LaureatesKids

Scottie walked outside the store
to find Merlin waiting there
reading the morning paper
without a single care.

“What are you reading,” Scottie asked as he had yet to learn to read.

“Quack,” Merlin answered, but for those of you who still don’t speak Water Fowl, I’ll translate. What he said was, I’m reading the movie listings.

“Cool,” Scottie replied, “I like movies. Are there any good movies playing?”

As usual, Merlin answered, “Quack,” but what he meant was, My favorite, Donald Duck.

“You want to go see it?”

“Quack,” Merlin replied, but by now you probably know that means, Yes, right after we eat.

The two of them they walked along
to the shade of a tall oak tree
where Scottie opened up his bag
to rest dinner on his knee.

He opened up the crackers,
stuck one in the peanut butter
but when he fed it to Merlin,
poor Merlin could only shudder...

“Merlin, are you okay?” Merlin could only shake his head, no.

“Is something wrong with the food?” Scottie asked. You could tell by the sound of his voice that Scottie was really worried. Merlin could only nod his head, yes.

“Is your bill stuck?” Scottie asked. Again, Merlin nodded his head, yes.

“Here, let me help you,” Scottie said as he gently pulled Merlin’s bill open, “There, are you better now?”

“QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!” Merlin shouted as loud as he could shout, but what he said was, Are you trying to kill me? What is that stuff-- glue?

“I’m sorry,” Scottie mumbled, “I forgot you might not be able to eat peanut butter. Maybe you should just eat crackers instead.”

To which Merlin agreed, “Quack.”