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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: The Importance of Being Earnest (not about the play) (08/04/11)
He stood in front of her desk with steady regard. Mrs. Sonne looked at the big gray eyes and the drooping lips. Here was a man in trouble, perhaps in need of a handout?

“Good afternoon, Benny. How are you today?”

Disregarding the formalities he burst out, “He called me a norful beast, but I’m not a beast, am I? I’m a hooman bean, narn’t I?

It was a desperate appeal, tinged with rebellion, anchored in right.

“Yes, Benny, you are a human being.” Mrs. Sonne hesitated. What had this human being done to be accused of being an awful beast? Sidestepping the issue she asked, “Did you enjoy the weekend? How did Terence do in his new yacht?”

Before Benny could formulate his reply his father stepped out of his office. He regarded the six year old with unsmiling disfavor.

He took up the question. “Terence did very well, Mrs. Sonne. So did Judith and her friend, Joy. The weather was perfect – everything was perfect, and I took photographs of them all.”

His tone was bitter. Mrs. Sonne was nonplussed.

“That sounds good – you will all have fun going over them later.”

“Would have had.” His tone was emphatic. “I put the camera on top of the wardrobe until I could use the last two frames and then get it developed. BUT …” his face hardened again, “but that little beast climbed up and opened the camera …”

Benny protested, “But I only wanted to see the photos …”

His father turned away, striding across the showroom. Tears welled in the big gray eyes and Benny repeated disconsolately, “I only wanted to see the photos.”

Mrs. Sonne held the bubble of laughter firmly inside herself. A keen photographer herself she had a foot in each camp. Poor little boy …

“Benny,” she offered a tissue, “you can’t see the photos immediately they are taken. When you opened the camera the light destroyed all the photos on the film. It has to be opened in the dark and the film has to be especially developed and then printed, and only then can you see the photographs. That is why your Dad is so upset. Can you understand?”

He nodded, tearing the tissue to shreds. “I didn’t know. I thought I could see them first.”

“Well,” she offered, “you’ll have to remember it next time. And now try not to do anything else to upset your Dad. Yes, he is cross with you because you opened the camera, but really he is much more upset because he has lost all the photographs he was hoping to keep. Did you know you were not supposed to touch the camera?”

He nodded reluctantly. “That’s why he put it on top of the wardrobe.”

“So you were naughty.”

His under-lip pouted and she added hastily, “I know you just wanted to see the photos, but if you knew you weren’t supposed to touch the camera you were naughty. And you are a human being, and human beings are often naughty.”

She sighed, thinking of her own children. Holding out a fresh tissue she removed the shreds from the twining fingers.

“Dry your eyes, Benny, and come round here. As there are no photographs to show me you will have to draw me a picture of Terence in his yacht.”

She smiled at the earnestly bent head, fingers busily expiating his sin, while considering the importance of being human. Her lips twitched with the sudden thought of how Adam might have reacted if God had called him an “awful beast” for his transgression!

Human beings, descendants of Adam, repeatedly caught in the same transgression, repeatedly protesting our humanity, repeatedly qualifying our misdeeds, our sins. All of us offered the pardon of mercy, the son-ship of grace. All of us offered the ability of the Holy Spirit to live forgiven, sin free lives as the children of God.

Just as Benny’s father would again smile at his son and lay his hand in blessing on his head, so our Father, God, smiles at us and lays His hand of blessing on our lives. Human beings, being human, we so desperately need the Divine.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Edmond Ng
08/12/11
An interesting read and a good example of certain wrongs that cannot be undone, although can be forgiven. So frequently we do things without understanding and attempt to find out the reason why by doing the exact opposite. The consequence can cost much more than we can imagine, and hurt the one who had given the advice.

From the context of the plot, I suppose the story is dated a while ago, since many of us would be using digital cameras these days. Your story provides an essential message we need to learn today.

C D Swanson 
08/12/11
I enjoyed this story. It held my interest, and also brings to mind how often we say words to youngsters that can be hurtful. Irrespective of the situation-children need to be taught "in earnest" in order to learn. Nice Job...I was an inquisitive child, so I can relate to him! God Bless~
Linda Goergen
08/13/11
I too was surprised the child had not erased digital photos, but point would be the same, he did something that could not be undone. But he did learn a lesson that will probably never be forgotten, just like God often teaches us through our mistakes!! The message in your story is wonderful; we human beings certainly do need God’s grace and understanding. Enjoyed the read!
Andrea Willard
08/13/11
Oh my! Mrs. Sonne saves the day. Little Benny has his hope restored until he gets into his next mischief anyway. Correlating our Heavenly Father's forgiveness with Benny's little fingers atoning for the sin of destroying the film is just right. Thank you for a good story.