For the past 20 years I have spoken
to all kinds of audiences
in the character of Benjamin Franklin,
complete with costume.
One day after a school assembly,
I was visiting a fifth-grade classroom
to answer questions.
One student raised his hand and said,
"I thought you died."
This was not an unusual question
and I answered it by saying,
"Well, I did die on April 17, 1790,
when I was 84 years old,
but I didn't like it and
I'm never going to do it again."

I immediately asked for any other questions
and called on a boy at the back of the room
who raised his hand.
He asked, "When you were in Heaven,
did you see my mother there?"

My heart stopped.
I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.

My only thought was, don't blow this!
I realized for an 11-year-old boy
to ask that question
in front of all of his classmates,
it had to either be a very recent occurrence
or of utmost concern.
I also knew I had to say something.

Then I heard my voice say:
"I'm not sure if she is the one I think she was,
but if she is,
she was the prettiest angel there."
The smile on his face told me
that it was the right answer.
I'm not sure where it came from,
but I think I just may have had a
little help from the prettiest angel there.
(Ralph Archbold)

Sir Winston Churchill took three years
getting through eighth grade
because he had trouble learning English.
It seems ironic that years later
Oxford University asked him to
address its commencement exercises.

He arrived with his usual props.
A cigar, a cane and a top hat accompanied
Churchill wherever he went.
As Churchill approached the podium,
the crowd rose in appreciative applause.

With unmatched dignity,
he settled the crowd and stood
confident before his admirers.
Removing the cigar and carefully
placing the top hat on the podium,
Churchill gazed at his waiting audience.

Authority rang in Churchill's voice
as he shouted, "Never give up!"
Several seconds passed before he rose
to his toes and repeated: "Never give up!"

His words thundered in their ears.
There was a deafening silence as
Churchill reached for his hat and cigar,
steadied himself with his cane
and left the platform.
His commencement address was finished.
(By Speaker's Sourcebook II
from Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul)

Snapping fibers of cocoon
Blinding brilliance of high noon
Wings unfolding, spreading, dry
Coast is clear, my darling--FLY!!
(Gini Schmitz)

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight,
he knocked over the bird with a stick.
When he struck it, three tiny chicks
scuried from under their dead mother's wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of
impending disaster, had carried her offspring
to the base of the tree
and had gathered them under her wings,
instinctively knowing
that the toxic smoke would rise.
She could have flown to safety
but had refused to abandon her babies.
When the blaze had arrived
and the heat had singed her small body,
the mother remained steadfast.
Because she had been willing to die,
those under the cover of her wings would live.
"He shall cover thee with His feathers,
and under His wings shalt
thou trust." (Psalm 91:4)