Storytelling for Week 11: Willy Boy and Tommy

WILLY boy, Willy boy, where are you going?

I'll go with you, if I may.

"I'm going to the meadow to see them a mowing;

I'm going to help them, make hay."

-Nursery Rhyme 

One fine summer’s day, Willy Boy and his friend Tommy were playing in the yard.  They were sons of Rancher’s and dreamed of one day owning their own plantation.  They were youngsters but wanted to help their dads in anyway they could.  Willy Boy and Tommy would always do small task around the ranch.  Each day the boys would split up the chores so they could learn how to do all of the chores and also get them done faster.  Earlier that day the boys had to rake the leaves, feed the horses, clean the stalls, water the garden, and shell the peas.  Their dads had gone out to the meadow to cut the hay and roll it up into hay bales.  The boys were told to stay at home because this was a “big boys” job.  “One day, Willy Boy, we’ll be big enough and strong enough to cut and bale the hay,” said Tommy.  “You’re right Tommy. One day…”  To pass the time, the boys decided to head to the swimming pond.  They jumped and splashed the cool creek water as they laughed and played.  They could hear the sound of the tractor from a short distance away but tried to forget about it.  They went to a sun patch near the creek to lie down and dry off.  Soon the boys had drifted into a faint sleep.  An hour later, Tommy heard a rustling of leaves that awoke him.  He sat up and rubbed his eyes looking to find what was making the noise.  He noticed that Willy Boy was not beside him anymore.  “Willy Boy!” cried Tommy.  “Where have you gone?”  Willy Boy heard Tommy calling his name and turned back toward the creek, as he had not gone far.  “Tommy, I’m headed to the meadow where our dads are.” “Willy Boy, you know we can’t go out there.  They are baling the hay and that job is not for us.”  “I’m tired of waiting Tommy.  I want to be a rancher like my dad and I am ready to learn how to bale hay.  Maybe if we go we can show them how much we want to help!”  “Good idea Willy Boy! Let’s head to the meadow and help them bale some hay.  We’ll really show them how much we want to be like them!”  The boys set off to the meadow were their dad’s were on the tractors cutting and baling the hay.

(Baling hay: Pixabay)

Author's Note:  I created a story using the nursery rhyme in the Relics section.  I included the nursery rhyme at the beginning of the post that way readers could identify it easier.  I used the same dialogue in my story as in the nursery rhyme.  I wrote a simple story that went along with the nursery rhyme.  I had fun writing this one because I come from a small farming town and knew many kids like Willy Boy and Tommy!

Bibliography:

The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang and illustrated by L. Leslie Brooke (1897).