John Skinner and the Prize Watermelon When John was a boy, he worked very hard like all boys did in the early part of this century. When John played, he played very hard too. When he went to do anything, he did his best; and when someone challenged John, he made sure he won.
His best chum was his older brother, who was just 18 months ahead of him. Because he smaller than John, John called him his Little Brother. Both the boys liked to go swimming on hot days. After swimming, they would be very, very hungry. If they could not make it home, they would try to find something good just hanging around waiting to be picked.
One day, a group of farmers were talking in town and the brothers heard one man say boastfully:
"I have been working for years to develop the best watermelon around. This time, I've done it! I have the prize of all prizes. I have the finest watermelon I have ever seen. And, it's almost ripe. It's in the middle of my best field, surrounded by acres of other melons. No one can steal it! I have the best watchdog in the country. If anyone came to get it, that dog would tear him to pieces! I intend to save th seed from the melon to sell to the seed companies for big money."
John looked at Al, and Al looked at John. Then, they both grinned. They'd heard a challenge they could not pass up. It had been a hot day. They had been swimming, and now they were hungry and had their minds on food. Their mouths watered as they contemplated eating the best watermelon in the world. They decided to locate that wonderful melon. So, they hid in the weeds at the edge of the man's field and watched, and waited. About midday, they saw him walk through his field and stop. He stood there in one place looking, feeling and grinning at one particular melon. The boys were motionless. They hardly dared breathe. Finally, he went away and the boys began to talk over the situation.
"Just how do you think we can get that watermelon, John?" said Al, cautiously.
"Well, in three nights there won't be any moon," said John.
"Hey! How about that big dog?" whispered Al, mentally feeling those big, sharp teeth in his backside.
"Oh, I can take care of him. Just watch!" said John.
John got a piece of raw meat from his mother. Then, for three days John and Al secretly made friends with that dog by feeding him meat, talking to him and scratching him behind the ears. The dog just wagged his tail at the boys by the time they were through.
On the third night, John gave the dog an extra big piece with a bone to gnaw that would take the dog a long time to devour. Then, the boys carefully stole away from him aw he chewed his treat. Next, they silently slithered on their bellies to where the melon was, marked by a stake and red ribbon. They cut the stem with a knife and rolled the melon down the furrow to the weeds, far away from the farmer's house.
What a feast they had, with watermelon juice streaming down both their faces and dripping on their clothes. They were careful to bury all the remains.
"That farmer was right!" Mr. Skinner said to me with a huge smile, "It was the best melon I ever tasted in my whole life! And I raised some pretty good ones myself later."
I asked, "Well, did you save any of the seeds?" I wanted to try some of that wonderful strain of melon for myself.
He said, "I didn't dare! When the farmer discovered his melon was gone the next morning, he told everyone he'd kill whoever had done it if he ever found out who it was!"
I said, "Well, did you ever tell anyone?"
"I should say not! That man was furious for years. I waited until he was dead, and then I've been close-mouthed about it. That sorta spoiled the fun, because half the fun in pulling a prank like that is in the telling!"
The End
by Celia Helen Tracy
copyright © 2000 Celia Helen Tracy