Arthur was by all accounts a rather quiet, rather skinny, eight year old boy of average mental ability and,well, nothing special. He always did his homework (almost) and nearly always brushed his teeth and said his prayers and ate all of his food on the plate (except for spinach of course.)

He and spinach would stare at each other for the longest time at dinner until Arthur and the spinach were the last two left in the dining room.

Arthur lived so close to school that he could actually see the school building from his bedroom and so Arthur would walk the short distance to Freedom Elementary each day.

There was a traffic guard, Miss Watson, that watched the walkers and helped the kids that had to cross over to Arthur’s side of the street.

It was a sunny Tuesday spring morning and Arthur had just left for school when he smelled smoke near his next door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell’s house.

“It’s funny that they should be making breakfast on their outdoor grill.” Arthur thought. But then, the Campbells were older folks and did a lot of things differently than his family did.

Yep. There was smoke rising up from the back of the house where their barbeque grill was.

Arthur was thinking “I wonder how breakfast would taste cooked on a grill.”

Then suddenly he noticed the Campbell’s dog Ruffy barking and jumping at the front window. Arthur and Ruffy were good friends and Arthur just figured that the dog was happy to see him.

But NO!

Ruffy was tearing up the curtains in the window. “I’d better go into the back and tell Mr. Campbell that his dog is ruining their curtains. So Arthur went around to the back of the house.

That’s when he saw it!

Thick dark grey smoke pouring out of the upstairs window of the Campbell’s house. Arthur banged on the door and while he was knocking the second time Ruffy was jumping at that door and barking.

“THE CAMPBELL”S HOUSE IS ON FIRE!” Arthur knew he had to get help and call 911 as soon as possible. He ran back to his own house and yelled for his Mom but picked up the phone and pushed “911”….”What is your emergency?” said the voice on the other end of the line.

“There’s a fire at 3806 Freedom Lane….hurry… people and a dog are trapped inside! I’m Arthur Rogers and I live at 3804 Freedom Lane.”

“OK we’re sending someone…please stay on the line…..”

But Arthur was already running back over to the Campbell’s. Arthur grabbed the pitchfork

that was leaning against Mr. Campbell’s shed and broke the back door glass, reached in and unlocked it and went into the kitchen. Ruffy ran around Arthur in circles as the boy yelled MR. CAMPBELL…MRS. CAMPBELL….” But he heard no answer. Just then Arthur heard the fire engines’ sirens and so he ran to the front door of the house and unlocked it as three firemen ran in.

“Upstairs….they’re upstairs…hurry!” Arthur shouted as the fourth fireman grabbed Arthur and picked him up and carried him outside where Ruffy followed.

Soon Arthur saw Mr. And Mr.s Campbell still in their pajamas and wearing oxygen masks being helped outside by the firemen.

“ARTHUR….are you alright Darling?” It was Arthur’s Mom.

“Sure Mom I’m fine.”

“Oh I was in the shower and didn’t hear anything until the sirens…are you sure you’re OK?”

“Yeah me and Ruffy are great aren’t we boy?”

Ruffy wagged his tail and rubbed up against Arthurs petting hand.

An ambulance took the Campbells off to the hospital and one of the firemen came over to Arthur.

“That was mighty brave of you son but next time just call us …don’t try to go into a house on fire …OK?”

“Sure..OK..Are the Campbells gonna be OK?”

“Yeah… just a little smoke….they’ll be fine…Thanks to you! And… M’aam….your boy there is a real HERO!”

“My well….yes I guess he is. My little HERO!” Arthur’s Mom smiled down at him and hugged him a little too tightly.

“Aw Mom…anybody would have done what I did….I’m nothing special”

Little Johnny had just moved with his Mom and Dad to this wonderful house that bordered a great forested woodland. Before, Johnny’s family lived in the heart of the city. He had a lot of friends there, mostly school buddies, but it was noisy and there really wasn’t much room to play in the open. And there was the traffic too. A girl down the street had been hit by a car and although she wasn’t hurt enough to spend the night in the hospital, Johnny’s parents sought the refuge of the suburbs and “more natural and “safer” surroundings” as Johnny’s father had said.
Johnny had his own room and there was an additional “bonus” room, they called it, which Johnny used to keep all his many toys.
Johnny liked all the new stuff at their new home but mainly what he liked was the woods.
Johnny was brave for his eleven years, and even though he thought that the woods was the greatest part about his new home he did have to admit that it was pretty dark even in daytime and looked a tiny bit…well…scary.
After scouting the edge of the woods and seeing nothing unusual about the place Johnnie, one bright spring afternoon pushed through the brambles at the edge of the woods closest to his house and after twenty or so feet broke through to a clearing.The bluebirds were busy flying about and he saw three squirrels digging in the ground under a tree. He guessed they were looking for nuts or seeds or whatever squirrels eat and then suddenly Johnny froze! Not moving, not breathing, not blinking…there, not 15 feet ahead of him was a…can you believe…a baby elephant!
Johnny had seen pictures of baby elephants before and oh yeah, even live ones at the circus and the zoo, but here was a real one…five yards away!
The elephant didn’t seem to notice him or if it did, didn’t seem to care that he was there. “I wonder where its mother is. That baby seems too small to be out in the open all by itself.”
Just then the elephant turned its head backward and raised its trunk and blew a loud trumpeting. After but a few seconds, two tiny duplicates of the small elephant ran out from under a bush and huddled under the belly of the original elephant.
What? These “elephants?” seemed to be tiny little toys rather than actual living animals. Johnny rubbed his eyes, looked away and then back again, but they were still just as miniature as ever.
Johnny was sure he was not dreaming but maybe he was being fooled by someone or something. Then as he was looking around the unfamiliar woods, he spotted a six inch tall giraffe. WHAT?
What was happening? Johnny thought about running back to his house but was too intrigued to stop staring at these tiny perfect miniatures of real animals. Then something crawled across his foot. As he looked down he saw the biggest worm that he had ever seen or could even imagine! It was a foot long and thick too. It wasn’t a snake…it had that brown band around it and it dove into a hole in the ground and disappeared.
What was going on?” Johnny wondered. Just then a rhinoceros about 10 inches high sniffed at Johnny’s shoes, where the enormous worm had just crawled and then lumbered over to the worm hole and started digging into the ground with his horn.
All of a sudden there was this extremely loud buzzing that seemed to be getting closer and closer and then, whoosh…the hugest bumble bee that Johnny could have ever imagined, flew by his ear missing his earlobe by less than an inch!
Johnny then noticed the Baby, well, Mother elephant, gather up her two “babies” and hurry them off into the brush, as humongous three feet tall black ants marched through in a straight line, not looking left or right, and headed for the largest tree in the woods.
Johnny couldn’t believe his own eyes, and even ears, at what he was seeing and hearing. If he had been sleeping this would definitely qualify for a nightmare.
The odd thing, well other than all of these wrong sized animals, was that none of them seemed to even notice that he was there!
Johnny felt a little less scared when he realized that, but then thought “What if these creatures decide to notice me?”
So Johnny slowly edged toward the brambles where he had originally entered the woods. He got through safely without even a scratch and happily walked through his back garden and into the house.
“Time to wash up for dinner Johnny, your Dad will be home any minute.”
“OK Mom.” Johnny went to wash his hands and heard his Dad come in the door.
At dinner Johnny’s Dad told about a big sale that he had made and he then asked Johnny’s Mom how she liked living in their new home. She said that she was so happy living there that she didn’t even mind the house cleaning. Then his father asked Johnny…”How was your first day at our new home?”
“Oh…it was OK….would you please pass the salt Dad!”

I was sitting at the edge of my garden, freshly weeded, recently watered, my still moist and glistening garden, when a voice in a very mild baritone said…”Nice garden, but it needs…more edibles, you know, vegitables…carrots and stuff!”
I looked around and there was no one there, as usual. I’m nearly always alone doing my gardening tasks. I looked again, scanning the dead leaves to the back, got to get to those …ah…tomorrow…but nothing…not even the usual birds were around the feeders. Age has its drawbacks, though it does provide a retiring way of life, still, there are moments when you’d trade for a, shall we call it, a sprightlier sensory system. This might have been one of those moments.
“Hey Bud…I’m talking to you!”
Not so rich and gentle a baritone this time, a bit, well…impudent sounding voice in my estimation. Scanning the entire garden…still nothing…then, I saw a slight movement of…the Irises, near the eastern edge…no…wait…there were…EARS…shaped like Irises but, grayish…and…if you can believe…FURRY!”
I looked around hoping none of my neighbors were watching my mental deterioration…I thought it happened slowly, over time, progressive…not all at once like this…
“HEY BUDDY!!!”
Then his head, an unusually large head, olive shaped eyes looking, unblinkingly straight at mine, this was the largest rabbit, or hare or whatever, I’d ever seen…or even heard about…well, except for Harvey, but of course he was imagin…I managed a weak, non baritoned”….hello….”
“That’s better….we animals HATE to be ignored…of course we hate to be chased, hunted, poisoned…well, you get the picture!”
“Ah…yes…well…I’d never really thought about it, ah, from YOUR angle I mean.”
“Yeah well, you’re hard to understand too…so I’ll give you that one . Anyhow, we’re gettin’ off of the subject…your garden….VEGITABLES!”
“Yes…and by the way…it’s spelled with three “E’s” no “I’s”…you missed one in the first paragraph too!”
“Did I…sorry! So how about it?”
“Well you know there’s not a lot of sun in the…MY….garden…so many trees.”
“You’ve got sun over there!” He pointed with his left ear.
“I…didn’t know you could do that!”
“Oh…point my ears?…That’s basic stuff! Did you know that we rabbits can SCREAM? ‘Though
we hate to do that, I mean REALLY hate to do that!”
“Yes actually I DID know that…but…I didn’t know you could talk…converse.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know buddy. I could tell you things about us that would curl your hare…get it? …HARE?”
He was chuckling now. “I kill myself when I do that….oops….wrong turn of phrase there!”
“Well I could TRY to help out with your…situation…I guess.”
“When? It takes at least four weeks to grow decent veg-E-tables!”
“You wouldn’t want me to tear up my beautiful grass would you?”
“Oh we eat grass too, although I like it a bit longer and for heaven’s sake, keep those “Chem Lawn” guys away…we can’t eat it for DAYS after they’ve been here!”
“Why don’t you just go to another garden…a VEGETABLE garden? I’m certain many of my neighbors have them.”
“Because you don’t have any cats…yuck!…or dogs…double yuck!!…and most of your neighbors do.”
“How about if I go to the market and buy you some carrots and bring them back and put them on the edge of the garden there for you?”
“Naw…not fresh…they lose a certain…piquantcy….did you spell that right?”
“Yeah…I think so.”
“Good you’re learnin’…anyhow, I’ll give you two days to come up with a solution, otherwise I’ll come back and eat…EVERY flower in your garden…even though I hate the taste of most of those things you’re growin’ here…but I’ll do it!!!”
“I don’t see how I can….” But he was gone! The Irises rustling a bit… but… no sign of him ever being there.

(To be continued)

Santa and the elves were packing the Christmas toys into Santa’s great sack in preparation for his annual world flight to deliver gifts of joy to each GOOD little girl and boy.
The very first gift placed into the huge golden bag was a train engine that tooted and clanged and puffed almost real smoke and that was going to make some little boy or even little girl very happy this year. Thomas was very happy and indeed honored to be the very first gift placed into Santa’s golden sack and as he smiled and swelled his proud steam engine chest a basket ball bounced and clunked him right on his smokestack head! “Ouch!” yelled Thomas…”that hurt!”
But before the basketball, an Official size and weight NBA genuine leather ball could respond, a play kitchen stove came tumbling in on top of them! “OOOoph” said the ball and Tommy yelled “HEY…watch where you’re landing…that hurt!” Tommy asked the basketball “Didn’t that hurt you when that kitchen stove landed on you?”
“Naw” said the basketball”…I get thrown around and bounced on the floor…all the time”
“Wow” said the train engine I’ve got a headache already and here comes another whole bunch of toys being thrown into the sack right on top of us!”
Well…Santa and the elves filled up the golden sack with thousands of toys…millions maybe and by the time the last toy was put on top of the sack, Tommy could hardly breathe and definately couldn’t move a wheel.The basketball was dented in slightly but was…well…having a ball!
Then the whole golden sack was lifted up and then Tommy had the distinct feeling of flying…then landing…then flying again…then landing again and this went on for hours. But at least the load of toys pushing down on Tommy was getting lighter and lighter.
Finally after what seemed like days, but was really only hours…only the basketball and Tommy were left in the sack.
“I’ll see ya Tommy…I get off here…Billy Smith’s house I think…so Goodbye and have a Merry Christmas!”
Well Tommy was sorry to see the basketball go but now Tommy could breath easily and move his wheels all he wanted. Then Tommy felt a familiar white gloved hand reach down and grab him by his boiler.
“Ho Ho Ho…let’s go Tommy…this is your stop and my last one!”
Tommy got a quick glimpse of Santa and all the reindeer and the rooftop and then it was down the chimney and into the living room of Jimmy Williams a nine year old boy who was still fast asleep in his bed even though it was nearly sunrise.
“Merry Christmas Tommy” Santa said as he swooped back up the chimney.
Tommy was looking up at the beautiful Christmas tree when all of a sudden “Wow! Mommy Daddy…LOOK!!! Santa brought me Thomas the tank engine….the most wonderful present in all the world!”
“Yeah…said Tommy smiling but remembering all those toys crushing him in Santa’s Golden Sack all Christmas Eve “…and the very LAST one too!!!”

Santa was busily delivering his Christmas bounty of gifts to good little girls and boys when, instead of going on to the Smith’s house, next on his list, he circled around the Jones’ roof where he had just been. He thought that he had forgotten to leave the red bike with training wheels that Tommy had asked for. Santa saw his own footprints and sleigh tracks and reindeer hoofprints in the snow but he also spotted a small person with a bag similar to Santa’s but the person was wearing a mask!
“What’s this?” exclaimed Santa. “This person is following me and I do believe that they are stealing the gifts that I leave the Good little boys and girls…and that makes Santa VERY angry!”
Santa hovered the sleigh and commanded the reindeer to be very quiet as Santa watched to see the “bandit” emerge from the chimney, looking all around to see if they were being watched. But they didn’t look up into the sky where Santa was hovering and that’s when Santa swooped in to land right in front of the “bandit” trapping them between the sled and the chimney.
“So!” Santa yelled, startling the person “Exactly WHAT are you doing, following me and raiding the houses that I’ve gifted?”
“I…well….I…just…” the “bandit” took off their mask as they spoke and lo and behold it was a rather young woman who was speaking to Santa!
“I was just delivering these gift certificates to each house that you visit in this neighborhood. I figured that if you visit a home there must be good and deserving kids living there and I wanted to make sure these rather needy families received the food vouchers so that the family can have an even better Christmas.”
“Well…I’m amazed young lady…but why are you wearing the mask when you are doing such a noble deed?”
“I…didn’t want anyone to know that I left the certificates and not Santa…well you…Sir.”
“Hmmm…I see….I think….that’s a wonderful and generous thing that you’re doing but I don’t think that I should be given credit for something that you did…but…tell you what….why don’t you ride along with me from here on until you finish your generous giving?”
“Oh Santa…that would be wonderful!”
“And by the way…” said Santa “I remember leaving you that “Raggedy Ann” doll back a few years ago..you were a good little girl…mostly…but Sara…you sure have become a fine young woman!”
And Sara and Santa and the eight reindeer flew off to finish the Christmas Eve giving that is the true spirit that everyone should cherish and continue forever.

“Look at them down there Leon…they look like ants.”
“Ha ha…yeah…they do….they really do…Al”
“Wouldn’t they be amazed at how insignificant they are in the…well…universe? And they don’t even know we’re here…or that we even exist Leon.”
“You’re right…they are totally clueless. And it doesn’t even seem like they are very happy Al. Too many “ants”.
“Well…it doesn’t take very long to realize that this is no place for us or even anyone we care for Leon.”
“Yeah…shame really…I had such high hopes for the place…so pretty….such a perfect neighborhood and all.”
“Yeah…location, location, location…eh…too bad.”
“Do you think we’ve gained enough info to report back with our decision Al?”
“I guess so….but now we’ll have to look for a totally new place…start over!”
“Crank her up and let’s get goin’ Al.”
“Roger….there…now I’ll tap the hyperspeed bar and we’ll be headed for the outer galaxy Zurion……..”

“Strategic Air Command Grid Four reporting blip disappearing at hyperspeed….it’s already off the screens Sir.”
“Well….file the customary report…it was probably just Al and Leon snooping around again!”

“Get your heel outta my face please!”
“Hey…like I can help it or somethin’!  I got some ugly argyle toe in MY face!”
“Ah watch who yer callen ugly Laddie.”
“Yeah…well…I just want my mate…I haven’t seen Lefty in weeks.”
“Me too…it’s so nice in that sock drawer chattin’ with those other matched pairs…ah…I really  miss it.”
“The WORST are those athletic socks…they never really do get completely clean and they’re so thick and take up so much of our space here!”
Then there was a whimper and sob coming from the top of the pile.
“There there…you’ll be OK little one…we’re all here with you.”
The baby sock with it’s pink ruffle was very sad having just come from the last dryer load.
“I….I….think my match is…..ooohhhh….still in the dryer….CAUGHT!”
“Yeah…happened to golf sock over there…never did find his mate. Oh I shouldn’t have said that should I?”
“Boo Hoo…I’ll never see him again.”
“Now Now….it’ll be OK…you’ll see.
Then all of a sudden the woven basket that held them was lifted and dumped on the big bed. Then soon after, another pile of socks was thrown onto the bed.
“Hey….there’s my….HEY OVER HERE!”
Then human hands started matching up all the socks and folded and tucked the pairs together and threw them into the sock drawer. All of the socks were happy except one old striped one with a hole in the toe.”So long guys maybe I’ll see you all again soon.”
The little baby sock with the pink ruffle was still sad so the striped sock let it snuggle up as they were placed back into the woven basket.
“Maybe next time little one.”Then whispering to himself….”I HATE dryers!”