Little Jimmy’s Sad Day: Learning to Play Snakes and Ladders
Hmmm, what lesson islittle Jimmy going to learn today?
Little Jimmy is just anaverage kid. But he is about to have a very sad day.
“Mom, I’m going outsideto play.”
“Not so fast, buster.Put your helmet on.”
“I’m not going to ridemy bike. I’m just going outside to play.”
“It doesn’t matter. Youstill have to wear your helmet.”
“But why, Mom?”
“Because it’s not safeout there anymore. It’s for your own good.”
“But Mom, the helmetmakes my head hurt. It gives me a headache.”
“Well then, we’ll haveto take you to the doctor to see if he can give you permission not to wear yourhelmet.”
“Okay, I like Dr. Jones.”
“Oh no, we can’t go tohim. He’s not our doctor anymore.”
“Why not?”
“He said some things he’snot supposed to say. So he’s not allowed to use his training anymore.”
“Oh, alright! I’ll wearthe helmet. I’m going to play with Billy.”
“No, you can’t play withBilly anymore.”
“Why not? Billy is mybest friend!”
“Billy’s Mom doesn’tmake him wear a helmet, so it’s not safe for you to play with him anymore.”
“But I’ll be wearing ahelmet, so I’ll be safe even if Billy isn’t.”
“No, that’s not right. It’snot safe unless you’re both wearing helmets.”
“I don’t understand,Mom.”
“You’re not supposed tounderstand. Just do what you’re told, young man.”
“This sucks! I guess I’llgo to the Rec Center instead.”
“Okay, but you stillhave to wear your helmet and you’ll need a ticket.”
“Why do I need a ticket?I thought we had a membership to the Rec Center.”
“We do have amembership. But you still have to have a ticket so they know it’s safe to letyou in.”
“I don’t understand,Mom.”
“You’re not supposed tounderstand. Just do what you’re told, young man.”
“Ah geez, I guess I’lljust stay inside and watch TV.”
“That’s a good boy.”
Little Jimmy has learnedto play the modern version of the game of Snakesand Ladders. If, you wear your helmet, you can climb the ladder to yourhappy place. If you do not wear your helmet, you will slide down into the pitof venomous vipers.
But how will littleJimmy learn to protect himself from snakes if he is never exposed to them? Andhow will he learn to be a healthy and functioning adult if he is taught to fearhis shadow?
~ NowAvailable Online from Amazon, Chapters Indigo or Barnes & Noble: HuntingMuskie, Rites of Passage – Stories by Michael Robert Dyet
~ Michael Robert Dyet is alsothe author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel whichwas a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’swebsite at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .
~ Subscribe to Michael’s Metaphors of Life Journal aka That Make Me GoHmmm at its’ internet home www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog2 . Instructions forsubscribing are provided in the Subscribe to this Blog: How To instructionspage in the right sidebar. Ifyou’re reading this post on another social networking site, come back regularlyto my page for postings once a week
