The puddle



There was a big puddle in the street where Gary lived. The puddle loved to play with Gary, and Gary loved to play in the puddle. But Gary's mother was not too pleased. "You are not allowed to play in the puddle," she said stealthy as she pulled off his wet clothes.

Gary didn't listen to his mother. The next day he was out jumping in the deep puddle again. Then his mother came with a broom and swept the water over the road. "Please don't destroy my puddle," Gary cried.

The puddle tried hard to bring back the water, but Gary's mother was persistent and continued to sweep the puddle until it was completely empty. She swept away some sweat from her forehead. "Finally I'm done with you, you lousy, dirty puddle," she said and carried her crying child home.

During the night, the puddle sucked new water up from the depths, and the next morning it was as big as before. Gary jumped into the puddle with joy and the puddle splashed its dirty water far up Gary's legs.

Gary's mother was so angry when Gary came home, she ordered a truck of asphalt. When it arrived strong men filled the puddle with warm asphalt until there wasn't as much as a drop of water left.

Gary mourned the loss of his dear puddle. He often went to the place where the puddle used to be. The summer was hot, the street desolate and unpleasant.

Late that summer, there was a water shortage in town. Finally there was no more water in the tub. "We are going to die of thirst," Gary's mother remarked. "If you hadn't filled my puddle, it could have helped us now," Gary said. "Yes, the puddle," his mother said. "Maybe it is still there, under the road." She brought a pickaxe and hurried down to where the puddle had been.

She immediately started to dig up the puddle again, but there was no sign of water. Finally Gary's mother lay down on her stomach and shouted: "Dearest puddle, please come back and give us something to drink." Then she heard a wet voice from the deep. "You shall have water, but you must promise to let Gary play as much as he likes with me." Gary's mother tought a moment about all the wet and dirty clothes, but she was so thirsty that she couldn't say no. "Oh yes, dear puddle. He's allowed to play with you as much as he likes if you give us water to drink."

In the depths of the puddle it started to gurgle, and up came clear fresh water. Gary and his mother drank all they wanted, and then Gary jumped into the puddle to play.

© Martin Nygaard