Short story

] No Charge For Love  ]

     Long ago, there lived a farmer who had puppies. One day he needed to sell some of his puppies. So he painted a sign advertising the four puppies and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy. “Sir,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

          The boy reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a handfull of change and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?”

          “Sure,” said the farmer.

          Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran four little balls of fur.

          The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared. This one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then, little puppy began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up……

”I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

          The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said. “Son you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these others dog would.”

          With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so, he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially-made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see, sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

          With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little puppy. Holding it carefully, he handed it to the little boy.

          “How much?” asked the little boy.

          “No charge,” answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love.”

Written by my speaking class teacher Mr. Fernandez