FirstLineFiction beta

from Contest #5

 A boy with a parrot on his shoulder was walking along the railway tracks. The boy, eight years old with brown hair and green eyes glazed over, saw everything in darkness. 

 

  "There's a tree limb to your left," the green parrot said. The boy went around it. "Good job, Sammy," the parrot said. 

 

  Sammy stopped. "I hear..." he paused. "Cars."

 

The parrot said, "yes. Town up ahead."

 

Sammy smiled. "People. Maybe..."  Maybe this town will be different, Sammy thought.

 

The duo maneuvered around some rocks and arrived at the town's general store. Sammy reached toward the doorknob.

 

"No pets, kid," a deep voiced man said.

 

"But Malachi is my eyes," Sammy whispered.

 

"A seeing eye parrot," laughed the man.

 

"Please, sir," Sammy begged.

 

"Get!"

 

Sammy fell back and toppled over a log. Tears streamed down his face.

 

"Malachi?" Sammy called his dear friend. "Malachi?"

 

Sammy stood up. Where was his friend? "Malachi?"

 

"Little one, what's wrong?" A gentle soft voice asked.

 

"I lost my friend. I'm blind and he..."

 

"Oh child. You lost your dog?" the woman said.

 

"My parrot, Malachi," Sammy said.

 

"Oh dear. Parrots can fly." The woman clicked her tongue. "Give me your hand. I'll help you."

 

The old, white haired woman took Sammy's hand in her frail one. They shuffled past the general store to the woman's son's office.

 

"Jerry!" The woman cried.

 

A man hurried out. "Mama?"

 

"This boy lost his parrot, Malachi. Please..." the woman said.

 

"Here, son," Jerry said, taking Sammy's hand.

 

"I'm Sammy. Sammy Coruthers. I'm blind and I lost Malachi. Please, sir, help me find him."

 

"Sammy, I'm going to help you. I'm the town's..."

 

"Jerry's the sheriff, Sammy. Him and his boys will help you," the woman said. "And give that Mr. Harris what for. Scared the boy out of his mind, he did."

 

"Okay, Mama. I'll have Bradley look into it."

 

Jerry and Sammy with ten other men went out looking for Malachi. The traveled everywhere. By nightfall, still no Malachi appeared.

 

Jerry took Sammy to his house. Jerry's wife Lucy fed them both. She made a bed near the fireplace for Sammy.

 

Sammy laid down and cried. His tears wet the pillow.

 

Jerry and Lucy walked to their room. "Poor Sammy. He's so alone. Jerry, could we adopt him? I mean if he has no one else," Lucy whispered in their room.

 

"Lucy, I love you," Jerry smiled.

 

 

Jerry left for work early the next morning. On the porch, perched on the railing sat a green parrot.

 

"Lucy! Sammy!"

 

Lucy led Sammy outside.

 

"Sammy, my boy!" Malachi cried.

 

"Malachi! Malachi!" Sammy smiled tears of joy ran down his cheeks.

back to Contest #5