THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

"Happy birthday, son. Here’s a little something in the way of a present for you."

"Why, thank you father. What is it?"

"Why ask me what it is when you can open it up and see for yourself?"

"Oh, wow! It’s a universe! I always wanted one of those. But really father, you shouldn’t have spent so much money on me."

"I didn’t buy it. I made it for you."

"Made it? Gosh, it must have taken you hours."

"Actually, it took me six whole days."

"So that’s why you stayed in bed all day on Sunday."

"Yes. Now look; this is not at toy. Some of those planets have living things on them, so be careful."

"I will, father, I promise. They seem to be evolving very quickly, don’t they?"

"Quickly by our standards, yes. Time moves much more slowly for them. I’m going now. If you have any problems, you know where to find me, don’t you?"

"Yes, father. Thank you very much. It’s a terrific universe, the best one I have ever seen. I love you."

"I love you too, son."

*******

"Father, father! Come quickly. Something awful is happening in the universe."

"all right, son. I’m here. What’s the problem?"

"Oh, father. One of my planets just exploded."

"Ah yes, I can se it from here. It’s Earth. Don’t worry, son. It wasn’t your fault at all. They seem to have had some sort of a nuclear war."

"Oh, Daddy. That was my favourite world. It had blue skies, deep oceans, trees, flowers, birds ... "

"Don’t upset yourself. I can soon make you a new Earth."

"Oh, can you? Will you? Thank you father, thank you ... But this time, please, don’t put any people on it."

"Don’t worry, son. I won’t. I promise."

Arthur Chappell.

Note - This was my first ever published story, appearing in a college Magazine in Manchester in 1987