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STORY TIME: Poor Percy
“Percy dear, your school bus will be here any minute,” Percy quickly hid his finger behind as he heard his mum coming.
“Ready, mum,” he fled downstairs and receiving a kiss from his mum, he was out. Percy’s mother watched him leave with a sweet smile and satisfaction on her face. Of all the children she had ever seen, none was as fine as her son. A polite, gentle, intelligent, responsible and neat boy of six years; with no secrets. A very rare species of its kind, isn’t it? But little did she know that her son had one dark secret that he could not let anyone find out ... Poor Percy!
“Hey, Perce, whatcha doin’?” It was playtime at school when Rick showed up. Percy quickly put his hand under his leg.
“Nothin’,” was the hasty reply.
Rick felt something confusing about Percy but he was too preoccupied. “Did you watch that show on the telly last night?”
“What show?”
“The one about palmistry.”
Percy told Rick that he’d missed it.
“Man, that was cool! They told all about how to read hands, and went on the streets meeting people and proving it. Here, I’ll try on you.”
Percy eagerly forwarded his hand. But Rick said:
“No you also need to read the left one, you know.”
Percy gulped; his left hand was the one under his leg. No way he could show that to Rick, or anyone for that matter. Poor Percy!
“Um, Rick, I think I need to run to the loo. I’ll catch ya later, bye!” And before Rick could say anything, Percy was gone.
In the toilets Percy washed down the dirty little secret from his finger in the basin. Turning the tap off he stared at his little finger and sighed. This wasn’t good, he thought, this could lead him into trouble. If someone would find out, his reputation would be ruined. His parents would be so shocked. He had always heard them proudly praising him in front of others. And if his friends would find out ... Percy shuddered as he imagined the mocking laugh.
He had tried to abandon his dark habit, but it clung to him like an addiction. Poor Percy!
But that was not enough. He didn’t know of the dangers that awaited him until that night.
Percy had a slight nausea that evening, but in the excitement of the splendid dinner mum had prepared he forgot all about it. His body had to remind him itself, when half-an-hour after dinner he went to the toilet and vomited all that he’d gulped down earlier. And after that a seemingly endless story of stomach- aches and vomiting followed. Poor Percy!
Both his parents grew very worried. Their son had always had an excellent health and never complained of so much as a headache. They took him to a hospital. Even on the way Percy kept vomiting in a plastic bag in the car. Poor Percy!
In the hospital emergency, the doctor had to check Percy first as his vomiting made other patients feel sicker.
The doctor got Percy admitted to the hospital. As Percy would vomit anything he took by mouth, he had to get his medicines injected. Poor Percy!
All his friends, neighbours and relatives came to see him. All asking the same question, “How did it happen?” Doctors said that he had been in an unclean environment, so the bacteria attacked and made him ill. But nobody could believe it for a boy as tidy as Percy. No one knew the truth, but Percy! Poor Percy!
Whenever he heard people talking about his illness, he felt guilty. And guess what? In all his misery, Percy found he’d given up his bad habit. Now the one task before him was to come clean before his parents. So when he found himself alone with his parents, he gathered up all his courage. “Mum, dad, I need to tell you something,” he began. “I think I can tell the reason why I fell ill.
It’s all because of a bad habit of mine. I hope that you’ll forgive me as I’ve learnt a lesson and have given it up.” He took a deep breath and fixing his eyes on his toes, revealed the only secret he’d ever kept. “I fell into the habit of ... of ... picking my nose,” his voice was low. “I suppose the bacteria in the filth that remained in my hands went to my stomach whenever I ate something.”
That was enough confession. Muttering “I’m sorry” he hid his face in his mum’s arms. Feeling his dad’s fingers still running in his hair and his mum’s kiss on his forehead, Percy knew he was forgiven. And Percy made a promise to himself: never to keep a secret from his parents. He had already paid a big price for it. Poor Percy!
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