Jackos Ladder

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It was another cold day in town. Nothing ever happened in Riverstown
especially on the weekend. It was always quiet.
Grey clouds drifted through a patchy blue sky and shadows covered the
streets of the town. A wild winters wind weaved its way through the
empty
School playground sending papers and plastic bags scurrying here there
and everywhere. It was an eerie sight around the bog that slid itself
among the rushes . The sound of croaking frogs echoed up from the bog
to the paths and
Drowned out the singing of birds.
There were about one hundred people who lived in Frogview Street and
inside one of the tiny houses was an old man searching each drawer and
cupboard. He held an old clay pipe in his hand. Opening up a window he
leaned out and shouted in a creaky voice,
"Jacko come here. "
At the top of the hill in Frogview Street were a group of boys playing
marbles on some spare ground.
One of the boys lifted an ear to the wind and said,
" Jacko it's your Grandad. You best go."
" Lucky you. I was about to skin you all. I'll see you later
then."
Jacko scooped up all the marbles he had won. Some of them were as big
as the a half a crown. It was almost impossible for him to walk with so
many marbles in his pockets After a slow and uncomfortable walk down
the hill he opened up the front door to his Granddads house and before
he said a word to anyone he emptied out his pockets on the floor.
His Grandad walked over and said,
" When you get back I'll give you a game Jacko."
"Where am I going?" Jacko replied.
"To buy me some pipe tobacco "
"Awh not again. " said Jacko.
"Boys a dear I'm just about done again ".
"Don't fret Grandad I'll get you some. "
"I'll choke if I don't get a smoke."
"Its no joke Grandad."
"Am I laughing?"
"You will be when I get back with your tobacco."
The old man pulled off an overcoat from the hatstand and took out a
handkerchief and blew his nose. At the same time he quickly put his
hand into a secret inside pocket and counted out some silver
coins.
Handing over the coins to Jacko he said,
"Quick now off you go. Don't be all day ".
Off Jacko went. The wind picked up and chilled his cheek. Jacko pulled
his collar up covering the nape of his neck and continued along the
road that made its way to the school. The short cut through the
brickyard was rough
But Jacko was agile on his feet. Like a deer he leaped from stone to
stone and delicately walked on the balls of his feet along the edge of
the wall that surrounded the old brickworks yard. Jumping about six
feet down from the wall Jacko made his way past the kiln furnace and
stopped dead at the railway carriage tracks. Outside an old storage
shed a wooden ladder lay upright against the side of the warehouse. It
was much too tempting to climb and so with urgency Jacko started up the
ladder. Rung by rung he went,
Higher and higher faster and faster. Jacko looked back down the ladder
and to his surprise saw no sign of the brickyard and Riverstown itself
had vanished from view. What he did see above his head was thick cotton
covered white cloud that he steeped on to from the ladder. The cloud
felt like rock under his feet. He walked along a path that took him to
a sign that read
Welcome To Cloud 9.
A little further on Jacko came to a large building covered with red
velvet bricks and silver and gold window frames. Jacko opened the door
and walked inside
Where he found a hallway with many doors. Outside one of the doors was
a doormat. Jacko opened up that door and found a small arched shaped
door with a big doorbell button just by the door handle. Jacko pressed
the button and the door swung open by itself. As he walked inside he
heard all this fantastic music playing and there were flashing coloured
lights with welcome signs glowing away. A huge Television screen was
mounted on a wall and food was laid out on a table. There were soft
chairs and a white fluffy carpet on the floor.

For the first time in Jacko's life he felt as if he fit in and was
wanted somewhere. Ever since his parents abandoned him with his
Grandfather Jacko had tried to keep it all together pretending he was
ok and showing others how strong he was. No one really knew how hurt he
was and how sad he felt inside. Even though his Grandad loved him and
did all he could for Jacko at times that just wasn't enough. Jacko was
alone with his rejection and couldn't shake off the lost happiness of
years without his Mum and Dad around him. The fact was his Mum and Dad
were incapable of loving one another and like a cancer it spread
through and killed the love that they had for Jacko. Jacko never
understood why this had happened and blamed himself for their parent's
problems .

As Jacko stood there listening to the music he was met by an angel who
placed her wings around him.
"I am a messenger who has been told to bring you some good news Jacko
God loves you and had been watching everything you have suffered for
years and now it the day for a change in your life."
Jacko looked hesitant but smiled and replied,
"Does God know why my Mum and Dad left me alone?"
"Why yes of course. The reason they left you alone is so that you could
know his love for you is greater that theirs and even though they left
you he will never leave you. God has at this very moment is about to
bring your Mum and Dad back together again."
" How can God do that?"
The angel replied,
"Lets watch what happens."
They both sat down on a comfy chair and watched a movie on a huge TV
screen.
Jacko was in the movie and as he looked up at the angel she said,
"Shoosh just watch."
Jacko was wearing rags for clothes and stood begging for money on a
pavement. First his Mum walked past and stopped. She stood horrified
and looked at Jacko who smiled and called her by her name saying,
"I'm sorry for causing you and Dad so much trouble Mum. Would you spare
have a few spare coins? I'm very hungry and have no where to
stay."
Immediately and by some strange coincidence Jacko's Dad walked
by.
He looked at Jacko and his wife standing there. He began to cry and it
wasn't long before all three stood there weeping openly on the
footpath.
Unknown to the three a white dove descended from above and landed one
by one on the heads of all three people.
The angel turned off the Television screen and kissed Jacko and
said,
"Now its time for you to go?"
"Go where" asked Jacko.
"Back down the ladder. "
The angel walked with Jacko who just remembered about his Granddads
pipe tobacco.
"Oh God " said Jacko.
The angel smiled and began to laugh.
"Well God doesn't really approve of this but here give this to your
Grandad and tell him if he doesn't stop smoking it will kill
him."
"You really do know everything."
Jacko said as a white dove rested on his shoulder.
The angel waved Jacko goodbye as he went back down the ladder.
"Will I ever see you again?"
Jacko asked.
"One day we will all meet again. Have a great life Jacko. You have a
big future ahead of you."
When Jacko finally got to the bottom of the ladder he ran all the way
back to his Granddads house and was joined at the gate by his Mum and
Dad who said "Jacko where on Earth have you been? Its time to go back
home. Your dinners in the oven. Hurry up."
Jacko started to laugh.
"Ok Mum and Dad. I'm coming. I just have to give something for Grandad
Jacko ran inside and handed the tobacco tin to his Grandfather who
seemed a little puzzled. He looked at Jacko and said,
"What on earth have you give me that for. You know I stopped smoking a
long time ago Jacko. I don't need it anymore.
Jacko saw a dove rest over his Grandfathers head and Jacko said,
"That's right Granddad. I found this tin and wondered what to do with
it."
His Grandad took it and placed it in the bin.
"You better go Jacko your Mum and Dad are waiting for you "
Jacko gave his Grandad a big hug and said,
"Thanks for everything .I love you Grandad."
His Grandad seemed a bit taken back and waved goodbye to Jacko as he
walked out the door.
Jacko returned home with his parents as if they had never been
apart.
That night before bed Jacko said a big thank you to God.
The moon was extra bright that night and the stars seemed to shine
brighter that ever before.

By Paul Mc Cann

THE END