Once
Inside
Steven
eyed his allotment. It was so overgrown as, due to the weather he
hadn't been able to get out and start digging. Today the sun shone, so,
where to begin.
Earlier
he had walked past Mr. Perfect's plot. His neat rows stood to
attention as if they were on parade. He rarely spoke, just nodded if
you caught his eye.
Steven
piled his tools in his ancient wheelbarrow and got to work. After an
hour or so he felt someone watching, and slowly pulled himself up.
Smiling at the stranger, who turned out to be a young lad, said
"Hello, and what's your name?". "Um...its Joe"
replied the lad. "and how old are you then?" "17 sir".
No one had addressed Steven as Sir in many years. " are you
helping someone?". " Not really. My father doesn't like me
helping, he says I get in the way." Which one is your father?"
he inquired. Of course, it had to be Mr. Perfect didn't it. Well, you
are more than welcome to do some weeding and digging if you want
something to do. Joe's face lit up. "Lets have a cup of tea
first". He had all kinds of treats in his tiny shed that the
Missus didn't know about.
"how
do you know when to plant the seeds" asked Joe. Well. If you
read the instructions on the packet, it tells you". Looking
shame faced, Joe hung his head. "I'm not good at reading".
He said. Steve wondered how a 17 year old had not been taught at
school. "I was supposed to get special tuition but it never
happened". He muttered. Do you know your letters? Look at that
packet and see the big letters, the first one is B.
E
A.
N, and S. Beans!". Joe read out
each
letter, BEANS. They spent the next hour or so going through all the
seed packets. Steve couldn't understand as Joe seemed to pick it up
quite fast.
Joe,
Joe where are you?" came a loud voice. "don't annoy people
when they are busy" Mr. Perfect said crossly. Joe's expression
changed,down went his head and shoulders slumped as he joined his
father.
The
next day was lovely and sunny, so Steve decided he would get the
whole bed dug over. He had barely begun when Joe showed up. My father
isn't coming today, he said, " can I help you dig?".
Over
the Spring and early summer months Joe learned every vegetable and
fruit that Steve grew, and even printed some labels. Its amazing what
a little encouragement can do, thought Steve.
One
day some flyers were delivered to the allotment holders. Steve said
"what’s it say then?" Joe briefly panicked, then slowly
read out "Garden show in 2 weeks, bring your biggest and best."
As he looked up smiling, Mr Perfect walked by. Staring at Joe he
said" The school always said you were too thick to read, I think
I'll have a word with them". Joe looked at him straight in the
eyes " you would never listen to me Dad I tried to tell you"
trailing off. This time it was Mr. Perfect's shoulders who slumped
down as he walked back to his plot.
It
was the big day. After the judges had finished the crowd surged
towards the tent. Once inside they made their way to the vegetable
tables. "Look" Joe exclaimed "1st.
Prize...and I can read it!!!
