By eliz100
Have you ever heard the saying, I wish I were a fly on the wall? So that you could listen to what is being said or see what is happening. Well, let me introduce myself: I am the fly on the wall in the Hardy family. My name is Freddy. Freddy the Fly. I consider myself a super fly since I have outlived the lifespan of a normal fly, which is two to four weeks. Flossie Fly was my first love, but she died an untimely death due to a quick fly swatter. Since that time, I have been a bachelor.
I live with the Hardy family. Let me introduce them. First, there is Mr. Joseph Hardy, usually known as Joe. He owns and runs a hardware store. At six foot two with broad shoulders, he was a former football player.
Juliette Hardy works part-time as a nurse at the community hospital. She is a petite, natural blonde. Everybody calls her Julie. Julie is pregnant with their third child.
Joey is twelve years old and in the seventh grade at St. Cecelia Elementary School. Schoolwork is not his favorite thing to do. , he would rather be outside with a ball.
Jenny Hardy is nine years old and in the fourth grade. Her best friends are twins, Zama and Zyla. They like playing Barbies at Jenny’s house because she has the Barbie Dream House.
Last but not least, they have a chocolate lab named Rudy. He thinks his job is to catch me. I am faster and wiser than he is. I usually stay high on the wall. Sometimes when I am bored, I like to tease Rudy by moving down the wall and flying just above his head. He goes crazy, barking and jumping. Someone in the family always says, “Settle down, Rudy.” Rudy loses again.
From what I have heard, the Hardys live in a small town called Rock-Away. It is near Toms River New Jersey. Rock-Away is closer to the Atlantic Ocean. The winds off the Atlantic Ocean can be mighty. So I stay inside most of the time. I venture out to the screened porch if the wind is calm.
Today is November 1, 1990. It is a Holy Day in the Catholic Church. Joey and Jenny are happy to have the day off from school.
“Mom, can Zama and Zyla come over after lunch? We are dressing up our Barbies in formal dresses for the gala. We only have one Ken so he has to escort us all.” Freddie knew Julie would say yes, which she did. The next question came from Joey. “Mom, can I go to my school and toss baskets with the guys?” “Freddy heard Mom say, “Sure, be careful.” I heard the door slam. When the kids are out, Rudy takes a nap. OH! That is my cue to land near the ceiling and nap also.
i
"Mom, where are you?'
"In the kitchen, please come here. I have something
to tell you
| Author Notes | My goal is to write every day in November. |
By eliz100
I woke up when Joey came in and slammed the door. I heard Julie say she had something to tell him. “Maybe curiosity killed the cat, but it won’t get me. I am Freddy Super Fly.” Freddy flew into the kitchen and found a nice place to land, high on the pale yellow wall.
“How was your basketball game?”
“It was fine, but Anthony wasn’t there.”
“That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Anthony’s mother called. She told me a car hit Anthony at the corner of Maple Ave. and Main Street.. He is pretty banged up with broken bones, a concussion, and a chest tube. His broken rib pierced his lung, and he is on a breathing machine.”
“Mom,” Joey croaked out as his eyes became tearful,” Anthony is my best friend. What do I do.?”
Joey sat forward in the kitchen chair with his hands folded on the table,
You might think a fly does not have feelings when Flossie died from a fly swatter. I was sad, and if you had looked into my eyes with a magnifying glass, you would have seen tears rolling down my cheeks. Some people say men/boys should not cry. "My question is: do women and men experience sadness differently? I don’t think so."
Back in the kitchen, Joey is trying to hold back the tears. Julie moved close to him and put her arm around his shoulder. The dam burst, and tears were running down his cheeks.
Julie said, “When Dad gets home, he will take you to visit Anthony.” Joey dragged himself out of the chair and shuffled out of the kitchen
As he was leaving the kitchen, he said, “Call me when Dad gets home.”
I returned to my usual landing spot on the Spring Rain light green wall in the living room. One issue about being a fly, even Freddy the Super Fly, is that I have no sense of time. I park my tiny fly butt on the wall until something happens.
The next thing I know, in walks Joe Hardy.. He is wearing his usual work outfit, blue denim overalls, and a blue T-shirt. The bib pockets hold two construction pencils and a pair of glasses for close reading. Julie met him just under my spot on the wall with a quick kiss and a hug.
“How is Joey?”
“He is having a hard time.”
“I am going upstairs to talk with him.”
| Author Notes | I am writing a chapter book that will appeal to boys |
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| © Copyright 2015 eliz100 All rights reserved. eliz100 has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
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