 |
 |
|
|
Stories From Highlights
Compilation copyright © 1995 by Boyds Mills Press, Inc.
 Previous Page |
1 of 2 |
Next Page 
|
Important After All
By Eileen D. Za
One morning Jean-Luc Bedard woke up very early, just as the sun was beginning to peek through the shutters. Jean-Luc—who lived in the French village of Cap Breton with his three big brothers, his mother, and his father, who was a fisherman—hopped out of bed and hurried into the kitchen, where his mother was putting hot rolls on the table for breakfast.
"Maman," asked Jean-Luc as he rubbed his eyes, "is today the day?"
"Yes, my dear," answered his mother as Jean-Luc took his place at the table next to Papa. "Today is July 14th, the greatest day in French history, and an important national holiday."
"And the day I get to stay up late. Right, Papa?"
Monsieur Bedard laughed. "Right. Now you are old enough to enjoy all the fun and games. So tonight you may stay up late and see the Toro del Fuego, the mighty Bull of Fire."
Jean-Luc smiled with delight. He had seen the bicycle race, even the pelota championship, and the street dance that began at dusk when the village band paraded through the streets, gathering all the people behind it like children behind the Pied Piper. All these he had seen and enjoyed. But never had he seen the glorious Bull of Fire.
"Once," explained Monsieur Bedard, "there were real bullfights here in Cap Breton. But long ago the people gave them up in favor of a beautiful bull they made themselves—a bull covered with the bright glow from thousands of fireworks. Unfortunately, the bull is only allowed out late at night when it is very dark and all the little children are fast asleep. But now that you're seven, Jean-Luc, you may stand in the square with your brothers and watch the Toro del Fuego."
How slowly the day passed! Tagging along behind his brothers, Jean-Luc ran first to the corner to watch the bicycle race. Round and round the village young men rode, crouched low over their handlebars, trying so hard to win the big silver cup that would sit in the parlor for the rest of the year.
"I wish Papa would enter the race," Jean-Luc said to his brothers. "How proud I would be. But he never does anything exciting."
The pelota game was fast and furious as the two finalists leaped and ran, catching the hard rubber ball in long wicker baskets strapped to their rights arms and throwing it back against the concrete wall with all their might.
"I wish Papa were better at pelota," sighed Jean-Luc as he watched a lovely lady put a garland of flowers around the winner's neck while everyone cheered. "Wouldn't it be great if he won the championship and everyone clapped and cheered for him!"
After dinner Maman and Jean-Luc and the three big brothers hurried out to watch the band go by. Playing a happy tune, they stepped out smartly—one, two, one, two—while the big bass drum beat out the rhythm.
"I wish Papa played in the band," said Jean-Luc wistfully. "A person must be important when he leads the parade!"
"You should be very proud of your father," Maman told her young son. "He's a fine man."
"I know. But he never does anything exciting."
| Previous Page |
1 of 2 |
Next Page
|
|
|
|
|
 |
