The Legend of Little Johnny

Little Johnny Rogers was the life of 3^rd grade homeroom. Each morning he would have an intriguing story of the things that he and his father done last evening. He had a way of telling these stories that commanded quiet and intense listening by the other students. It became such a favorite among his classmates as well as his homeroom teacher, Ms. Bridgewater. One day M. Bridgewater wanted to share with a few other teachers the ability of Johnny with some of the other staff and after listening to this little boy that one morning, it became a favorite of theirs as well. It became so popular that little Johnny was escorted down to the principal's office each day after the morning pledge of allegiance and the reading of a Bible verse to tell his stories over the loud speaker of the school for all to enjoy. Needless to say that it was a hit for the majority of those school kids and some even told their parents about it.

One day Johnny was absent and the entire day was completely different than it had ever been. No one seemed to be able to function properly without Johnny's stories. They struggled through that day but when the following day came and Johnny still did not show, people began to wonder. After that day was over and all of the other kids had gone home on the bus, Ms. Bridgewater and the principal Mr. Perry decided to check on little Johnny. They looked up his address from the school records and headed out to check on him. When they arrived at the address on the form, it was an empty lot overgrown with weeds and filled with junk. They checked around the neighborhood and discovered that the little boy with such great stories had lived in an old station wagon near the corner with his mother. The neighbors never saw a father or even any male figure with them. The spot where the old station wagon was parked was empty now and no one could tell them where they may had gone.

Both Perry and Bridgewater was determined to find out where his mother had taken him and if he was alright. They stopped by the local police station to inquire. Detective Russell had been assigned to the case and called them into his office. He showed them some pictures of little Johnny and some lady. Perry and Bridgewater was glad to see that they knew where he was but they were not happy to learn that two days ago an old station wagon was hit by the train and both the mother and son was killed. According to Detective Russell, little Johnny fathers died before he was born and his mother were raising him alone. They had been ordered to move their vehicle because some neighbors were complaining and she was looking for a new parking spot when she failed to see the train.

The only solace that can be given to those hundreds of classmates of little Johnny as well as those adults who so enjoyed his early morning stories was that even though he will be missed and can never be replaced his memory shall live on forever within them.