My Finest Writing

Sometimes I get a bit depressed when I consider what I've done with my life so far.  There are many people who've achieved great success in life by the time they reached my age but so far I'm just plugging along.  However, it may also be somewhat of a mixed blessing achieving greatness early in life because for the rest of your life you have to try and surpass the lofty heights already reached.  I haven't reached lofty heights, but I do have the curse of knowing that it's unlikely that I will ever be able to write a finer story than one that I've already written.

I stumbled across a copy of it this evening while looking through some old mementos at my mom's place. It's called "The Snake" and I wrote it in grade two.  I think you'll enjoy it.

The Snake

by Eddie Smith

Dedicated to Graham, and Janna and Lisa.

Once upon a time there was a rattle snake.  She was a smart snake.  She could tell things apart.  She could even tell two wasps apart.  But she could never answer this question.  Guess what it was?  How to have a baby.  She did not like that at all because everyone wanted to know how to have one, so they asked her.  She did not want to be embarrassed, so she would say that she was busy and go on her way.

One day she was slithering along when she saw a male snake.  He looked very wise.  So she asked him how to have a baby.  This is what he said.
"Please show me your house and let me live with you and I will tell you."
So she let him live with her.  She was pleased to have him in her house.
One day she screamed.  The boy wiggled as fast as he could into her underground room.  And there were some shiny white eggs.  He was proud to have some children.  He counted one, two, three, four, five, six seven, seven shiny eggs.  The male said that you have to mate to have babies.

One day the male was out hunting when he caught a mouse and swallowed it whole.  Then he went home.  When he got there he saw seven little baby snakes, four boys and three girls.  They loved to be strong.  But they always were aware of a hawk or an eagle that may be flying around.  They grew up healthy and lived happily ever after.

The End.

There are some fine illustrations as well, but you'll just have to take my word on it.