A Small Book of Short Stories

AuthorHouse

Contents

A New Toy.................................1The Jogging Outfit........................15Night on the Town.........................27Visiting Grandparents.....................45Charlie...................................59Truck Repairs.............................73Yard Work.................................89Rain and a Roof...........................103A Car Ride................................117Looking for Work..........................131

Chapter One

Ben had woken up one morning wanting a new four-wheeler. He had read all the articles in the latest power sports magazines. He had even browsed through the numerous lists of specifications posted on the various manufacturers' Web sites. Finally, after weeks of careful deliberation, he had made the important decision as to which four-wheeler he should own. Ben had gone down to Jake's Equipment and wandered the gleaming showroom in anticipation of his new purchase. Aisles of toys had come into focus as he stepped through the door. Ben took a deep breath, enjoying the aroma of new rubber and plastic as he browsed through the store. "Can I help you with something, sir?" asked the clerk behind the counter. He was wearing a white polo shirt with the name "Terry" embroidered on the chest in blue lettering. "Yeah," Ben replied, "I'd like a price on this red machine over here." "It's a nice ride," Terry stated. "That one will run you almost seven thousand-$6,899 to be exact." Ben swallowed hard. He looked at the red four-wheeler; it was more money than he had thought. Ben turned back to Terry. He was standing there, staring at him with an expectant look on his face. "Are you interested?" he inquired. "Yes," Ben answered. "Well, I think so-I'd better talk to the wife." "No problem," Terry told him with a wry smile. "Take your time."

Ben turned and walked out of the showroom. He got back into his old half-ton truck and pulled ahead to the edge of the parking lot. As soon as there was a break in traffic, he gunned the engine and turned onto the road. On the short drive home, Ben started wondering. What would be the best way to present the idea of a new four-wheeler to Madison? The $6,899 price tag was a lot of money, and she had been upset with him the last time he had spent a fraction of that amount. Maybe last time, Ben thought, it wasn't so much the amount of money he had spent, but what he had spent it on. Last time it had been nearly $400 Ben had spent, and it was on a new set of golf clubs. There had been nothing wrong with his old set of clubs-other than the fact that he had never owned any. Actually, he had never even used any if you wanted to get particular about it. To be perfectly honest, he hadn't really ever golfed in his life! Golf was something that had intrigued Ben. How could so many people spend such an incredible amount of time beating the living snot out of a little white ball? Ben had always wanted to try golf, and he had purchased those clubs with the best of intentions. I'll schedule a golf lesson for next week, Ben had decided, as he walked out of the store. The next week the weather was cold and rainy. Maybe in a few days, he had thought, and so it went on as the set of clubs continued to gather dust in the back corner of the garage. Finally, Ben had just forgotten about the clubs after winter hit.

Right now, he was pulling into his laneway without the slightest idea of how to talk to Madison about his plan of getting a new four-wheeler. Ben parked his truck along the side of the garage and went into the house through the back door. He threw his jacket on a coat hook and headed to kitchen where Madison was preparing supper. "Hi, honey," she said as Ben came into the room. "Hi," Ben replied. Before he knew it, he just blurted it out. "I want to get a new four-wheeler." Madison didn't even look up from the meal she was preparing. "Aren't they expensive?" she asked. "Well ... yeah," Ben replied. "Do you think we can afford it?" inquired Madison. "Sure," he answered casually. "It might even save us money." "Just how would it do that?" Madison asked pointedly. Ben thought long and hard. How would a new four-wheeler save money? "Well," he said, "the one we have now is old, honey. Repairs are staring to cost us more and more. Who knows how long it will last." Madison was quiet for a moment. "I guess that makes sense," she admitted. Ben sensed a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. "So, what do you think?" he pressed. "I'm not entirely sure," she said. "Do we really need it? And how much will it cost, anyway?" Ben could see his glimmer of light rapidly fading. "I suppose it's not a necessity," he replied. "But I would really enjoy it." "I'm sure you would," said Madison. "How much will it cost?" she repeated. "Nearly seven thousand dollars," Ben answered carefully. He quickly added, "But if I trade in the one we have now, I'm sure it would be a lot cheaper." Madison looked up from the counter. "Just how much cheaper?" she asked. "Would it be worthwhile to trade it in, or should we just keep it?" "I don't know," admitted Ben. "But I could go back to Jake's after supper and find out," he added hopefully. Madison gazed at him from across the counter. "Back to Jake's, huh? I suppose you might have time after supper," she said, adding, "Would you mind setting the table for supper?" Ben whisked some plates from the cupboard, snatched the silverware from a drawer, and trotted off toward the dining room.

After supper Ben cleared the table and brought the dirty dishes back to the kitchen. "See you in a bit," he said, as he headed for the backdoor. Once outside, Ben lost no time getting into the truck and backing down the laneway. Madison watched through the kitchen window as Ben pulled away from the mailbox. The dishes could wait she decided. Madison grabbed a jacket off a coat hook in the back hall and headed out the door toward the drive shed. When she reached the drive shed, Madison spent a moment fumbling for the key. Eventually, she managed to dig the key from her pocket and slide open the door. Madison lifted her helmet from a shelf that hung off the wall, next to where the four-wheeler was parked. She slid the helmet smoothly onto her head and tugged the chinstrap tight. Madison climbed onto the four-wheeler, turned the key, and pressed the start button. The four-wheeler came to life in an instant. Madison idled out of the drive shed, jabbed the throttle with her thumb, and tore down the laneway. She spun left, past the mailbox, and flew down the gravel road, enjoying that same freedom she felt every time she rode. Madison cruised along the road for a minute or so and then hung another left into a field. She followed the path along the fence line that lead to the woodlot behind their house. When she reached the woodlot, she slowed and chose a trail that would lead her through the bush and to the back laneway, ending up behind the drive shed. As she rode down the trail, Madison came to a clearing that had a large pond nestled in its centre. Next to the pond was the small cabin Ben had built a few years back. Madison laughed out loud as she remembered all the fun they had enjoyed with friends and family, fishing, four-wheeling, and playing pond hockey in the winter. She could still see her dad last winter, playing goal during a game of pond hockey. He had been using a snow shovel for a goalie stick. Madison's little sister Emily had taken a shot on net, only to have the...