Along with writing screenplays, I also write children's stories. Actually when I lived in Hull, a little seaside community East of Boston, yes East, it's a penninsula that swings out mimicing the Cape, but much smaller, just 5 miles out from town, well when I lived there I produced a show called Snuggle Up With Me. That was a children's tv show. I wrote most of the stories, illustrated some, had some friends illlustrate the others. It was fun. At that time my little sister, Taylor, was in elementary school, 2nd and 3rd grade, and so we'd fill the studio with her friends and shoot, sometimes a couple a night. They would dress in their PJ's. I set the studio up to look like a bedroom. There was a rocking chair that I would sit in, comfy in my giant teddy bear pajamas, where I would read the stories. The children sat gathered together on the bed, stuffed animals in hand, posing sweetly for the cameras. But maybe they really were interested in the stories. I believe they had big potential. Still do.
Lately that had all been on the back burner. I do do a little Story Time here in Fayence for the English speaking kiddos, but not to a great crowd and not using my original yarns. What I"ve been focusing on mostly are the screenplays. However, yesterday- this story just came to me, and funny enough, the sun was out. So I took advantage of a good thing and of being awake, found something to write on which happened to be the back of a box top that my new red boots came in, grabbed a pen from my night stand drawer, and wrote like mad for a good 15 minutes till it was finished.
I have roughly illustrated it, just freehand stuff. And I would love to find a professional or a very good amature out here near Fayence that would have fun illustrating my stories. A fee would be paid when or rather if, the story sells. So, what do you think? It's called NEVER AGAIN ---
There was once a little boy. A lovely little boy really. But one day he started to change. You see, it all began in the bathroom. His mother was washing his hair when accidentally some shampoo got in his eyes. Well you know how that stings. He just sat there and said, “Never Again will I have my hair washed!”
And he didn’t. So after that, his hair got mighty tangled, and dusty, and actually, bugs started to live in his hair! But he didn’t care.
Soon after that that little boy was rushing for school when he remembered to brush his teeth. Unfortunately though he remembered a bit late and since he was brushing his teeth, he missed the school bus and had to walk to school instead. So as he walked he told himself, “I will Never Again brush my teeth”.
And he didn’t. His teeth went from white, to beige, to yellow to green- and then got fuzzy! But he didn’t care.
During that time he had dinner over at his grandparent’s house. He was using his best manners. But when his grandmother asked if he was ready for dessert, and he smiled, nodded and said, “please”, she misunderstood him and gave him more PEAS! And as he gagged down the huge pile of peas she gleefully placed on his plate, he mumbled, “I will Never Again say please.”
And he didn’t. So after that, everywhere he went everyone thought he was rude. But he didn’t care.
A bit later on that little boy was playing in the park when a little stone got stuck in his shoe, and he walked on it for a while not wanting to stop. Well you know how that can get annoying. So he took off his shoe and felt much better, stood there and declared, “I will Never Again wear shoes”.
And he didn’t. So after that his socks got holes in them and his toes got dirty and his heels stuck out and got hard and scratchy and they even turned blue in the cold. But he didn’t care.
Then his mother, who couldn’t see the little boy because when he was home he was in his room that was sooo messy it actually hid him, broke down in tears begging him to clean up. He looked around and saw that mostly it was his dirty clothes that piled up and made his room look messy. But instead of cleaning up his room, he decided to just not make it worse. So do you know what he did? He swore to himself he would Never Again change his clothes!
And he didn’t. And soon after that, the clothes he had on became very dirty and began to stink and stick to him. But he didn’t care.
Now one day that same little boy over heard his playmates saying that they would Never Again play with the boy with bugs in hair, that boy with green fuzzy teeth, the one who is very rude never saying please, and who’s feet seem to have rotted off his shoes, and who’s clothes that never change seem to have a life of their own now!
And he couldn’t imagine who they were talking about. That boy sounded awful. But just then- those playmates saw him, quit talking and just started pointing- right at him! So he stood there, just frozen, realizing it was true! Do you know what happened next? He cared.
He started laughing and he ran home. And so funny enough, just as it began in the bathroom one far day, it ended in the bathroom, too. First, he brushed his teeth, then he asked his mother to “please” wash his hair, and when he got out of the tub he put on a fresh change of clothes…including his shoes. But best of all, promised Never Again to say Never Again!
By Randy Veraguas
