The Broken Glass

 

The Broken Glass

CHILDREN'S STORIES

 

Martin and Kip were great friends. They lived on the same apartment block. They saw each other every day and played to and from school. They found the things they learned at school very exciting and often tried them out at home. Sometimes when they were alone they would try to do the things they saw their parents doing at home too.

 

Not all of their experiments turned out well. Sometimes they were dangerous and caused real trouble like the time they had put a tin on some sticks to cook Ugali the way Kips mother made it at home. The grass near the house had caught fire and all the neighbors clothes got burned. When people asked them what happened they refused to tell the truth and did not accept responsibility for lighting the fire.

 

Their families lived on the same block, but hardly talked to each other. The boys, however, knew each others parents very well. There was only one thing worse than getting caught doing something wrong by Kips mother, that was facing Kips' angry father. Martins mother was nice, so all the materials they needed for experiments came from Martins house. Martins father did not talk much, but he was always interested in finding out what the boys were going. So while the boys hid everything from Kips parents, Martins parents always found out about a few of the games they played.

 

Whenever they were playing they always pretended to be grown ups just like teacher or their parents. Deep down all they were really trying to do was be grown ups. There was just one small problem. When they their experiments turned out well they were proud of their success and told everyone about them. When they failed, however, they quickly hid their mistakes and did not accept responsibility for what had happened. Just like in the case of the fire, if the experiment failed they would never tell the truth. Until one day the glass broke.

 

On this particular day they took Martins mothers glass from the cupboard to grow some flowers like the ones they had seen in a magazine in Kips house. It was a very thin glass. They put the glass down outside and put in some water. Next they got some flowers from the garden and put them into the glass. As they proudly watched the flowers growing, their friends called them for a game of football. They ran off to play with the other boys thinking they would be back to take the glass back into the house after the game was over.

 

They of course forgot all about the glass and the flowers. The sun came up and the glass got hotter and hotter. Finally, there was a loud crack and the glass split into several pieces. When the boys came back to take the glass home they were shocked to find a broken glass, spilled water and wilting flowers scorched by the sun.

 

"Now we're are in real trouble. What will you tell your mother?" said Kip "Nothing" said Martin, "but we can't just return it and say nothing" said Kip. "Why not, I thought we always say nothing when things go wrong" said Martin. "Look, this is different, you have a problem, because your mother is going to see the broken glass and you will be in trouble" said Kip. "But you got the flowers and I got the glass that means we broke the glass" said Martin. "I don't think so" said Kip.

 

Just then, the most amazing thing happened. Both Kip and Martins fathers turned the corner from the bus stop and were coming home talking about something grown-ups always talk about. They were coming directly towards the boys standing with the broken glass. There was no place to hide. The boys just stood there in silence not knowing what to do. The Fathers eventually reached the two boys and Martins father immediately recognized the glass. The fathers stopped chatting for a moment and stared down at the little boys.

 

"Who broke the glass?" asked Martins father. The boys were quiet for a while. Then Kips father repeated the question "Who broke the glass?". Martin looked at kip and then said "I did it". "Well" said Martins father "you had better get ready to explain what happened to your mother".

 

The two fathers left the two boys and walked towards the block chatting as they went. It looked like they were finishing the discussion they were having from the bus stop. After some time they wished each other a good evening and called the boys to go home.

 

While their fathers were talking, Kip turned to Martin and thanked him for saving his skin. At least he would not get punished for breaking the glass. Martin said that's okay even though he knew that his mother was going to give him a serious whipping. Kip ran off home while Martin slowly climbed the stairs to their house. Two interesting conversations took place in the block that night. One in Kips house and the other in Martins.

 

When Kip ran into the house, he very nearly ran over his father who was waiting for him in the corridor. Kip was surprised to see the look on his fathers face. He had seen his father angry and he had seen his father very happy, but he had never seen his father with this kind of old look on his face. When his father finally spoke he said " I am very disappointed in what you did son, you just can't be trusted" "but dad I didn't break the glass". " That is just the problem son – I wish you had" Kip was struggling to understand what his father meant.  "look son" said Kips father " I know that Martin is your friend and that you were playing with him when the glass broke, why didn't you accept responsibility?"  Kip looked down and said I didn't want to make you angry with me. "Well I am angry and very disappointed now that I know you tell me lies just to make me happy" said Kips dad. When Kips mother came home and listened to the story, she sent him to bed without supper. As he lay in the bed that night, he couldn't help wondering what kind of punishment Martin would get for the broken glass.

 

Martin finally reached the door of their house with the broken glass in his hand. Just as he was about to reach for the handle to let himself in, the door swung open and his mother picked him up and kissed him until he blushed. When he was able to pull himself away she said "I am so proud of you son". "But mum" he said "I just broke your glass and I can't fix it". "I know" she said "but that is not what is important today. Your father told me all about how you told the truth. What is important today is that you accepted responsibility for what you did, that means that I can trust you with everything in this house. Your father has promised to buy me another glass so don't worry about it, but from now on if you want to use anything in the house –please ask me first".

 

 

Allan Bukusi 2007