The River Brink Tale

A shallow river streams down the river brink

with lily ponds and tadpoles.

The sun shines upon them

and it casts a shadow,

in the streaming river

which is shallow.

Down the river.

River brink.

Sally, she, against its edge,

upon the dirt and upon the land,

looks to the east

and lifts up her head,

“Ah, this piercing heat!”

She said.

The birds they

chirp.

Tadpoles

make out

a pitter-patter.

The wind it

gushes,

and Sally makes

splashes

of noise

against

the children’s

laughter.

They kick

and scream.

They cry

and yell—

a whistle

blows

‘Time-out!’

A child

has fell.

Then they

continue on.

A Child versus A Fall:

One to Zero.

A Child

does prevail

and they

continue on

playing

in the field.

By the river brink

it was

by the river brink

and a

pomegranate

tree

which was

preoccupied

by bees

upon

its trunk.

Sally

went out

from the brink

and walked

toward the

kids.

She felt

moisture

as she stepped.

From the

rain

the grass was

still

wet.

On Sally’s

left,

in the corner

of her eye

she saw some

shady kids

huddled up

with their

arms

stretched around

each other,

all faces

peering in

toward the

circle’s

center.

She skimmed

her eyes

at the

children.

They had

caught

her attention.

She thought

inside

“Why bother?"

And turned

her eye,

skipping

over them.

Walking ahead

with a firm

thought

in her

head

she

beckoned

the

whistle man

and he

walked over

with his

whistle

in his

hand.

“Elijah."

She said.

"How goes ya?"

He expressed.

"I found

a heavy rock

by the river brink—"

"You need help?”

He cut in,

"Need these strong arms?"

He jested.

She tilted

her head

and her

shoulders

fell.

Seriously,

she thought,

and smiled.

"Yes, Elijah,

you know me so well,"

she ridiculed.

Elijah

followed Sally

behind

and he

jogged

a little

so they

can walk

side by side.

They passed

the children;

Elijah

set one

in charge.

They went

to the river

brink

and Elijah

saw the rock

which was large.

Sally pointed,

"This one!"

She exclaimed.

Elijah

went over

he

picked it up

as if

it had

no

weight.

"Where

do you

want it?"

Elijah

asked Sally.

Sally’s face

glistened

and she felt

giddy.

“I want it

by the

pomegranate

tree."

She said

to him

very happily.

He walked over,

bent his knees

and

carefully

placed it by

the pomegranate

tree.

She clapped her

hands

and did a little

dance.

Her shoulders

bounced.

"This will

be my new spot

where I

hang-out,"

she said to him,

with her widened

mouth.

Sally then

sat upon

the rock

she layed

her back

on the tree’s

trunk.

A kid then

cried

"My book!

My book!"

Alarmed,

Elijah

blew his

whistle

and

Sally

quickly

got up,

very frazzled.

They

recognized

the voice of

the cry.

It was

the voice

of a kid

who was

very shy.

Named

Kyle Trent

and

nicknamed

"Ky."

Ky was

surrounded by kids

and

they dispersed

away from

him

when they

saw

Sally

and

the whistle man.

Elijah

called

Fancy

and she

gave him

a report

she

was the kid

who he

left in

charge.

Ky was angry.

He was

stomping his

feet.

Sally went up

to him

to tend to

his needs.

“Ky,

What’s

the

problem?”

She asked

gently.

He frowned

and said

“They stole

it from me.”

Elijah came up

with Fancy

behind him.

"What’s this

I hear

about your book?”

Elijah asked

with concern.

Fancy perked up,

“It was lost-”

‘No took!”

Ky shouted.

“They stole

my favorite book!”

“Who?”

Sally asked.

Elijah blew his

whistle.

“Everybody line

Up!”

Elijah said.

Some kids

were

bristled.

“I didn’t

do it,"

many said

along

those lines.

“One of

you

is going

to tell the

truth

and don’t

you lie,"

Elijah

said

briskly,

Then

he turned

toward

Ky.

“What

happened?

Tell me

the whole

story this

time.”

Sally

sighed.

Ky spoke

“I was sitting down

there,”

he pointed.

“By the grass

Away from the river

brink.

My book

was right

beside me,

then

came Rihanna

and Marley.

They had

something

they wanted to

show me.”

Ky was

breathing hard.

He took a breath

and next

he spoke,

“So I asked

someone

I thought

was

trustworthy

to hide

my book

for me

until

I came

back

from

Rihanna

and Marley.”

“Who

was

the last one

with it?"

Sally

questioned.

“I asked

Fancy

and she

had my book

But when

I came back

And she looked

where she hid

it,

my book

wasn’t there.”

Ky whined.

Fancy

got out of

the line

and said

“I lost it.

I don’t

remember

where I

put it.”

Ky had

a look

of frustration

and said,

“I know

who took

it.”

He named,

“Trey,

Paige,

Britney,

Lily,

Keith,

Henry,

Ralph,

and Willy.

Elijah then

looked

to Sally

and she

furrowed her

brows.

He nodded

his head

at her

and she

called those

kids,

one by one,

out.

They stepped out

of the line

with faces

of unpleasantness.

Elijah then

came

over

“Do

you know

what happened

to Ky’s

book?”

The kids

each

shrugged their

shoulders.

They gazed everywhere

but toward

Sally

and Elijah

they

did

not

look.

"Who’s

going

to tell

the truth?”

Elijah

questioned

but the

children

said nothing

at all

and

looked aloof.

“I

saw these

kids

huddled up

earlier today,"

Sally said

with a pondering

face.

“Maybe,

they were

up to no

good?”

She asked

them with

a

curious

look.

She continued,

“And children

who are

up to no good

do not get

to

come outside.

So pack up

your stuff

or speak

up now,"

she said

to them

very loud.

Henry smirked,

“What’s the

password?”

he spoke.

Elijah said,

“This isn't

a game.

You know

that

I don't know."

The other

kids

started laughing.

They were

being

secretive

and distracting.

“What's up

with you

guys?

Elijah

asked

The children

only

continued

to

laugh

and laugh.

Ky

put his head

toward the

ground.

“I don’t

know it,"

he spoke.

“They

left me

out.”

Elijah

and Sally

both became

angered.

Elijah then

yelled,

“Quiet!"

The children

quickly stopped

their laughing.

There was

no more

riot.

Sally quickly

went toward Ky

and whispered

in his ear,

“Make a password,

quick,

and tell

it in

my ear.”

Ky was confused

and Sally

nodded her head.

He sounded,

“Um.”

and began

to scratch

his head.

“C’mon,

quick,"

Sally said.

Ky gently

went toward

her ear

with both hands

cupped around

his mouth.

He whispered,

his word.

Sally then

patted his

back

and reassured

him.

Sally then stood up

and called

over

to Elijah.

He then

walked over

straight

toward

her.

She whispered in his

ear

and he

nodded.

The

plan

was clear.

“Who knows

Ky’s

password?”

Elijah said

with a smirk.

The children

looked appalled.

They didn’t

give an answer-

Who knew it?

None at all.

Their whispered

plan

worked.

“I know it!”

Sally

volunteered

with her right

hand raised.

“I know it

too,"

Elijah said.

“All who

know it

can stay.”

The children

looked disappointed.

They shouted

it was unfair.

“How then

can you guys

have one

and Ky be

left out?

Now is

that fair?

The children looked

bashful.

Some rolled their eyes.

“If you don’t

stop this

secret

password—

you all

can

go inside.”

Some stomped

their feets

toward

the

indoor

building.

Some hesitantly

stayed

and

had

sorrowful

feelings.

Sally went

inside

to

chastise

the children

who were

stubborn

while

Elijah stayed

outside

and watched

the children

who

made the

right

decision.

The

secret password

was over.

The children

who stayed

apologized

to Ky.

They

admitted to

him

he was

a cool

guy.

Britney

admitted

to him

she took

his book

because she

wanted it

and he

was shy.

Britney

apologized

and asked

Ky to be friends.

Ky demand

for his

book first

and she showed

it to him.

They hid it

in a bush.

Ky grabbed

it in a rush.

He said,

"Do not

steal my book

or any that doesn't

belong to

you.

If you want

to be friends

you have to

be

loyal and true

because that is

what good

friends do."

She nodded

with her head

down.

"Yes,

Ky.

I understand.

I would like

to be your

friend

if you

would give me

a chance?"

She said.

Ky pondered

and told her,

"I accept

your apology.

I forgive

you

for stealing

my book.

I forgive

and I'll

be kind

even though

you weren't

my friend

just simply

because

I can,"

Britney said,

"Okay.."

and was about

to turn away

But Ky said

"Britney,

wait,

Your theft

was not okay

But if

you're willing

to make

a change

then yes,

we can

be friends."

Britney quickly

looked up

with

excitement

And she said,

"Yes! We're friends!

We're friends!"

Shortly after

the other

kids

who were

still outside

came toward

Britney

and him

and made

amends

with Ky.

They told him

the password

was

“Password,"

And they asked

what was his

And he said,

with a smile,

intending to have

no secrets,

“It's simple,

it is

the

River

Brink.”