Charlie & Cousin
Johnny Run Away to Africa
by CHARLES
M. DUNN
ONCE
Upon a TIME there was Charlie a twelve year old that like’s
doing things most children his age enjoy. One of his favorite things to do is to pass time by playing baseball.
He is an only child but in good spirits most of the time. His Father Charles and Mother Barbara
work to pay bills so Charlie has had to learn to play most of the time alone. They live in near the beach
which has a busy shipping harbor. It is summertime and Charlie’s parents thought it would be a good
idea if his cousin Johnny came to visit for a short stay while out of school so Charlie would have someone to play with while
they were at work. Cousin Johnny is a follower and he and Charlie get along very well they both love to
play baseball. The neighborhood park has a nice baseball diamond overlooking the Harbor. Sometimes they
just sit and watch the boats come and go. One time after school Charlie walked to the harbor to get a closer
look at the ships he would see from the park. Charlie is sitting on the front porch watching the sunset
over the harbor. “Charlie…Charlie
your cousin Johnny will be here soon come on inside and get cleaned up,” calls out Charlie’s mom from the front
porch. He was just outside throwing a baseball up into the sky practicing his catches in the back yard
excited that he would have someone to play with this summer.A car
pulls up in front of the house, its cousin Johnny and he jumps out of the car and runs for Charlie. Charlie
pushes the screen door open and dashes down the steps for a warm embrace. “I’m so glad to see
you Johnny how you like my new baseball glove,” says Charlie. “Wow, I want one just like
yours, but I still have this old one for now. Let’s throw some balls you can check out my new pitch. I finally learned
how to throw a curveball,” says Johnny.
