LaureatesKids

After dinner, the two of them walked to the movie theater where Merlin’s favorite movie star, Donald Duck, was staring in a feature film along with Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto. “I’ll take two tickets,” Scottie said to the man in the ticket booth.

“The duck gets in free if you let him sit on your lap,” the man said.

“Quack,” Merlin said. Do I still need to explain what he meant? Let’s see a show of hands of all you readers out there who still can’t speak Water Fowl. Let’s see, one, two, three, four, five... Wait, I can see there’s still several of you who have yet to learn the language so I’ll translate. Merlin said, Thanks Man. See how easy that was? Stick with me and you’ll be speaking Water Fowl in no time.

“How much is one ticket?” Scottie asked.

“Five dollars,” the man answered, “plus tax.”

“I don’t have any tacks,” Scottie said handing the man all his money. “Is this enough?”

“Oh no,” the man said, “you’ll need a lot more than that. Bring your cute duck and come back when you’ve got more money, okay?”

“Okay,” Scottie said as he and Merlin turned to walk away, “Sorry we bothered you, Mister.”

“It’s okay,” the man said, “I like ducks too.”

“Quack,” Merlin added.

The two of them walked on down the street wondering how they might get enough money to go see Donald Duck until they came upon a park bench that was under the shade of a big tree. It was there they decided to sit and rest, watching all the people pass by for what would seem like hours, but was probably no more than a few minutes. Neither said a word until they looked up to see a man holding a small box standing there in front of them. “Hey Kid,” the man said, “you want to earn five dollars?”

“Sure,” Scottie replied.

“Quack?” asked Merlin.

“Okay, Duck,” the man said, “all you and the kid gotta do is watch this here little box for me until I get back in about an hour or so. Do you think you can do that?”

“Quack,” Merlin answered with confidence.

“Good,” the man said. “Now you can’t let anything happen to this box and whatever you do you can’t open it, understand?”

“Quack.” That meant, Yes, I understand.

“What about you, Kid? Can you do it?”

“Yes, Sir,” Scottie replied, “we’ll be right here with your box when you get back.”

“Good,” the man said as he placed the box on the bench between Scottie and Merlin and started walking away. “I’ll see yous two in about an hour.”

The man had hardly gotten out of sight when the box began to hop about on the bench. Scottie and Merlin were astonished to see the box hop off the bench then start hopping away. “Come on,” Scottie shouted as he hopped to the ground, “We gotta catch it before it gets away!”

“Quack,” Merlin agreed as he leapt to the ground in pursuit of the strange hopping box.