By Mike Stevens
A Jimmy Tilford Tale
10 year old Jimmy Tilford stared at the blank page in front of him, and tried very hard to concentrate. For Mrs. Westerhouse's 4th grade class, he had homework, and not just ordinary homework, no, he had to write a story; from nothing! His mom had told him he had to get his homework done before he could go out to play. He looked forlornly out the window above his desk; freedom was so close, and yet so far! The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and he was stuck inside. It just wasn't fair! Oh well, he may as well try to write something. He put pen to paper, and angrily began:
Little Bobby was not a regular kid, he was 'Action Man!' His parents couldn't see it; his teachers couldn't see it; in fact, NO ONE could see it. He always heard, "Bobby, settle down!" But how could 'Action Man!" settle down? "Action Man!' just HAD to keep moving.
Jimmy wondered where his idea came from; what person he based Bobby on?
His mom said he was just like a hummingbird, always moving, but "Action Man" just couldn't help it. Somehow, "Sit Around Man" just didn't seem right!
Bobby, or "Action Man!', had received an important call on 'The Action Phone',(in reality, electrical tape covering an old toilet paper roll),and sprang into action. One of his classmates at 'Sugar Elementary" had had their candy bar forcibly taken away by an older boy. This couldn't be allowed to stand; besides, it was candy!
"Action Man!'flew(actually, Bobby was lying on the back of the couch!)into the classroom of the older boy, surprised him in the act of opening and eating the candy bar, and without any violence, gabbed the candy bar and flew back out. As he was flying out, he heard behind him,'
"Drats! Dang you, 'Action Man!'"
All these thoughts about candy, had made Jimmy hungry. He knew he should finish the story, but how can anyone concentrate when they're thinking about candy? They can't; and it just wasn't fair to even have to try!