Bob: Where are we today, Ted?

Ted: We’re in a classroom, Bob. Harpers Ferry elementary rom 12.

At the wall sharpener on the wall. Watch this.

Bob: Johnny is standing at the wall with a very short pencil in his hand.

Ted: That pencil looks like it still works.

Bob: Two kids turn around in their seats and look at him.

Ted: They heard that.

Bob: Johnny puts the pencil into the sharpener.

Ted: Easy now John.

Bob: He turns the handle once.

Ted: That’s Good.

Bob: He turns it again.

Ted: But it was still working!

Bob: He stops and looks at the tip.

Ted: That’s enough Johnny.

Bob: He turns it one more time.

Ted: Oh no! YOU TOOK IT OFF.

Bob: He pulls the pencil out and looks at it.

Ted: …

Bob: The tip is gone.

Ted: It’s gone.

Bob: It was right there.

Ted: Not now.

Bob: It still works.

Ted: No it doesn’t.

Bob: It was fine.

Ted: There was no need! He took it off.

Bob: That doesn’t make sense.

Ted: It only takes one bad turn.

Bob: Johnny looks back at the sharpener.

Ted: Don’t do it again.

Bob: He puts the pencil back in.

Ted: No. Don’t do it

Bob: He turns the handle again.

Ted: HE TOOK EVEN MORE OFF.

Bob: He pulls it out and looks at it.

Ted: …

Bob: Now the pencil is even shorter.

Ted: The pencil keeps taking it.

Bob: It still works.

Ted: No. It doesn’t.

Bob: It was working before.

Ted: Not after that one.

Bob: That’s not fair.

Ted: It’s never fair.

Bob: Johnny walks back to his desk with the pencil.

Ted: There’s no tip.

Bob: He presses the pencil down on the paper.

Ted: Nothing.

Bob: Yes. Nothing. It doesn’t write.

Ted: It doesn’t work.

Bob: A kid slides another pencil across the desk to him.

Ted: A new pencil.

Bob: Johnny picks up the new pencil and holds it still for a second.

Ted: That one will work.

Bob: He starts writing with it.

Ted: Good.

Bob: The short pencil stays on the desk.

Ted: He wrecked it.

Bob: There’s nothing left on it.

Ted: That’s it. That’s the story.

Both: Bob and Ted—Play-by-Play of Your Life.

Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast apps

© Story Porch — All rights reserved