“I'm Rich!”
Little Billy found a penny on the street. He bent over and picked up the dirty, copper piece. “Hot dog!” Billy shouted as he ran the penny to his mother. “I'm rich.”
Billy's mother, who sorted through the apples in the sidewalk cart, took the penny and handed it to the seller of the apples. Billy's mother handed him an apple and said, “now you're poor again, but at least you won't go hungry today.”
Billy looked down at the apple. “Yes, mother.” he said, gloomily. “It's not as good as a penny, though.”
“You're better off with that apple.” his mother said. “Besides, maybe you'll find another coin.”
“I sure do hope so.”
A little further down the road, Billy's eagle eyes caught a glimpse of something shiny under a car parked on the street. He bent down and picked up a dime. “Hot dog!” he shouted. “Now I'm really rich.”
He caught up with his mother, who was staring longingly into a baker's window. Billy tugged on his mother's skirt. “Look here!” he said. “You were right. I found another one, and I'm rich again.”
She took the dime, walked into the store and purchased a loaf of bread. She left the store, with the large loaf under her arm. “Not anymore.” she said. “Now your Father and I won't starve today.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Maybe you'll get lucky again,” his mother said, “and you'll find more money.”
“If I do, could I keep some?”
“Of course.” She smiled and patted Billy on the head. “Besides, I let you have that apple, didn't I?”
“Yes, mother.”
Billy was disheartened, but he kept his eyes open for any more loose change. While they waited under the elevated train, Billy heard something fall onto the sidewalk. He looked back and saw a quarter-dollar only feet away from him. He picked it up and ran back to mother. “Mother, I found more. Can I keep some, please?”
His mother took the quarter and walked into a department store. She walked out with undergarments. “Sorry.” she said. “Your father and I needed some clothes. You can keep some money next time. Besides, I let you have that apple, didn't I?”
“Yes, mother.”
Billy and his mother were two blocks away from their home when they heard the police sirens. The cops were in a full-speed chase. As the speeding car and the police passed by, Billy noticed a small bag fall out of the speeding car. After the cars had disappeared around the corner, Billy ran and picked up the bag. He opened it. It was full of gold coins and silver dollars. His eyes bulged as he ogled the huge and heavy pile of money in his hands.
Billy glanced over to his mother, who was looking into the window of the travel agency. He looked back at the sack, and decided to give the bag to his mother. “I was rich.” he said, handing the bag to her. “Here you go, mother. Should we give this to the police man?”
Billy's mother turned around. “Can't you see I'm...” she stopped, and wiped the moisture off her face, “where did you get that?”
“I found it on the street.” Billy said. “the speeding car dropped it.”
His mother took the bag, and smiled from ear to ear. “Go get your father.” she told Billy. “He should be at home. Tell him I have a surprise; that our dreams are coming true. I'll wait here.”
“Are your dreams really coming true, mother?” Billy asked.
“Billy's mother pushed him towards the house, and grimaced. “I told you to go get your father.” she said. “Now go. Mommy has business to attend to.”
“Yes, mother.”
Billy ran all the way home. Billy's father was at home, as his mother had said. He had upon his head a bag of ice, and in his hand a bottle. Billy tugged on his father's arm. “Mother wants to see you now.”
Billy's father shook Billy off. “Can't you see I have a headache, boy?” he growled.
“Mother is waiting near the travel agency.” Billy said. “I gave her a bag, and she wants you down there. She has a surprise for you. She said that your dreams are coming true.”
“Fine. Just a minute.” Billy's father threw a shirt over his stained undershirt. He followed Billy to where his mother waited. She had the bag, along with two envelopes.
“What took so long?” Billy's mother asked. “We don't have much time.”
“Sorry, mother.” Billy said.
Billy's mother handed Billy a letter. “Why don't you be a good boy and give his to the priest in the church down the street. We'll be there to pick you up. Just wait for us.”
“Can I have my penny back, please?”
“After you give the letter.” mother said. “Then we can get ice cream, too, and cake.”
“Hot dog!” Billy ran down the road to Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. The church was quiet and dimly lit. He walked down the center aisle, looking for the priest. He found the priest at the communion rail.
“Excuse me.” Billy said in a low tone. “I have a letter for you from my mother.”
The priest took the letter. “Thank you.” he said. “What is your name, my son?”
“Billy.” he said.
The priest opened the letter. He read quietly as Billy paced a few feet away. The priest shook his head. “I don't understand this.” he said. “Your mother wrote this?”
“She did.” Billy said. “When she comes to pick me up, I'm getting my penny back.” Billy quickly recounted his story, with the penny, the dime, he quarter and then the bag of gold and silver. The priest listened to Billy, and was amazed at the boy's intelligence and clarity.
The good Father smiled and nodded. He had not the heart to tell Billy the contents of his mother's letter:
“I'll keep the bag of gold, you can keep the boy. I'm rich, and I'm off to see the world.”
“So I'm going to wait here for my mother to return.” Billy said.
The priest nodded his head. “Well, in that case, let us both go to the rectory. I think I have some ice cream you can have. My fellow priests, Father Scott and Father Novak, would love to meet you, too.”
“Gee, thanks.” Billy smiled. “Won't mother be surprised when she shows up. Can she have some ice cream, too? She loves ice cream, almost as much as she loves me...”
Topic: "Im Rich" : Short Story (Read 1620 times)