Bastian quickly sits up as if awakening from a nightmare. He looks at a picture of his mom and then he picks up the book beside him and marks his spot. His father is getting something out of the refrigerator while Bastian is straining to open the jelly for his toast.
Morning Bastian
Morning Dad Bastian looks at his hand like it hurts. He can't open the jar. His dad walks over and opens it for him. He starts putting milk, orange juice, and an egg into the blender.
I had another dream Dad, about Mom. Bastian states sadly. His father pauses at the blender, but doesn't look at him and then he continues his drink.
I understand son, be we have to get on with things, right? Bastian looks dejected
Bastian we each have responsibilities. We can't let Mom's death be an excuse for not getting the old job done, right?
Bastian half-heartedly smears butter on his toast. His father approaches the table and sits down.
Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk. I got a call from your teacher yesterday. She says you were drawing horses in your math book. Bastian looks at him.
Unicorns. They were unicorns! He states
What?
Nothing. he sighs.
She also says that you haven't been turning your homework in on time. And I'm very disappointed you didn't even try out for the swimteam. As for those riding lessons you've been wanting, you say you love horses yet you seem to be afraid to get on a real one. Now, Bastian, you're old enough to get your head out of the clouds and start keeping both feet on the ground. Alright? he takes a sip of his drink.
Ok
Stop daydreaming and start facing your problems. Ok? he ruffles Bastian's hair.
Okay
Ok. Right I think we've had a nice little talk we should have more. he walks behind Bastian. Have a nice day and don't be late for school again. he says as he's leaving. Bastian turns to him, But yesterday I wasn't. Out on the street 3 bullies are laughing. As Bastian walks out, they stop. Hey look it's the weirdo. Hey weirdo, got any cash for us today? Bastian turns and runs. Hey fellow! That's it weirdo. You can't get away you jerk ! You're dead chicken! they yell chasing after him. They chase him down an alley where they finally catch him. Where's you're money man? I don't have any! No money? Momma's little boy is holding out on us. You ain't got any money on ya, you go in the garbage can. They say and shove him in a dumpster. As they walk off one says: Maybe chicken can lay an egg in there. They laugh and return to the street. They lean up against a lightpost. Bastian comes out of the dumpster and enters the street brushing garbage off himself. The bullies see him and stand up straight. Hey man, who said you could get out of the garbage ? Get back in there. one says. They smile at each other and start towards him. Oh no not again. No not again! he starts running. Where do you think you're going wimp? They chase after him . He ducks into a bookstore and the boys run by. Get outta here. I don't like kids. says a ruff voice. Bastian jumps but heads toward it. An old man sits in a chair reading. He turns and looks at him. You still here boy? Didn't you hear what I said? Um, I was... he stutters motioning to the door. You're hiding aren't you? No I was just... The video arcade is down the street . Here we just sell small rectangular objects that are called books. Require a little effort on your part and make no b..b..b..beeps. On your way please. he goes back to reading. I KNOW books. I have 186 of them at home. he exclaims. Bah. Comic books. No. I've read Treasure Island, Last of the Mohigans, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tarzan......... Whoa whoa whoa. Who are you running away from? he says with new interest. Just some kids from school. Why? They wanna throw me in the garbage. Why don't you give them a good punch in the nose, eh? Oh, I dunno. he looks down at his shoes. The man turns away from him again. Bastian looks at the book he has. What's that book about? Oh, this is something special. Bastian comes closer. Well, what is it ? Look. You're books are safe. While you're reading them you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe. But that's what I like about them. Yes, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again. What do you mean? Listen he motions for him to come nearer. Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid was attacking you ? Yes. Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape ? But it's only a story. That's what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe. And that one isn't ? Don't worry about it. But, but you just said it was.... the phone rings and the man puts the book under a newspaper. Forget about it. This book is not for you. he gets up and gets the phone. Bastian watches him. As he talks on the phone Bastian uncovers the book. It's called The NeverEnding Story and has a weird symbol on the cover. The symbol is 2 snakes intertwined with each other and biting each other's tail. As the old man hangs up the phone, Bastian grabs the book and runs out. The old man smiles to himself and looks down at his desk. His notepad has messy writing on it that says: Don't worry, I'll return your book. More great pictures and pages are in the making it's all a part of the Neverending Story... Click here to go to my sound page. or click here to go back one page
Ok. Right I think we've had a nice little talk we should have more. he walks behind Bastian.
Have a nice day and don't be late for school again. he says as he's leaving.
Bastian turns to him, But yesterday I wasn't.
Out on the street 3 bullies are laughing. As Bastian walks out, they stop.
Hey look it's the weirdo.
Hey weirdo, got any cash for us today?
Bastian turns and runs.
Hey fellow! That's it weirdo. You can't get away you jerk ! You're dead chicken! they yell chasing after him. They chase him down an alley where they finally catch him.
Where's you're money man?
I don't have any!
No money? Momma's little boy is holding out on us. You ain't got any money on ya, you go in the garbage can. They say and shove him in a dumpster. As they walk off one says:
Maybe chicken can lay an egg in there. They laugh and return to the street. They lean up against a lightpost.
Bastian comes out of the dumpster and enters the street brushing garbage off himself. The bullies see him and stand up straight.
Hey man, who said you could get out of the garbage ? Get back in there. one says. They smile at each other and start towards him.
Oh no not again. No not again! he starts running.
Where do you think you're going wimp? They chase after him . He ducks into a bookstore and the boys run by.
Get outta here. I don't like kids. says a ruff voice.
Bastian jumps but heads toward it. An old man sits in a chair reading. He turns and looks at him.
You still here boy? Didn't you hear what I said?
Um, I was... he stutters motioning to the door.
You're hiding aren't you?
No I was just...
The video arcade is down the street . Here we just sell small rectangular objects that are called books.
Require a little effort on your part and make no b..b..b..beeps.
On your way please. he goes back to reading.
I KNOW books. I have 186 of them at home. he exclaims.
Bah. Comic books.
No. I've read Treasure Island, Last of the Mohigans, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tarzan.........
Whoa whoa whoa. Who are you running away from? he says with new interest.
Just some kids from school.
Why?
They wanna throw me in the garbage.
Why don't you give them a good punch in the nose, eh?
Oh, I dunno. he looks down at his shoes.
The man turns away from him again. Bastian looks at the book he has.
What's that book about?
Oh, this is something special.
Bastian comes closer. Well, what is it ?
Look. You're books are safe. While you're reading them you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe.
But that's what I like about them.
Yes, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.
What do you mean?
Listen he motions for him to come nearer.
Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid was attacking you ?
Yes.
Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape ?
But it's only a story.
That's what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe.
And that one isn't ?
Don't worry about it.
But, but you just said it was.... the phone rings and the man puts the book under a newspaper.
Forget about it. This book is not for you. he gets up and gets the phone. Bastian watches him. As he talks on the phone Bastian uncovers the book. It's called The NeverEnding Story and has a weird symbol on the cover. The symbol is 2 snakes intertwined with each other and biting each other's tail. As the old man hangs up the phone, Bastian grabs the book and runs out. The old man smiles to himself and looks down at his desk. His notepad has messy writing on it that says: Don't worry, I'll return your book.
More great pictures and pages are in the making
it's all a part of the Neverending Story...
Click here to go to my sound page. or click here to go back one page
or
click here to go back one page
