2008 MANY STORIES ONE VOICE ONLINE COLLECTION

Alan Martin, Age 44, United Kingdom

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SECRETS  by Alan Martin            

 

Joe lived in Liverpool. He went to a little school, with a big, untidy garden.

Joe was a happy, friendly boy. Joe was in a small class. Some of Joe’s classmates used wheelchairs, and had no speech, like Joe.

Lots of people told Joe their secrets. Joe had a brilliant memory!!

One day, Joe was playing football in the school playground. He hit the ball very hard, with the wheel of his chair. The ball flew high into the sky.

When it came down, it landed on the head of the gardener.

He said  “who kicked that?”    Joe wheeled up to him. He signed  “sorry!”

The gardener said “it’s OK. I’ve got a tough head.”  Joe laughed.

“What football team do you support Joe?” said the gardener.

Joe pointed to his red T shirt.  “So!!you’re a RED are you?”

“Football’s boring” the gardener said. Joe signed “thumbs down” to that idea.

“Can you keep a secret?” said Lotszy. (that was the gardener’s name)

he looked mysterious.  I’ve never told this to anyone. I’m safe telling you Joe. You can’t tell people. Then Lotszy told Joe a really ENORMOUS!!secret.  Joe went all hot and cold. He felt faint. It was a really HUGE secret.

Time passed, and Joe stayed at the same school, in the same class, with the same friends.  Some evenings Joe went to a club. He made lots more friends there. His “club friends” wanted Joe to talk to them. They collected money. They bought a communication aid for Joe.

He liked his new voice. Joe and his speech therapist worked very hard to learn how to use it.

What do you think Joe said first?   He said “YES” and “NO” because those are most important. “HELLO” and “GOODBYE.”  “EXCELLENT” and “RUBBISH.” “LIVERPOOL”   and “FOOTBALL.”  Then, he began putting words together. “I am a vegetarian.”  “I like chocolate milkshake.”

The others in his class, (who could not speak) wanted to talk, like Joe.

Then, Joe remembered something. Now was the time to tell the gardener’s story!

Joe went to find Lotszy. He told the gardener about his friends.

Lotszy did not speak. He picked up a big spade. He went to find the teacher. They started digging. They shouted for HELP.

“Come and see what we’ve found.”   The gardener, and the teacher, were covered in mud. They opened a big, rusty old chest. It was full of treasure.

Joe’s school got a big reward.

Joe said “buy communication aids for my friends, please!”

“What a great idea!” said everyone.

It cost lots of money to buy all the aids.

Joe got a reward too. With the reward money that was left, his school bought Joe a season ticket to Liverpool football matches. The gardener got an electric lawnmower.

The school garden was never untidy again.

 

            THE END.