“It’s dangerous, Buster,” warned Teddy. “You did it,” reminded Johnnie. “Yes, but I broke my arm. Don’t be a show-off like me. Come on down. Please, Johnnie; I don’t want to call Mom.” “All right,” said Johnnie, sliding down to a safe branch. When she related that incident to her husband, Mrs. Wilson asked: “Do you think that is the secret of his changed behaviour?” “Well, it certainly is remarkable that a boy of his age would so analyze himself. But somehow I think it’s more than that. I agree it was good think ing for a boy not yet nine,” he said. “Oh, speaking of nine,” remarked Mrs. Wilson, “Next Saturday, Teddy will be nine and our family get-to gether is on his birthday. Of course we’ll have ten other boys that day.” “Fine! I’ll take care of the gifts for the boys and me, and you look after yours and Sue’s—and of course provide the food,” said Mr. Wilson with a smile. “Of course,” agreed his wife, “I’ll have Baby Sue make a big angel food cake and home-made ice-cream.” Teddy’s was a June birthday, so they ate out in the patio, and it was a merry, noisy gathering. After the presents and games, they all sat down to a real boy-type meal: ham burgers, with all manner of “fixings” ; huge bowls of potato chips; pickles, and olives and tomatoes, all topped with three kinds of ice cream. Then Mrs. Wilson brought out a magnifi cent, pink-frosted birthday c a k e , crowned with nine lighted candles, and all the children shouted: “Make a wish, Teddy, make a wish!” Teddy was very thoughtful, and then with one breath he blew out all the candles. “Boy, that was good!” said Jimmy. “What did you wish, Teddy?” “He can’t tell it,” explained Bobby, “it won’t come true if he tells.” “I can tell you one thing,” said Teddy, “It’s the same as my resolu tion six months ago, my New Year’s resolution. You remember, don’t you?” He asked, turning to his par ents. But they had forgotten about his resolution. The contented guests left for home, and the Wilson children prepared for bed. After Teddy had donned paja mas, robe, and slippers, he went down to the kitchen where his parents were washing the party dishes, “I came to help,” he said. “Oh, no!” exclaimed his mother, “No dishes on birthdays. Sit down and tell us how you liked your party.”
But Teddy took a dishtowel and began to wipe the silverware. “Thank you for the best birthday I ever had,” he said, “Did you see all those pres ents? Wow!” “Teddy,” said his father, carefully wiping glasses, “I was very much in terested in these resolutions and wishes you have been making. I know it’s all between you and the Lord, and I don’t wish to pry, but do you think you could trust your old Pop and Mom, and tell us, if we promise to keep them a secret?” Teddy looked thoughtful. At last he looked up at his parents, and said, “Okay. It will be all right if you don’t tell anyone. I told you, Mom, how Mrs. Jones said we should just make it to God . . . I heard Pastor Nelson preach about Paul and how Jesus changed him and I wanted to be changed . . . I wanted to be good but I wanted to be mean too . . .” “Oh, not mean . . .” began his mother, but Mr. Wilson shook his head. “Let him go on, dear,” he said. “I thought you liked Bobby and Johnnie more than me, and then when Sue came along, I just sort of hated everybody . . . I tipped over things. I broke things . . . I don’t know why . . . But I had to be changed. So on New Year’s I made a resolution to let the Lord change me. Every day I asked Him and He helped me.” Mrs. Wilson was on her knees be side the chair in which Teddy had sat down when he began to reply to his father. Mr. Wilson came and put his hand upon the head of his son. For a while none of them spoke, and tears were in the eyes of all. “My birthday wish was that God would help me to keep on keeping my resolution this year . . . and al ways” and with this Teddy broke down completely, and his mother put his head down upon her bosom. Soon Mr. Wilson said, “Let us pray,” and he thanked God for the work He had done in the heart of Teddy and asked that by His grace all of them might keep the promises they had made to God. “Now,” said Mrs. Wilson, through her tears. “Let’s dry our eyes and dry these dishes. We’ll be sleepy when it’s time for Sunday School tomorrow.” As the last dish was finished, and Mrs. Wilson was putting away the dishpan, she said, “Teddy, I remem ber now about your telling me that you were going to make a New Year’s “revolution,” and I explained it was “resolution.” Well, you know, Teddy, I think you were right the first time. It was a revolution. And we thank God for it and for you.”
take the north side and Teddy the south.” “Okay, Mom,” said Teddy before Bobby could say his customary, “Okay.” Everyone looked astonished but fortunately said nothing. All day Teddy worked quietly and was finish ed with his side of the garage as soon as Bobby was with his. The picnic beside Carter Lake was the best of the summer. Even in Cali fornia it was cool for a picnic but the nippiness in the air made the fire feel all the better and the weiners and marshmallows seemed special. Strrugely enough, Teddy didn’t bring any live frogs, snails, or snakes to the meal; he didn’t pinch Johnnie, kick Bobby or tease Sue. The Wilsons only looked at each other as if to speak might break the spell. Family worship that night was or derly, without any argument as to who would “lead first” or “read first”. Often Teddy had thrown the whole session into an uproar by refusing to kneel or complaining he couldn’t “make out the big words” in a pas sage, when his parents were right at his side to help him. Tonight he read the verses without protest and took his turn in prayer. When the Wilsons retired, Mrs. Wilson asked: “Bill, what is it? Am I dreaming? Do you think Teddy is sick?” Her husband laughed. “Do you know I actually felt his forehead when I said goodnight? No, he must be go ing through a phase. It seems as if suddenly all the hostility has gone out of him. But then, tomorrow is an other day.” “Yes, and it may be very trying,” said Mrs. Wilson, “I must get a good night’s sleep.” But it wasn’t trying at all. And as the days lengthened into weeks, and the weeks into months, it was evident that there was a decided change in Teddy. True, occasionally he lapsed into his old naughty self. Sometimes his “red-haired” temper flared. But he was putting up a fight against these things, and he was winning. To the delight of his parents, Teddy’s grade-school teacher wrote on his report-card, “Teddy’s application this year is greatly improved. His ad justment to his playmates is remark able compared with last year. His grades are entirely satisfactory.” One day Mrs. Wilson overheard a conversation between Teddy and Johnnie, as they played in the orchard, which gave her a clue. Johnnie was climbing a tall apple tree and Teddy was watching. “That’s high enough, Buster,” call ed Teddy. “No,” Johnnie insisted, “I want to go to the top.”
JANUARY, 1961
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