Every day Calvin Rogers gets up at seven o'clock. He makes coffee. Then he waits for the morning paper.
Yesterday Calvin was not happy. His newspaper was late.
"Where is that lazy kid ?" he thought. " When I see that paperboy, I'll scold him."
Calvin sat down slowly on the porch swing. His left leg hurt him for the last three days. A light wind made the spring flowers move gently and send sweet smells into the air. The sun covered the stairs with yellow light. Calvin didn't notice. "Fifteen minutes without my paper, " Calvin thought. "Time wasted.
Calvin went inside his house. "I'm going to call the newspaper office and complain," he decided. "That kid should lose his job." Calvin went into the kitchen to get the phone book. Then he remembered that it was upstairs. he had used it last night to find the number of the local radio station. he called to complain about the loud rock music.
Calvin was at the top of the stairs. His left leg suddenly gave way, and he fell backwards. He rolled down the stairs. Calvin felt pain go through his body. Then he blacked out.
Calvin opened his eyes. He was at the bottom of the stairs.
His leg was bent under him. It hurt terribly. "I have to call for help," he thought.
"But who will hear me?"
Long minutes passed. Calvin saw the sunlight move into the house through the open front door. The light touched
his fingertips. They glowed orange. "It's beautiful," he thought. " The color of peaches."
Suddenly a voice cried, " Mr. Rogers, what happened?"
Then he saw a woman's face, "Mr. Rogers, don't move."
Calvin tried to speak, but nothing came out. The woman ran into the kitchen and telephoned for help.
Then she hurried back beside him. "Don't worry. Help is on the way,"
"Who are you?" Calvin asked weakly.
"I'm Timmy's mother. Timmy, your paperboy." She smiled at him.
"I'm sorry I'm late. Timmy told me to be on time.
He's at home sick."
Calvin felt something turn inside him. His eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you so much, " he said. "You have a wonderful boy.