REVEREND ARCHEMBALD STEALS THE FIRE ENGINE!

By

Catelin Hoover

Ernest Archembald stretched his lanky legs out from the desk where he had been seated for the last hour. He studied the paper in his hand, and then looked up at the matronly woman seated at the desk in the front of the room.

He stood; walking with long strides reached the desk at the front of the room within a few moments. “Here’s my exam, Miss Lowe.”

“Thank you Ernest. Have a good summer.” She said peering up at him over her glasses.

She laid the exam down on top of the others stacked on her desk.

“Thank you Miss Lowe, you have a nice summer, too. See you next fall.” Ernest replied turning to leave the room. English had been the last final exam he had to take to complete his junior year in high school.

It was the summer of 1914. Ernest long strides soon carried him to his home behind the Old Stone Church where his grandfathers had served as ministers and where his dad was now the minister.

Ernest entered his home through the back door. He paused to take in the aroma of freshly baked apple pie. “I’m home Mom!” He called.

“Did you do well on your exam?” Alice Archembald called from the kitchen.

“I think so,” Ernest answered entering the kitchen. He gave his mom a quick kiss on the cheek then gently brushed a wisp of her biscuit color hair from her face. Turning he took a bottle of milk from the ice box then took a tall glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass full of the icy cold drink.

“Sit down, Ernie, have some pie with that milk.” his mother said, cutting a large piece of pie and slipping it onto a dessert plate.

“Thanks mom.” Ernest said his mouth watering for the first taste of the sumptuous pie.

Alice Archembald sat down across from her son. “Ernie, have you given any thought to what you plan to do once you graduate next summer?”

“College, Mom.” Ernest said through a mouthful of the tasty pie. He washed it down with a big gulp of milk. Swallowing quick he added, “I want to go to Yale or Harvard to study law.”