Version 1 Loyal ([email protected])

Six pairs of eyes watched while she sifted through an assortment of comic books to hand out.

It would have been nice had the men been choosing among literary classics, but even comic books were better than not reading at all. Ever since she had first volenteered to help out with this adult literacy program, she had learned to take what small acheivements she could get.

These were her thoughts when they were interrupted by a quiet, but well modulated voice asking "You wouldn't happen to have Swift among the books on your cart, would you?

"Jonathan Swift?" she asked, not believing her ears.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm doing research on English satire and I wondere...."

"Research on satire?" she repeated numbly.

"Yes, ma'am. Specifically the nineteenth century."

"Let me finish with these other men and I'll get back to you." she told him.

When she'd passed out the last of the comic books, she wheeled her cart back and stood in front of his cell.

"What are you doing here in the county jail."

When he smiled, he reminded her of the boy who once lived next door to her in high school.

"It's all a mistake of course." he said. "They seem to believe I am some sort of burglar. Can you believe that?"

She shook her head because, frankly she couldn't imagine such a thing.

Leaning against the bars, he quickly scanned the books she had in her cart. He chose a Robert Lewis Stevenson, winked at her and said "Guess I'll have to settle for this one." He was leafing through the book when she regained her voice.

"When is your trial?" she asked.

"Wednesday" he answered as he continued to leaf through the book.

She felt disoriented. This young man looked exactly like the boy who been her next door neighbor. A boy she'd had a crush on all through high school.

She took a deep breath and walked closer to the bars. "I want to help you" she said. "What can I do to help you?"

His answering smile made her heart melt. "You can be my alibi." he said. "You can say I was with you all night the night of the burglary."

To be continued another day...........

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Version 2 Sharon ([email protected])

Six pairs of eyes watched while she sifted through an assortment of comic books to hand out. Six pairs of arms waited impatiently for her to finish. Six pairs of legs diddled nervously. When she was done sorting through the comic books, She put them in a box. The man took the box and climbed into his flying saucer and flew away. "I didn't even know they could read on Mars," she said to no one in particular.



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Version 3 Anonymous

Six pairs of eyes watched while she sifted through the assortment of comic books to hand out.
She had been thinking of that old trunk for years now, and since it was raining her six grown daughters had come over for coffee. When the topic of "mom's trunk" came up they trooped to the basement and dragged it out.

She smiled as she dropped to her knees and watched six pairs of eyes eagerly watching her every move. She opened the trunk and there they were, her dream as a child, her 126 old comic books.

Comic books worth a pretty penny, and each daughter was eager for her allocation. As she looked through them she knew that by this time tomorrow they all would be bagged and for sale, while her six daughters had most likely already spent the proceeds.

"Slowly she went through them, then she picked out the six she least liked.

"Changed my mind," she said, "but you each can have one. And the next time we have coffee together, maybe another one." She handed each a comic book and closed the trunk.