untitled

about a little boys firts day of school and having to leave his friend behind

 

It was the first day of kindergarten.

Jacob looked so grown up in his red shirt and blue jeans. He couldn’t help but look down at his brand new gym shoes as he walked back and forth. He was so excited but a little scared at the same time.

He looked at his mom with a worried face.

“You will make lots of friends,” his mother told him.

The word friend made Jacob smile so big. His eyes lit up with a spark that warmed the room. Jacob asked with so much excitement he couldn’t stand still,” Mommy, can Checkers come with?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She reached out her arms and said,” come here my little man.” She noticed how long his legs had gotten. She remembered when he was a baby and wasn’t much bigger than the bear that he loved so much. She picked up her son and placed him on her lap. Jacob, not fitting the way he used to, tried to find a comfortable position.

She hugged Jacob while memories filled her head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checkers was Jacob’s teddy bear. He arrived as a gift the same day Jacob was born.

His name was Checkers because of the blue and white checkered bow around his neck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob brought Checkers everywhere his mother would allow.

Mommy can I take Checkers to the Grocery store?

Yes Jacob you may.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy can I take Checkers to the park?

Yes Jacob you may.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy can I take Checkers to Grandmas house?

Yes my little man, you may

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They would get tucked in together.

Can checkers get a glass of water before bed? He is thirsty.

Yes YOU may.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can we leave the light on?

Checkers is afraid of the dark.

Yes you may

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At night time Checkers was a soldier standing watch over his sleepy general.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If Jacob was sick Checkers never left his side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob always returned the favor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They did everything together. They were

Heroes

 

 

 

 

They were Pirates

 

 

 

 

They were astronauts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sometimes they played Jacob’s least favorite game of hide and go seek. Checkers did not want to be found. That game would go on for hours. Jacob would never get his turn to hide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checkers even went some places where he should not have been.

(picture of him in the bath tub)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some places Jacob really didn’t want him to go…(picture of him in the dryer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob’s favorite thing to do was eating cookies together.

“Are you going to eat that?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob would say to Checkers,

you are my best friend. I can tell you all my secrets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Mommy were you listening?”

“Can Checkers come with me to school?”

She took a deep breath, looked him straight in the eyes and said,

“no Jacob, not this time.”

Jacob replied, “But why?” His lower lip started to shake and tears started running down his cheeks. ” He will be scared without me!”

She replied,

“YOU shouldn’t be afraid.” You are going to have a great and exciting day learning so many new things. Checkers might get lost If he comes with you. Checkers can stay with me today and keep me company. Jacob hugged his mom and whispered, Thanks mom!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob wiped his tears, took a deep breath and said, in his most serious voice,” I have to tell Checkers a secret.” He jumped off his mother’s lap, held him and whispered in his ear, “You have to stay. Don’t be scared.”

then set him gently in the chair, facing the window. “Checkers, wait for me and keep mommy company while I am gone.” Jacob stated firmly. He took his mother’s hand and together they walked to the bus stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob jumped up and down and said, “Look mom, the bus is coming!” She bent down and hugged him tightly until the bus stopped in front of them and the door swung open. “Ok time to go now. Everything will be just fine. You'll see.” his mother said.

His mother watched as his little legs climbed each step. She waved goodbye as the bus pulled away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She came back into the empty house and saw the bear just sitting in the window waiting. She

Whispered, “He will be home soon, don’t be sad.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the day was over, Jacob was so happy from all the new things he saw and did. He ran in the door and yelled “I had a good day Mommy!” He started telling her all about his day. He was talking so fast she could hardly keep up with what he was trying to say. She heard key words like

fun, bus, letters, nice, teacher, two new friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then he stopped, looked across the room and saw

Checkers in the same place he had left him in the morning.

He ran past his mother straight to Checkers, picked him up out of the chair, gave him the longest hug…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the biggest hug he has ever given checkers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As memories went through Jacob's head, he thought of cookie-time with Checkers and how they would sit together at the table and share their cookies. Jacob asked "Mommy MAY I have a cookie?" Very good Jacob, said his Mother, you remembered to say "MAY I." You are growing up so fast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Jacob finished his cookie, he thought for a moment. “MAY Checkers have a cookie too?” His mother smiled and said, “Yes my little man, he may.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She added, “Checkers thought about you all day long. He missed you so much.”

Jacob ran and gave his mother a big hug and said, “I missed YOU too mommy.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob ran to his bedroom saying,

“I have so much to tell you! It’s a good thing you stayed home. Hide and go seek would have taken forever!”

(picture of door shutting behind him)

Author's Note

what do you think?

Reviews

[Nova]

Oh wow i thought this was adorable. I really liked it!!
It made me a little sad though cause at the beginning i thought the mom was going to take Checkers away.
(reminds me of my story...lol.)

I think its wonderful, a good story about growing up, stages in a childs life. I can totally relate! ( my little boy turned 5 on friday and will go to kindergarten in the fall and he does the same thing with this stuffed husky dog-saying the dogs tired, thirsty, etc. ) this made me tear up a little bit (i'm gonna be so sad! ) this encompassed all of that emotion so perfectly! And I like your illustration on your avatar!