by Liz Yepsen and Steven McGaughey "Mother come look!" Charley yelled loudly, "I've finished my painting!" He stood by it proudly. "Charley, it's perfect!" his mother exclaimed. "We'll hang it right up, I'll go have it framed!" The painting was bright! And, though there were lots, His mom hung it up In the best of all spots. And the neighbors came over, To look and admire- The blues like the ocean, The reds like a fire. One neighbor said, "Charley This work couldn't lose! You must enter a contest, Any one that you choose." Charley's mother thought yes! This painting's quite pretty. So they wrapped it right up Stamped 'first class' to the city. They waited and waited, (And waiting's not fun) They waited for news To see if they'd won. They waited through storms Through rain and dark haze; They waited up nights For almost three days. Then Wednesday it came! The news—there it was. The mail finally came As mail finally does. He'd won the contest! He won, the whole show! Charley was to be famous, To the museum he'd go! He packed up his toys, His paints and his brush And off to the museum! He went in a rush. And oh! How they cheered For Charley that day! He stood up so happy As they shouted 'hooray!' But deep down inside Charley, he knew, Something just wasn't right This just wouldn't do. He'd tried to tell mother, But she was nowhere around. He tried telling the judge But he couldn't be found. Charley had to do something, The right thing, right away. He knew what to do, But not what to say. So he found a big box, And climbed to the top, And then to the crowd, he hollered out, STOP! As soon as he'd said it Silence fell on the crowd And he wished that he hadn't, Hadn't been so, well, loud. But he had their attention! He glanced over at mother. He took a deep breath, And then took another. "I… I didn't paint this. I've lied to you all" These paintings aren't mine, These ones on the wall." The whispers came flying! Could it be true? And a man with a dark hat Cried out, "Then who?" Charley stuttered a moment And looked the crowd over. "It was him," he pointed, "It was my dog, Rover." What is this? What a shock! Could a dog paint this stuff? They all turned to Rover Who said only 'Ruff!' And it was in fact true, It was Rover who'd done it. They gave him the trophy— It was he that had won it. When it came time to go home Charley hung his small head. "I'm sorry I lied" To Rover he said. Once safe back at home To the beach they did race. Charley hugged his dog Rover And Rover licked Charley's face. He forgave Charley right then As they played on the shore - For Rover liked painting But he loved Charley more. |  ...click on any image to see Steve's Daily Doodle, www.smcaughey.com  |
