Self-serving prelude: I am not Madonna. I am no Gloria Estefan. I am not Fergie the famous Brit. But as a fellow mediocre writer, can't I still fancy myself a children's book author? If only my writing could stand on its own merit! Luckily, I've lined up a publisher anyway. It's MAL Content, Inc. Here's the first story, hot off the server.
Five giant scoops go oops!
Down the lane, summer came
Announced by a cheerful tune.
Ice cream truck, approaching soon!
Little Molly’s eyes grew wide
For Daddy handed her a five.
So excited, she flew out the door!
So delighted, his words she ignored:
“Hey, in this heat, I want you to treat,
Your friends on the way, make sure now, okay?”
But Molly
Was already
Standing in line.
After passing her pals
Who had not a dime.
She stared at Abe Lincoln, and started a’ thinkin’,
Should she let others share in her wealth,
Or get five giant scoops, all to herself?
She decided to order only one cone…
With FIVE GIANT SCOOPS for her all alone!
“Coming up! Chocolate, vanilla, and mint for the girl!
Plus cookies and cream, and fudge marble swirl.”
Molly did lick with a lickety-split,
But five giant scoops went drippity-drip.
The ice cream was piled too high to eat fast.
In the hot summer sun, it just couldn’t last.
The tower of sweetness teetered and tottered.
It leaned over dangerously, oh, what a bother!
To keep it from falling, she ran side to side,
Yet nothing could stop its eventual slide.
The scoop at the top, dropped with a plop.
Followed by the next with a thunderous glop!
The middle one landed—smoosh on the ground.
Number two joined it for the mushiest mound.
Finally, the last of the scoops went ker-splat!
All over Molly’s poor little lap.
She burst into tears,
And it was painfully clear,
Empty cone in her hand
Was not what she planned.
Now there were those who had thought,
“She deserved what she got!”
But a boy who was smart, with a big enough heart
Saw a girl who went “oops,” not five giant scoops.
He brought her some napkins,
And said, “These things happen.
Here, take this spoon, too,
I’ll share ice cream with you.”
From the dropping of jaws,
The crowd was in awe.
Even Molly went from boo-hoo to a-ha!
By a boy who knew faults were easy to find,
And that it was harder to always be kind.
His actions inspired everyone there
To say, “Next time, I’ll show that I care.”
Feeling the same, Molly exclaimed,
“It’s not the amount that’s really the treat,
It’s the sharing with others, and the friends that we keep!”
Down the lane, a fading tune,
An ice cream truck’s route resumed.
Kids ran off—there was playing to do!
Building up friendships—solid and true.
And melting away in a pile of goop?
All that was left of five giant scoops.
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