Childrens Book-Adventure #1-Mike E. Meanderer Moves To The Country Poem by Christine K. Trease

Today all our treasures were placed in a truck and taken SO far away.
I sat on the stoop of our old house and I thought, “what a VERY sad day! ”

I was angry that daddy had left us to go live with the angels above.
Now I only had momma and momma had me, we had only each other to love.

My momma, so young and so pretty, looked so tired and so forlorn.
As the truck drove away with the last of our stuff, the man cheerfully tooted his horn!

But nothing I thought of was cheerful, I felt mad, I felt hurt and alone.
I DID NOT want to leave my old house or my friends and move to a brand new home.

I looked through the window at momma, and she looked like she wanted to cry.
Then she faked a good smile and took hold of my hand and said, 'Mike E., it's time for good-bye.'

I waved to my friends and my neighbors, I would miss them for sure it was true,
but I must be the man of the house now so I had no time left to be blue.

There would be so much help momma needed when we got to our brand new home.
I must work very hard to help momma, just to let her know she's not alone.

As our truck traveled slow down the long lane that leads to our new country home,
clouds of dust filled the air as we drove in. I was feeling so lost and alone.

There was no one around us for miles, and our neighbors were acres away.
Then I thought to myself all over again, 'this IS a very sad day! '

The movers were backed in and ready, so momma unbolted the door.
They took in our beds and our boxes and placed them around on the floor.

My mom paid the men for their service, and the movers drove off in their van,
and my momma looked right in my face and she said, 'we have much work to do, little man.'

So, bursting with pride I tore into the mess. We COULD make this old house our own place,
and for the first time in so many days now, momma had a real smile on her face.

I asked momma what she was thinking. She replied, as her voice slightly cracked,
'when your daddy was young he lived in this same house, with your Grandma Nan and Papa Jack.'

'As a boy, he had freckles like you do and the very same blonde in his hair,
and he carried a compass and Papa Jack's watch, and these small overalls he did wear.'

Then she reached in a box of old treasures and she pulled out the blue overalls.
She felt in the bib for the kerchief, 'years ago it was your Uncle Paul's.'

In the pocket she found papa's gold watch and the compass for guiding your way.
My mom proudly gave all these treasures to me, and I thought, 'what a WONDERFUL day! '

I asked mom what daddy did out on this farm, in the country, with no one nearby.
She said, 'each day held new adventure for dad.' Then a tear rolled from my momma's eye.

'He explored every hill and deep valley, each green pasture beneath the blue skies.
He loved every new creature and winged thing he could find with his keenly trained eyes.'

So I slipped on my dad's old blue denims, placed the kerchief inside of the bib,
put the compass and watch in my pocket, just like mom said that dad always did.

I told momma, 'bright in the morning, I think I'll go wandering some.'
But before I went off to my bedroom, I assured mom I loved our new home.

I awoke in the morning to crowing, and the sun peeking over the hill.
It felt strange to be going off wandering when the world was so quiet and still.

But I stood straight up tall as I traipsed down the path that leads from my house to everywhere,
my heart pounding fast with excitement, for adventure awaits me out there.