Stories for the Young: With Shocking Endings

By James E. Stodghill

We don't have to learn every lesson in life by personal experience. Sometimes, one mistake is all you get. Learning from the mistakes of others, real persons or fictional ones, can save us so much heartache and pain.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Vine Press
• Release date: Jun 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781955885065

James E. Stodghill

James E. Stodghill, Jr. a native of Atlanta, GA., is a Christian, a vocalist, a musician, a poet, and a writer, His other published works include two other novels, "Don't Turn Your Back," and "Don't Turn Your Back II - Interview with A Demon;" a book of plays, "Plays of Praise;" a book of short stories, "Stories for the Young with Shocking Endings;" a poem, "Smoke;" and a musical compilation of Christian songs, "Be Saved, He has also written several unpublished Christian plays.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my daughters, Jamie and Miya. When they were growing up, they always wanted me to read and makeup bedtime stories for them. Those times are among the most cherished times in my life.

The Tree

Once there was a tree in the backyard of Johnny’s house. Every day Johnny would go out into the backyard. He would climb the ladder that he had placed against the tree. That would get him to the bottom limb. Once he reached that limb, he would grab it with his arms, swing his leg over, and pull himself up. Then he would start climbing. Up the tree he would go, higher and higher. Every day he would climb a little higher than the day before.

One day he went so high that he could see over the top of his house. He was higher than the house! He looked up and realized that he was not that far from the top of the tree. He decided that he would go for it. He was going to climb to the top. Then he heard his mother yell from the kitchen window.

Johnny, what are you doing up so high? she said. Come back down some. You’re too high.

All right, Mommy, Johnny said, I’ll come down. He began to slowly climb down. He was angry. ‘Why can’t she just leave me alone,’ he thought, ‘she never lets me do anything that’s fun.’

He thought about the time he had asked for a motorbike. Those things are too dangerous, she had said, that’s absolutely out of the question.

Then he thought about the time he had asked for a BB gun. You’re not going to have a gun in this house. You could shoot somebody’s eye out, she had argued.

Now, I can’t even climb this tree, he said pitifully. It’s not fair, he said as he climbed onto the bottom limb again. He sat down and began pulling leaves from the limb. As he watched them fall to the ground he whispered to himself, It’s just not fair. I never get to do anything. I might as well be dead. He was allowing himself to get more and more angry. Then he said something that he knew he did not mean. He didn’t even want to say it but, somehow he allowed himself to say it anyway.

I wish she was dead, he said softly and slowly in a voice that did not even sound like his voice. It sounded like a devil’s voice. Then he heard his mother’s voice again.

Johnny? she yelled.

Yes Mommy, he answered.

I have to run to the store to get some more tomato paste. Do you want to go?

No ma’am, he said. Even though he really wanted to go. However, he had said no because he wanted to stay angry with her.

Well, don’t leave the yard. Okay? she said.

Okay, I won’t, he said. He watched as she got into the car and backed out of the driveway. Then she drove down the street, over a nearby hill, and out of sight. Instantly, a thought came into his mind. ‘Now, I can climb to the top of the tree.’ Then another thought came into his mind. ‘But Mommy told me not to go up that high.’ Another thought came. ‘She will never know. I’ll be up to the top and back down before she gets back from the store.’

I’ll be up and back down before she gets back, he said aloud confirming his final decision. He was going to do it. Even though he knew it was wrong to disobey his mother, he was going to it because he thought his mother would never find out.

Up he went climbing as fast as he could. He didn’t know how much time he had before his mother would come back. He wasn’t going to take any chances. Up he climbed. The top of the tree was not that far away. However, the higher he climbed, the smaller the limbs became and the smaller the tree became. Still, he continued to climb. He was almost there. He had only five more limbs to go.

I’m going to make it, he yelled as he stepped onto the limb that was fourth from the top. Suddenly he heard a cracking noise as the limb he had just stepped on broke off. He grabbed the tree as tight as he could as he watched the broken limb fall down through the tree limbs below him. After what seemed like a long time, it hit the ground. Looking down he realized just how high he was. Fear paralyzed him. He tried to make himself release just