#the decision was following me around like a heavy balloon attached to my body

[justanotheruser1]

an uncertain future

The leaves change but I remain as unsure of the future as I was 2 years ago. The only difference is now I have to think about it. As I walk around the park, damp leaves littered all over my path, my concerns cloud my mind from its beauty. Everyone is moving on and I am stuck still. 

[faline-cat444]

Super Giles:Chapter Two-The Great Misunderstanding

Chapter one is here.Realized I forgot to apply the book’s description which I also translated so here it is now:

“One morning Giles woke up and his decision was made.He says goodbye to his parents,his room,and his favorite toys.

No more school,games,or friends…A much more interesting adventure awaits him…”

As a note I have no plans of taking pictures of the few scattered illustrations the book has in it due to most of them having already been shared and not really doing too much justice when paired with the text.However,through doing this I started remembering another kids story I think might have had a similar style attached to it which would have been around the slightly younger age range of when this book would have been applied to students(Third grade).

Illustrations are credited to a figure known as “D. Lodewijckx” and I can’t really find any information on them.This story however,should the factors I provide jog any deep memories,goes a little something like...

The main characters go on a whale-watching trip.This includes the main character,a girl who I think wore glasses and fancied herself as a kid detective and what I believe was her brother or maybe cousin,pet dog,and their guardian which was probably the grandfather or uncle.

Another attendee on the boat was a woman named Clarissa.I think this name specifically managed to stick out to me due to coincidentally a girl by that name would move into town and join my Girl Scout troop around the time we read this story.

There could also be an independent version but what I read was in one of those anthology type textbooks that was paired with a tape cassette that we had to follow along to the story with.Some schools might still be using this for as far as I know unless they “modernized” things up enough.If I am remembering this as accurately as I can another story was a variant of The Three Little Pigs that took place in Hawaii and rather than a wolf a shark was after them who turned out to be a magic balloon and tried to teach a bit about Hawaiian culture in the side notes.

Don’t tie your brain in a knot if you happen to know what I’m talking about but I do kind of want to see if that can be dug up again if possible.Either way,here’s the next chapter.

Giles had been there for ten minutes at most,when a dirty gray painted army jeep passed by.It displayed many flags flapping pleasantly in the wind and the radio was playing a military march at full blast.At a moderate speed,it passed the boy who stood straight like a candle,with two fingers stuck in his ear.Automatically,the four soldiers made a military salute.

A little further,the jeep stopped and reversed until it parked close to Giles.The soldiers looked at him open-mouthed.

“Yes,it is a real one.It was not an illusion!” growled a long skinny soldier with a small moustache. On his uniform there were all kinds of stars and stripes,ribbons,and a cross.He looked very important.

“See how straight he stands!” A second man,heavy build,with a red head,hissed in admiration through his big mustache.On his uniform,there were only a few stripes and two colored ribbons.

“You can take this as an example!” he hissed furiously at the two other soldiers.They could only agree with him as they looked enviously at young Giles,who did not move a millimeter.

“What discipline,such style!”said the big one in an excited voice.The large soldier then said “Sarge,ask him what organization he belongs to!”

“Certainly,General,as you order,” he hastily responded to the man with the big moustache.Moaning under the strain,he pulled this three hundred and thirty pound body out of the jeep.He walked up to Giles,heels clicking,put his hand to his head and said in a thunderous voice “I am Sergeant Abdominous,commanded here by special order of Brigadier General Vanderspleen,head of the interior forces!The general wants to know who you are!”

Disgusting garlic breath hit Giles right in the face and the screaming voice of the sergeant left him winded.Still,Giles did not move an inch!

He was thinking at full speed.What should be do?Should he respond?This would be nothing to a gas pump!

On the other hand,he wanted to stay on good terms with the army.He could deliver gasoline to them later…Imagine all the jeeps,trucks,and planes.Hardly opening his mouth,Giles told him “…DING…DING…I am Giles…DING…A gas pump…DING…DING…”

The sergeant was speechless and his big eyes took on a glassy expression.He did not look so belligerent anymore.He continued to stare at Giles.

“Well,Sergeant,are you coming?” The general was impatiently banging his fingers on the jeep door.Glad to be able to get away,the fat soldier quickly returned to his leader.

“What did you learn?”he instigated.

“He…Uh…Belongs to the army special supply department…Uhh…Something to do with…Gasoline supply,I think…” the sergeant stammered.His face turned bright red and he was sweating profusely.

“Gasoline procurement.Hm.Interesting.” The general nodded. “Very useful for our army. Indispensable even!”

And toward the sergeant,”I want to personally congratulate this soldier!” He energetically jumped out of the jeep and headed to Giles,the other three at his heels.

He briefly greeted Giles,turned him around,examined him from all sides,and struck him lightly with the small baton he carried under his arm.Every now and then he grumbled with pleasure.

Giles was holding his breath.

“Will he see it?” Giles wondered.”Will he see that I’m a gas pump?Am I doing a good impression?Perhaps…He wants to…Refuel!”

A wave of panic traversed through Giles.Fill up!It was not yet possible!He wasn't ready yet!He would not succeed!

Fearfully,he looked out of the corner of his eye at the general who was taking out his wallet.

“This is it,” Giles fretted, “He’s already bringing out money…”

From his wallet,the general took out a golden ribbon.He stood right in front of Gilles, made a serious speech with phrase like…Sense of duty…Love of the motherland...Example of discipline…The attitude of a true warrior…And he pinned the ribbon to Giles’ chest.

He had tears in his eyes.The soldiers applauded with admiration.Only the fat sergeant continued to look at Giles suspiciously.

“Okay,we can continue.A general has a very busy life.The motherland calls you always and everywhere.”

Followed by the other three, he resumed his seat in his jeep.The soldier-driver started the engine and the general took one last emotional look at Giles.

“Remind me that I need to send someone to take his measurements for a new uniform,sergeant,” he said.

The sergeant rolled his eyes and sighed deeply.With its flags flapping in the wind and radio playing at full blast the jeep continued on its way.