Imagine This

By E. G. Walker

A collection of unusual fiction for children ages 5 to 11. Some have been previously published by the Los Angeles Times Children’s page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. G. Walker
• Release date: Jun 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301341894

E. G. Walker

Esther G. Walker, thirty-five-year desert resident, writes stories under the pen name E. G. Walker. Her short stories have been published in national and local magazines, including the Los Angeles Times as a regular contract writer for the children’s page. Esther teaches at the Braille Institute in Rancho Mirage, California, conducts “Esther-size” classes at the Coachella Valley Recreation District; she taught “Creative Writing” at the La Quinta Senior Center. She retired from Esther’s Typesetting in 1996 and began a second career as a writer.

Book preview

Imagine This

A collection of Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Fiction

for Children From Age 3 to 90 or

as long as your imagination is still

child-like.

by

E. G. Walker

Copyright 2012 E. G. Walker

Published by E. G. Walker at Smashwords

This book is available at most online retailers.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Bufford Bookworm

Farmer Franke and Princess Pig

Got Milk?

The Day the Vowels Disappeared

Gulls Go Ga-Ga Over Garbage

Sand Storm

Beulah and the Worm

Miss Meow and Professor Mockingbird

Sandy Claws

The Ugly Wizard and the Handsome Prince

Phoebe, the Phabulous Elephant

Susie, the Slithering Snake

Carmichael, The Cranky Crocodile

A Fowl Deed

David Dreidle's Chanukah Adventure

Bragging Day At Mt Rushmore

BUFORD BOOKWORM

Buford! Buford Bookworm! Get up here at once

Oh oh, that’s Libby the Librarian. Let me tell you why she sounds so angry. I haven't heard Libby so disturbed since the day she found me in the adult section. That day she'd crept up behind me and looked over my shoulder. I wonder, do bookworms have shoulders? I was engrossed in reading Steven King's scariest book, Cujo. I was at the most exciting part. You know, where he was describing the yellow drool and the wild eyes of that poor rabid dog. When she touched me, I thought it was Cujo coming after me. I jumped nearly out of my skin. Bookworms are pretty frightening when they are out of their skin.

She snatched the book away.

My segments nearly fell apart when she shrieked, Buford, never never read this kind of rubbish. Buford! Buford! Buford! she continued sadly. You are the children's bookworm. You should be reading The Cat In The Hat or Sleeping Beauty. You are so lucky to be allowed among all those colorful books."

I was still shaking. she had frightened me so. I wanted to explain to her that I had read all the children's books and was ready to read grown-up books.

" Remember when I read all the ABC books. You said I was ready to read First Grade books. I read all the Mother Goose rhyme books in a week. Then, I read the Hardy Boys books and the Nancy Drew series. I did Little Women and even all of the Harry Potters. I've done the encyclopedias."

I complained,. "Even the children who come into the library get to grow up and go into the adult section. Why can't I read the history books and the stories about famous people?

Buford, stop that complaining! Just do your job. Read the books in your section. That's it! She stalked away from me.

I didn't like it, but I followed her orders—most of the time. Sometimes when she locked up the library, I slithered into the other sections.

Tonight I'm restless. She rattles the keys as she walks to the front door. I listened to her open the heavy front door, close it with a bang and turn the key in the lock. Reluctantly I settled down with The Hobbit. I know how the story begins, how it ends and all the words in between. I stretch my segments, curl and uncurl them, trying to get comfortable.

I really feel that Libby doesn’t understand me. I’m just like all the other kids. I want new books to read.