Billy the Forgetful
Introduction
Billy the Forgetful. There once was a boy named Billy. He was known as Billy the Forgetful. No, Forgetful wasn't his family name, but rather a habit of his. You'll see why in a moment.
— Mom, you promised you'd make apple pie today. — Yes, yes, I remember, Billy. But where's the cinnamon I told you to buy yesterday? — Hmm, I forgot.
— Billy, did you remember to mail that letter? — Letter? Which letter? — Oh, I just remembered. I'm sorry, sis, I think I forgot. — Billy!
A Bad Habit
So, that was Billy the Forgetful. He didn't forget everything, of course; he only forgot what he promised to do for others. He was a child you couldn't rely on at all.
The Vegetable Garden
— The government says all properties like ours must plant as many vegetables as possible. — Why, Dad? — We all need to grow pure and natural vegetables, free of pollutants and pesticides. Luckily, we have a garden at home, Billy. Natural vegetables are essential for health. We all need to grow vegetables in the garden from now on. — We'll have to be very careful with the gate then, so the cow doesn't get in and eat the vegetables!
Well, we'll start planting tomorrow morning. So, the next morning, after breakfast, Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, and Billy went into the garden and began digging and planting.
After a while, the postman came to the gate with a telegram. Billy quickly went to get it.
— Dad, it's for you! — Hmm, it's an order for me to go to the coast. — What do you mean, Dad? — Let's just say it's a business trip. — For how long? — For a few weeks. I have to leave in an hour. So, take care of yourselves while I'm gone, and you, Billy, grow up a bit more. You need to be responsible now. Take care of our little farm, okay? I'm counting on you.
Billy felt very proud when he heard his father was counting on him. For a few days, he took good care of the garden.
Billy Forgets Again
But it didn't last long. After some time, Billy became Billy the Forgetful again.
— Billy, I told you to close the gate an hour ago! — Oh, I forgot. — Where are the pens I asked you to buy for me when you came home from school? — Hmm, I forgot. — Hey, Billy, why is the soil so dry? Didn't you water the seeds? — I wanted to water them, but I forgot.
Dad Comes Home
A few weeks passed until, one evening, the family finally received the telegram they were waiting for.
— Lizzy, Billy, Dad's coming home today! — How wonderful! Dad! — Let's meet him at the station at five o'clock. I'll make his favorite biscuit pudding, mashed potatoes, and corn schnitzel for dinner. — Yummy, I like that too. — Oh, how good it will be to have him here again after so long! Now go and make sure everything is clean and nice in the house and that the vegetable garden looks good and is tidied up. Come on, Billy, close the gate before you come in!
The entire family began to joyfully prepare for Dad's arrival. And finally, it was time to leave for the station.
The Destroyed Garden
When the family stepped out in front of the house, they saw that the vegetable garden was destroyed.
— What on earth happened here? — Mom, look at the tracks! A cow was here! — Billy, didn't you close the gate? — I forgot. I'm so sorry. — Ah, Billy, goodness! Come on, your father must be arriving!
Dad Isn't at the Station
The family went to the station. The train arrived and stopped, but Dad wasn't on it.
— Mom, are you sure it said Dad's train would arrive at five o'clock? — Yes, but why isn't your father here?
They waited a while longer at the station. They spoke to the train conductor to see if another train was coming, and eventually, they resigned themselves and went home disappointed and very worried. Although she tried to hide it, it was clear that Mom was very worried about their father. The next day, due to worry, she had a terrible headache.
— Oh, Mom, let me make you some tea. You'll feel much better.
Dad Returns
Just then, a car honked in the driveway. Elizabeth and Billy ran out and saw their father getting out of the car.
— Mom, Dad's here!
The family quickly rushed outside to see their father.
— Oh, how worried I was! Why didn't you come yesterday? — Why? I sent you another telegram saying I couldn't arrive until this morning. — What? What telegram? We didn't receive any. Elizabeth, did you get anything? — No, Mom, nothing. — Billy! — Billy! — I'm sorry, Mom. No, I don't know how, I forgot. I'm very, oh, I'm very sorry. — How irresponsible you are, Billy! — Because of you, we were all worried! Mom got sick because of your carelessness! — I'm very disappointed in you. And is that your garden, Billy? How is it destroyed?
An Important Lesson
Billy had nothing more to say to his father. He hung his head in shame. Fortunately, just then, his friend John came in.
— Hello everyone! Hey, Billy, how about having lunch with me tomorrow at 12? We'll go up the hill for a picnic.
Billy was very happy and immediately forgot about his vegetable garden.
— I'd love to!
Billy the Forgetful didn't forget about the picnic with a friend, so the next morning, Billy woke up early, got dressed, and prepared a picnic basket too. Billy the Forgetful didn't forget to buy chocolate and some tarts the day before. And at the right time, he went to his friend's house.
Excitedly, he rang the doorbell. His friend's grandfather opened the door.
— Oh, Billy! How can I help you, young man? — Good day, Grandpa! John invited me for a picnic today at lunch. Is he ready? — Well, I know nothing about lunch. John is gone and won't be back until this evening. — But he invited me himself! He didn't tell me he'd be gone all day. — Oh, that means John forgot.
Sadly, Billy started walking back home. Fortunately, Dad had returned, so he could spend the day playing with him. He ran home, but when he arrived, he saw with surprise that only Jack the cook was there.
— Jack, where are the others? — Well, they went for a picnic in the mountains. They won't be back until tomorrow. — What? No one said a word to me about it. — They probably forgot to tell you, Billy.
Billy was devastated. He couldn't go inside, so he sat in his garden, which was now destroyed because he had forgotten to close the gate. Suddenly, a yellow bunting flew in and pecked him hard on the head.
— Ouch! Hey! Stop it! — There's a big hole there and I don't think it wants to be fixed. — Billy, you need to be fixed, you know. — Fixed-fixed? What do you mean? — You have a big hole in your head, and things are falling out of it. — A hole in my head through which things are falling out of my head? — The things you need to do, your promises, are falling out through the hole in your head. — Are you scolding me? Then scold John too, and Mom, and Dad, and Elizabeth. — Why? They forgot just like you forgot, Billy. You should understand. — The things you get angry about, you've done them thousands of times to people who trust you greatly. It's normal to forget sometimes, but to forget always, know that's not good at all. — I know. I've been very bad. — Bad, selfish, and unreliable. — My family probably hates me. — No family hates each other, Billy. Yours love you, and it's time you showed them you love them too. — Yes, I promise. From now on, I will remember the things I promise people. I will never say the words "I forgot" again, and if I feel like I'm about to forget something, I'll pinch myself. — That's a plan! Farewell!
Billy the Attentive
Billy wasted no time. He ran into the house, cleaned up, arranged the letters, set the table for dinner, and told Jack:
— When do you think Mom, Dad, and Lizzy will be back? We can prepare something nice for them, and I think it would be good if I made a card to write that I'm sorry for being irresponsible.
Just then, Billy saw a wonderful sight. Mom, Dad, Elizabeth, and John came out of the rooms.
— Billy? — Dad, Mom, John! You're here! You didn't leave? — How could we leave without you, Billy? It was Elizabeth's idea, and we're so glad you finally realized what it's like when others let you down.
Mom was right. Billy finally understood. And from that day on, Billy the Forgetful transformed into Billy the Attentive. Billy behaved with such attentiveness that people forgot he was once Billy the Forgetful.
And now he was a very responsible child.
