HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 08-03 Mapelwood Services names story winner ST. PAUL DISPATCH Maplewood Services
names story winner
Maplewood Community Services warm earth.My thoughts wandered over
named its winning short story entry for its the past two years.This was my last duty
annual June story writing contest for all as a den mother. Oh,how I had been
7ofaplewood residents. "People in the looking forward to this day—no more
Parks"was the theme.Fiction or non- meetings to plan, no more hurried
fiction entries were accepted.The win- Thursday night suppers, no more last
ping entry was written by Judy DuBois, minute trips to the store for needed
2445 Carver Ave., Maplewood, entitled supplies.As the boys laughed and played I
"The Last Meeting." didn't feel quite as free as I had expected
to.Could it be I was going to miss these
The Last Meeting eight and nine year olds with all of their
It was one of those beautiful May days excess energy and loud voices,who could
that one appreciates so much after a long, complete a project almost quicker than
cold winter. The sunshine seemed to we had been able to prepare for it?
warm everyone's spirits as six lively Cub All too soon it was time to go.When we
Scouts scrambled into the station wagon. returned,they again clamored to be the
The first part of our meeting had been first out of the station wagon and hurried
spent putting the finishing touches on our on their way home.I wondered if any of
last project of the season—kites and them would remember this beautiful day
stringholders.Now we were headed for at the park.What would they remember
the park to see if they would really fly. about Cub Scouts?Would they remember
On the way the boys eagerly discussed me?
their plans for the summer.As they piled With all the events ahead of them in
out of the car and raced across the green, their lifetime,I doubted that I had made a
open field,a sense of joy and freedom very big impression. Strangely, that
seemed to come to each one. really didn't matter for each child had,in
The blue sky and white fluffy cloud§ his own special way,touched my life and
made the perfect backdrop for the green made his own impression on me.Each
and white kites as they started to climb. smile I received,each time they were
Our minds flew with them,but were soon awarded a badge they had earned through
brought back to earth by cries of,"My hard work,each time a parent became
string is tangled,"and"My kite has a involved with them in a project, I felt
hole in it." rewarded.
A den mother is always prepared and As my thoughts turned towards supper
tape was quickly produced for the needed the warm feeling stayed with me, The
repairs. Patience is also a virtue of a Perfect ending—a beautiful day at the
veteran den mother and as I started to Park with kites we had made ourselves
untangle the string, I sat down on the that really flew!
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