pecking for birdseed.

Blue Jays and Sparrows joined in the fun. Even a red, bushy-tailed squirrel tried to get his share.

Time to hurry up and dress. Oops, Scott tripped over his sneakers. Crash! Bang! Why so much noise from a six-year-old?

Mom and dad wait patiently downstairs. Scott bangs into the kitchen table. Dad spills juice on the floor. Oh, oh, two days in a row now.

His father still loves him.

"Please be more careful," mom says.

Scott gulps down apple juice. Then chews and swallows every bit of cereal.

Hurry, the School Bus is honking. Children’s faces stare from every window.

He kisses mom and dad goodbye.

Scott slams the front door and trips over his two-wheeler. Books and papers fly around like floppy kites.

Everyone on the bus is jumping up and down with laughter. This is a usual day for Scott.

And his mother still loves him.

"Scott! Scott! Tell us some new funny jokes,” everyone yells. Yes, there are many smiles when Scott is around.

Someone gives him a can of orange pop. Surprise. He didn’t know it was shook up before he opened the tab.

"Watch out!" his best friend Tim shouts as splatters of sticky liquid fly through the air.

"Oops." Scott says.

It was a mean trick. Not everyone laughs and points at his red face.

At school, lockers are opened then slam-dunk closed. “Talk-to-you-later” plans are made with friends.

Hurry up and run to the classroom. Homework is checked. Many hands lift up for answers to teacher questions.

Tiny arms wave like wheat in Saskatchewan fields.

"I know! I know!" Scott shouts. It's the same each lesson. He knows the answers because he's smart.

He's like a windmill in full motion. Some say he’s more like a runaway train.

He gets so excited he falls out of his seat, again. Slam! Bang! Scott can't stop laughing as he rolls around on the floor.

Even the teacher is giggling.

"Sometimes, Scott's a pain," someone whispers.

"He's cool," others say.

And his teacher loves him.

Finally, the school bell rings. Scott hurries home for supper. After pork chops and potatoes, there’s time for fun.

Soccer is Scott's favorite game. He can run like a charging buffalo. Or even a tiger on the loose.

His foot smacks the soccer ball with a mighty kick. And everyone screams with an awesome roar. “SCORE!!”

Cheers are louder than thunderclaps.

Scott runs to his teammate Tim. And pokes him on the shoulder. "Good pass!" he yells.

And the coach loves him.

Now it's nighttime. Shining stars peek through Scott’s window. They watch him brush his teeth. Then jump into bed.

Soon mom's bedtime story is soon finished.

And a tired boy lays his head on a soft pillow. Busy legs are finally still.

His eyelids close. One hand holds tightly to his baseball glove. A Blue Jay cap rests on the floor.

His cat is a ball of black and white fur. And curls up against Scott’s arm.

Shadows come like a warm blanket.

Parents tiptoe to their sleeping son. They watch over him. No more noisy sounds from Scott.

No more slipping and falling.

No more laughing or running.

Not even scoring goals. Nor being like a grocery bag full of questions.

Only time for much needed rest. Well, maybe time for a dream or two.

And his parents love him.

* * *

(c) Richard and Esther Provencher 2007

Richard & Esther Provencher invite you to read their first of three novels ‘FOOTPRINTS” now available from www.synergebooks.com. “Someone’s
Son” and “Into The Fire” will also be available soon by the same company. These books were written during the first several years while Richard was recovering from his stroke, which felled him in 1999. He is still recovering.

The link to “FOOTPRINTS” is as follows: http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_footprints.html