Red - A Children's Book

a short story by

KENNY B. HARRIS

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Red...

5

Little Red is, it is said, to be the very best

with

fire

in

any

circus

in

the

entire

world. People come from miles around just to see the young boy perform.

6

7

Aside from his parent’s black cat and a few broken toys, the only friend poor little Red ever had was a red bird that had been following his family’s circus around.

8

9

Red enjoyed being in the spotlight a great deal, but because the circus was continually

traveling

it

was

very

difficult

for him to make any true friends.

10

11

On a particularly lonely day while Red was wandering through the forest just outside his family’s circus, he saw the red bird sitting in a tree. He quickly decided to go back and fetch a cage, in order to catch the bird and keep it with him as company.

12

13

He brought out all his old friends and decided to make a meal of mud pies for the occasion.

When

the

meal

was

finally

ready

he began to force feed the caged bird until something began to happen...

14

15

Red

screamed

as

he

saw

his

reflection

in the empty spoon that he had fed the bird with. He could see his own face begin to twist and distort into an ugly mess...

16

17

In desperation, Red quickly made his

way

to

the

kitchen

to

find

something

that might please the bird. He scrambled to retrieve the box of his favorite cereal from the shelf and promptly returned to the caged red bird.

18

19

Again Red attempted to force feed the bird, causing his face to become even more disfigured.

In

desperation,

Red

began

to

cry.

He clumsily opened the cage door and the frightened

bird

flew

out

the

window

and

into a tree in Red’s front yard.

20

21

On it’s way to the tree’s nearest branch the bird noticed a fresh worm crawling free from the earth. Seeing the bird’s interest, little Red quickly grabbed the wriggling pink worm to feed the bird.

22

23

As soon as the last bit of slimy, pink worm disappeared into the bird’s beak Red began to feel his face changing again, only this time it was changing back into place.

24

25

From that day on Red kept a can of worms ready and waiting for the bird and every

day

the

bird

would

appear

and

fill

up on the worms that Red brought. In return the bird would keep Red company for as long as Red desired.

26

27

THE END