Johnny eggs was up for retirement he was a landfill worker.
Mostly operated the bulldozer and a tractor the only one who could do maintenance on either.That day he had invited a poor family who lived near the entrance to the landfill in.
“So have you got something for us today Mr Eggs?” Little Patty whales asked.
“Well come down and have a look.” Johnny said.
Little Patty whales and Sarah followed Johnny to an area of the landfill where things that were unbroken or still intact lay.
There was a red tricycle, a mannequin and a really cute looking Teddy bear albeit with a few scars.
Next to it all was a deep box. Johnny crouched over as Mother Jones arrived on the excuse that she didn’t want her children bothering old Johnny Eggs.
But she never trusted any man with her children. That was Mother Jones for you.
Johnny’s nimble fingers opened the box lid exposing hundreds of in their packet hot wheels toy cars.
Patty couldn’t contain himself. “Can we open one please? Please?”
“You can open as many as you like” Johnny said grinning with no space between his wrinkled face.
Patty started dancing around holding the small box in his clammy hand, motioning it as if it were an aeroplane. Mother Jones tapped Sarah, Sarah looked up at her. Mother Jones motioned while Johnny’s back was turned. Putting on a smile and waving her hands.
Sarah whispered. “Oh you want me to act excited.”
Then Sarah too picked out a car and started dancing as her step brother was.
Johnny looked at Mother Jones, “These moments are precious Mrs Jones. They won’t be as happy as this everyday.
Patty whales just about ripped the little box open so he could get his hands on the little red car inside. His mother said “Patty let me open it for you when we get home.”
Patty looked at her. Then his glance slowly descended as if he had just been disappointed.
Sarah continued imitating what Patrick had been doing.
Trying to keep her giggle back as she was three years older than Patrick and her cynical nature made Patrick’s behaviour seem absolutely ridiculous.
“Do I owe you anything for this Johnny?”
“No, Just let me come apple picking in your yard there come next month.” Johnny said.
“Well, they are already putting on fruit. Come this weekend me and the kids will be out, but you can make it over the back fence real easy.” Mother Jones said cheerily. Johnny nodded his head with that same full grin that beamed. He was pretty much happy all year.
It took him a week to adjust to the first snow, but after that he was just as glad to be alive as he was in summer.
Mother Jones had Sarah carry the box home, partially from seeing her little act as a dig to Patty whale’s free spirit.
They got in the door, and Mother Jones did some calculating in here head.
Patty sat in the wooden chair observing his mother.
“I’m not gonna get one am I.”
Mother Jone’s knew the routine and quickly grabbed the box with his sticky handprint on.
Ripped it open slowly and smiled down at Patty. “Sure you are my boy. This one is for you.
She called Sarah over to use her phone calculator.
“We might get up to four fifty for this lot.” Mother Jones said gleefully.
“I guess we better be grateful to Old Johnny.” Sarah said sarcastically.
“I guess we better.” Mother Jones said, also being sarcastic, as she balanced on gout bitten ankles and took a bottle of Johnny walker out from the kitchen shelf.
