男孩的使命

By+Anonymous+++青閏

In 1945, a 12-year-old boy saw something in a shop window that set his heart racing. But the price—five dollars—was far beyond Reuben Earles means. Five dollars would buy almost a weeks groceries for his family.

Nevertheless, he went in. Standing proudly and straight in his flour-sack shirt and washed-out trousers, he told the shopkeeper what he wanted, adding, “But I dont have the money right now. Can you please hold it for me for some time?” “Ill try,” the shopkeeper smiled. Reuben walked out and made up his mind to raise the five dollars by himself and not tell anybody.

Hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, Reuben had an idea. He ran towards the sound and stopped at a construction site. People built their own homes in Bay Roberts, using nails purchased in hessian sacks from a local factory. Sometimes the sacks were discarded in the flurry of building, and Reuben knew he could sell them back to the factory for five cents apiece.

That day he found two sacks, which he took to the factory and sold to the man in charge of packing nails. The boys hand tightly clutched the five-cent pieces as he ran the two kilometers home. Near his house stood the ancient barn that housed the familys goats and chickens. Reuben found a rusty soda tin and dropped his coins inside. Then he climbed into the loft of the barn and hid the tin beneath a pile of hay.

It was dinner time when Reuben got home. His father sat at the big kitchen table, working on fishing net. Dora was at the kitchen stove, ready to serve dinner as Reuben took his place at the table. He looked at his mother and smiled. Slim and beautiful, she was the center of the home, the glue that held it together. Her chores were never-ending, sewing clothes for her family on the old Singer treadle machine, cooking meals and baking bread, planting and tending a vegetable garden, milking the goats and scrubbing soiled clothes on a washboard. But she was happy. Her family and their well-being were her highest priority.

Every day after chores and school, Reuben scoured the town, collecting the hessian nail bags. On the day school closed for the summer, no student was more delighted than Reuben. Now he would have more time for his mission. All summer long, despite chores at home—weeding and watering the garden, cutting wood and fetching water—Reuben kept to his secret task. Then all too soon the garden was harvested, the vegetables canned and stored, and the school reopened.endprint

Soon the leaves fell and the winds blew cold and gusty from the bay. Reuben wandered the streets, diligently searching for his hessian treasures.

Finally spring burst into glorious green and Reubens spirits erupted. The time had come! He ran into the barn, climbed to the hayloft and uncovered the tin can. He poured the coins out and began to count. He needed twenty cents more. Could there be any sacks left anywhere in town? He had to find four and sell them before the day ended.

Reuben ran down Water Street.

When Reuben arrived at the factory, the sack buyer was about to lock up.

“Mister! Please dont close up yet.”

The man turned and saw Reuben, dirty and sweat stained.

“Come back tomorrow, boy.”

“Please, Mister. I have to sell the sacks now—please.”

The man heard a tremor in Reubens voice and could tell he was close to tears. The man took the sacks, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reubens hand. Reuben murmured a thank you and ran home.

Then, clutching the tin can, he headed for the shop. “I have the money,” he solemnly told the owner. The man went to the window and retrieved Reubens treasure. He wiped the dust off and gently wrapped it in brown paper. Then he placed the parcel in Reubens hands.

Racing home, Reuben burst through the front door. His mother was scrubbing the kitchen stove. “Here, Mum! Here!” Reuben exclaimed as he ran to her side. He placed a small box in her work-roughened hand. She unwrapped it carefully, to save the paper. A blue-velvet jewel box appeared. Dora lifted the lid, tears beginning to blur her vision. In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch was the word “Mother”.

It was Mothers Day, 1946. Dora had never received such a gift. She had no finery except her wedding ring. Speechless, she smiled radiantly and gathered her son into her arms.endprint