Bernie's Chapter · When the narrator was about ten
A Chicago Visit and a Lasting Lesson in Thanks
told by Bernard James Guild
Bernard visited Grandma and Grandpa Hobson in Chicago with Billy Johnson and Billy’s parents. They ate lunch at Marshall Field’s, ordering from a huge giraffe-shaped children’s menu, and Bernard bought Bob a toy roller coaster. After they returned home, Tom Johnson scolded Bernard for not thanking others for their kindness. Bernard kept the embarrassing incident from his parents and never liked Tom afterward, but never forgot to thank anyone again.
In the family's own words
I went to Chicago to visit Grandma and Grandpa Hobson with Billy Johnson and his mom and dad. I must have been about ten. We went to Marshall Field’s for lunch and ordered from a kid’s menu in the shape of a huge giraffe. I bought a toy for Bob—a little roller coaster with tin cars that traveled over the tracks. When we got home, Tom Johnson sat me down and scolded me for not thanking anyone for their kindness. I never told Mom or Dad about that incident. Because he had embarrassed me, I never ever liked Tom Johnson after that, but I never forgot to thank anyone ever again, either.
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Bernie's Chapter, told by Bernard James GuildRelated stories
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