Short Stories

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“Hey, Luke! What does your dad do?”
Luke looked around at the many faces gazing at him. How could he tell the boys in his class that his dad was a nurse? They would laugh at him for sure. After all, their dads had cool jobs like piloting and racecar driving. His dad had a girl’s job.
“We’re waiting,” Donny said impatiently.
Luke pulled his fingers through his sandy-blonde hair and let out a big sigh. “Well, um, he’s got a really cool job too.”
“Like what?” asked Donny.
“Yea, tell us!” cried the other boys.
Luke was about the tell them when he noticed a NASA poster on the classroom wall. A huge smile lit his face, and his eyes began to twinkle mischievously. “He’s an astronaut.”
“I don’t believe you,” Donny said. “I want some proof.”
Luke’s smile faltered, but only for an instant. He pulled his small shoulders back and raised his head high. “My dad’s been to the moon, and he brought back a moon rock. It’s on my dresser in my bedroom.”
“Oohs” and “Aahs” erupted from several of the boys, but Donny was still not convinced. “Fine,” he said. “Bring it to school tomorrow. We want to see this moon rock.”
RRRIIIINNNGGG! As the eight o’clock bell rang, the students hurried to their desks. Mrs. Carmichael, a short round woman with dark hair and round glasses, entered the classroom.
“Okay,” said Mrs. Carmichael. “As you all know, this week is Career Week. Each day we will be studying about different jobs and the people who do those jobs. Some of your parents will be visiting our classroom and telling us about their employment. We will also be writing reports about your parents’ occupations.”
Loud moans and groans were heard throughout the classroom. Some students had a look of absolute horror on their faces, while others dropped face-first onto their desktop.
“Now, now!” Mrs. Carmichael exclaimed. “Don’t worry. It will be fun. Plus, on Friday, we will have a very special conclusion to Career Week. We will be going on a field trip to Career World.”
At this announcement, the entire class looked thrilled except for Luke. He was still trying to figure out how he was going to get out of the mess he had made. His expression was grim as he determined he had to give Donny proof, even if he did not have any.
That afternoon when Luke got home, he immediately went to his mother’s garden. While on his hands and knees in the dirt, his mother called to him from the house. “Luke, what are you doing?”
He jumped up and looked at his mom sheepishly. “Um, I was just looking for something. I’ll be inside in just a minute.”
“Okay,” Mom replied as she turned and went back into the house.
Luke resumed his position in the garden and began to dig with his fingers. After several minutes, he pulled up a large, gray rock. He turned it over and over in his hand as he studied it carefully. He took it inside and covered it with a layer of baby powder to give it a dusty appearance. Laying the rock on his dresser, Luke walked toward the kitchen.
If Donny wants proof, he muttered, I’ll give him proof.
The next morning, all of the boys gathered around Luke’s desk, trying to glimpse his moon rock. Luke held it up proudly for all to see. Donny was a little shocked by the evidence, but the other boys just stood mesmerized.
“Yep,” Luke said. “This is the moon rock I was telling you about. My dad, the astronaut, brought it back from the moon just for me. Pretty cool, huh?”
The boys could only nod. As the school bell rang, they scurried off to their desks. Luke felt pretty good as he took his seat.
“Good morning, class!” Mrs. Carmichael said. “Today we have some parents visiting with us. They are here to tell us about their occupations. Let’s give them a round of applause.”
As the students clapped, Mrs. Carmichael opened the door to let the parents in. Luke froze and stared in horror. Standing there in his mint green nurse’s uniform was Mr. Thompson, Luke’s dad.
What’s he doing here? Luke thought as he looked around at his classmates. None of them seemed to notice his distress. Good! Maybe they won’t realize he’s my dad. As if on cue, his dad waved at him enthusiastically. I’m doomed!
“Hey, Luke,” Donny said tauntingly. “Is that your dad, the astronaut? I like his outfit!”
“Be quiet, Donny,” Luke exclaimed as he buried his face in his hands and did not look up for the remainder of the day.
“Dad, how could you?” Luke shouted as he stormed through the front door that afternoon.
Luke’s father looked up from his newspaper. “ What’s wrong?”
Luke plopped down on the plaid couch across from his dad. “Why were you at my school today?”
“Oh, that. Well, after you left for school this morning, your teacher, Mrs. Carmichael called. She told me that one of the parents she had scheduled for today was not going to be able to make it. She asked me if I would fill in. Since I didn’t have to work today, I told her I would be happy to. Why? Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Luke mumbled. “It’s just that, well, I . . . Never mind. It’s not important.”
“Son, Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yea, I’m fine, Dad. I think I’m just tired. I’ll probably be fine after a good night’s sleep.”
However, Luke was not fine the next day or the day that followed, and Friday morning was not much better. Luke tried to ignore the comments that were being thrown at him as he made his way to his desk. He collapsed into his seat and stared straight ahead.
“Quiet please,” Mrs. Carmichael said. “We need to start loading the bus. Remember we’re going to Career World today. Be sure you have your lunches before getiing on the bus.”
The students nearly ran out of the classroom. They pushed and shoved to get the seats they wanted on the bus. Luke followed the crowd. By the time he got to the bus, the only seat left was the one next to Mrs. Carmichael.
“Great,” Luke muttered. “This week just keeps getting better.”
Later that day, Mrs. Carmichael’s fourth-grade class stopped for lunch at a nearby park. Luke continued to separate himself from his classmates in an attempt to avoid more ridicule. He sat alone with his thoughts at a picnic table settled underneath a huge weeping willow. He only roused when he heard Mrs. Carmichael’s shrill voice.
“Alright, everybody. It’s time to get back on the bus. Quickly now! Be sure to throw your trash away.”
This time Luke was the first one on the bus, but as he settled in at the back, he noticed that the seat next to Mrs. Carmichael was still empty. Who’s missing, he thought as he began to do a mental roll call.
Again his thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Mrs.Carmichael. “Has anyone seen Donny? He seems to be missing?”
Several of the students shrugged their shoulders. Others shook their heads. One boy hollered out, “The last time I saw him, he was swimming in the lake. That was about ten minutes ago.”
“He was out in the lake?” Mrs. Carmichael exclaimed. “He could be hurt. I want everyone to split up into groups of two and look for Donny. Do not leave the park, and whatever you do, do not go into the lake.”
The search had only gone on for a few minutes when a shout rent the air. “Over here, everyone! I found him!”
Luke ran to where several of his classmates were standing. His gaze followed that of his classmates, and his heart flip-flopped. Mr. Wheeler, the bus driver, emerged from the lake holding Donny’s limp body. Worry etched Mr. Wheeler’s face as he looked to Mrs. Carmichael. “He’s not breathing,” he said.
Before he realized what he was doing, Luke had moved to straddle Donny’s unconscious form. Placing both hands under Donny’s breastbone, Luke began administering CPR. Push, push, push, breathe. Push, push, push, breathe. Push, push, push, breathe. The minutes seemed to have stopped, but Luke kept on until finally Donny coughed and began spitting up water. Luke turned Donny onto his side to allow him to clear his lungs.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Mrs. Carmichael muttered as she released the breath she had been holding.
“Hooray,” one of the students cried out. “You did it, Luke. You saved him! Where did you learn how to do that?”
Luke stood up and brushed the leaves from his pant legs. After looking down at his hands that were still shaking from fear and exertion, he lifted his head and smiled proudly at his classmates. “My dad taught me, and I want to be just like him when I grow up.”

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