Best viewed in Full Screen.

"Teddie" by C. Jake Cordova There once was a little boy named Sugar who was given a magnificent toy when he was four years old. The toy was a plush Teddy Bear named "Teddie." Sugar and Teddie lived in a huge mansion. Everyday, Sugar would wake up to find Teddie sitting on the pillow next to him. "Teddie!" he exclaimed. "Let's go eat breakfast." Sugar and Teddie would leave their giant bedroom and walk down the main hallway to the dinner table. On their way, the two would go by paintings, sculptures, and collected artifacts from the Medieval times. Sugar's father was an art collector and wasn't shy about showing his prize possessions off. "That one is a rare knight suit from King Henry's time." Sugar heard him say to their neighbors last night. "You wouldn't believe how much it cost me." They all chuckled while sipping their coffee and politely smiling at one another. Sugar had been watching them from another room. His father caught him watching and smiled. He made a facial expression of boredom at Sugar and used hand gestures to let his son know he would be tucking him in soon and reading him a bedtime story. Sugar smiled and ran straight into bed, excited for the bedtime event. He loved to hear his father tell him stories. "I bet you cost more than that old suit of armor, Teddie." Sugar whispered to his furry companion. Teddie seemed to smile back and stare up at Sugar with a warm, subtle expression on his face. Sugar squeezed him tight in his arms. "I love you, Teddie!" He said. At breakfast, his father was sitting in a velvet red robe, reading the morning paper and munching on a piece of wheat toast. "Hello there, Squirt." His father said, cheerfully. "Hi, Dad." Sugar replied. He pulled a chair out from the table and set Teddie down as if he were part of the family. Then he pulled a chair out for himself and climbed on top of it, reaching across the table for some orange juice and toast. "What is Teddie having this morning?" his father asked. "Same as me! Toast and orange juice." Came the reply. The two laughed and Sugar spread some margarine and jelly across two pieces of bread. Sugar's father watched his son prepare two pieces for Teddie and set them on a small plate in front of him. His smile never faltered and his eyes sparkled with love for his son. "Daddy?" Sugar asked. "How much is Teddie worth?" Sugar's father set down his paper and scooted his chair closer to the two little friends. He looked across the table at Teddie and then back towards Sugar. He could tell Sugar was asking a serious question so he'd better give a serious answer. "That's a hard thing for me to say, Son. Perhaps you can tell me how much Teddie is worth to you." Sugar looked back at his pop and smiled. "Well, to me Teddie is worth more than anything else in the world!" he nearly shouted. "He's always up for a good time, he always makes me laugh and he's a really good friend to have." Sugar's father laughed and ruffled up Sugar's hair. "That a boy!" he said. There was a brief pause while Sugar straightened out his hair, then added… "Just like my dad." The three finished breakfast in laughter and smiles and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of their day. THE END 06/03/2002 "Ride It" by C. Jake Cordova An old man lived with his wife atop a grassy, green hill. Every morning he would burst out of his front door and stretch his arms way above his head. Birds chirped in the sky, sunlight sparkled against the mountains, and a crisp breeze blew over his face. "Ahhhh…" exclaimed the old man. "Life is perfect!" Indeed it was, for his wife was a beautiful woman who had aged gracefully over time. The couple still laughed at each other's jokes and held hands when they walked to the market, always smiling. On this particular day, the two were taking a morning stroll towards the park with their little dog, Frodo. As easily as the clouds swam in the air, the old woman leaned over and whispered into her husband's ear, "I wanna throw you on the ground and RIDE it." The old woman smiled. "Oh!" exclaimed her husband, chuckling. "Sounds good to me." He rubbed the palm of his hand over her soft little butt. "Let's hope nobody else is there." As the couple approached the open field of the park, their lusty desires were ruined by the sound of schoolchildren laughing and playing about. "Awwwww!" Said the old woman. "It's OK," comforted the old man. Maybe we can get some smacky back home, eh?" He smiled and gave his wife's bottom a firm squeeze. "Oh!" she exclaimed in devilish delight. Frodo barked and ran towards a small pack of boys who were playing catch with a Frisbee. One of the boys saw Frodo coming and knelt down to meet him. "Frodo!" said the boy, as th dog licked all over his face. The boy stood up and waved the plastic Frisbee around Frodo's head. "Wanna play catch, boy?" Frodo loved to chase the Frisbee! "Sure he does." The old man said. "Throw it here and I'll show you a new trick he's learned." The boy tossed the disc to the old man. "Now watch, Frodo." The old man said, and placed the Frisbee in Frodo's mouth. "Go out and throw it to me, Frodo. Go! Go! Go!" To the amazement of everyone watching, Frodo ran a few yards out, twirled around in circles with the Frisbee clutched tightly in his mouth, then let the Frisbee go in the direction of the old man. But just before the old man caught it, his wife jumped in front of him and clutched it with both hands. "Ah-ha!" The old woman said. "I got it!" "Blast!" said the old man, in a humorous way. All the kids laughed and cheered and asked to see it again. "Maybe tomorrow." Said the couple. "For now, why don't you tykes play with Frodo. We're gonna sit over there and enjoy the breeze." "OK!" the kids exclaimed. "C'mere, Frodo! C'mere, boy!" And the fun went on and on for the rest of the afternoon well into the evening. THE END 06/17/2002 top