A story based on something a friend told me about his childhood.
A Sack of Frogs
As John pulled into the driveway, he could see little Billy sitting on the porch steps crying. He got out of the car and said, “What’s the matter, son?”
Billy only cried harder and turned his face away.
Beth walked out of the house. “He’s crying because he was cheated by the big kid whose family moved into the house up the street that has been for rent.”
“What happened, Billy?” John asked, but Billy kept crying and wouldn’t look at his father.
“He came home in tears a few minutes ago, and I finally got the story out of him. That boy sold him what he said was a paper sack of small frogs for a quarter. But when Billy looked inside, there were no frogs but only some gravel that sounded like frogs when the boy shook the sack. The boy wouldn’t give Billy his money back.”
“All right, Billy,” John said, “Stop that damned blubbering and get in the car. We’re going to get your quarter back right now.”
Billy only cried harder.
“John, don’t force him. He’s only seven,” said Beth.
“It’s high time he learned to be a man. Get in the car, son. Right now.”
They drove up to the other boy’s house.
“Now, go knock on the door and get your money. I’ll wait here.”
Billy just sat there, crying with his head down.
“Now, Billy.”
He still didn’t move, so his father got out, slammed the door, and went to the house. After a couple of minutes, he returned with a quarter and gave it to Billy.
“I’m ashamed of you, son.” He said nothing else as they drove home.
“Daddy, would you hold me and tell me a story?” His son’s question brought Bill came back to the present.
“You bet, Tommy. I have an idea. Let’s make one up together. How about a story of a boy your age who has magic powers, and he teaches his father how to talk to birds?”
How sad. In the name of teaching him to be a man he did just the opposite. Powerful story in only 300 words.