Blue, Yellow, Red – 1st Place Winner, Gunard Carlson Contest

Blue, Yellow, Red by Jack Weidner 1st Place Winner, Gunard Carlson Contest

Tommy was three. He sat in his room, just playing with his blocks. Blue, then yellow, then red. He had decided this stacking order about 10 minutes ago, and liked the way it was going. Blue, then yellow, then red, he thought, the best order for stacking. CRASH! The blocks had fallen. Tommy needed Jacob’s help. He could never get the placement of the higher blocks right to keep the tower steady. Jacob always stopped the blocks from falling. But his parents said that Jacob wouldn’t be back. He went to some place far away, so Tommy knew that he must try to make due until Jacob returned. Then they could make the tallest towers. He tried again. Blue, then yellow, then red. Tommy was able to get it higher than before—just by a little. He sat, incredibly proud of himself. Jacob would be proud. CRASH! The tower had fallen as his dad walked in the room and shut the door. He was wearing all dark colors. “Judy is here,” he said. Tommy had met Judy once. She wasn’t the normal babysitter, but Mom said Jessica was very busy today like his parents, even though school had been canceled for the week. Jacob had a huge crush on Jessica. She was four grades ahead of Jacob. Tommy hadn’t seen his mother much these past couple days, which was odd to him. She seemed very sad when he looked at her. Or angry. She kept yelling at Tommy’s dad one night, “Get rid of the guns! Get rid of them!” She was crying. It was very loud. The “guns” were the toys Jacob and his dad used for fun in the woods. Tommy didn’t know what they did, but he knew his mother hated them. Tommy’s mother brought Judy upstairs. His mother was still very sad and dressed in all dark like his father. Tommy didn’t know why people wore all black…maybe Jacob would know. He’d have to ask him. Tommy wanted Judy to come play blocks. He told her the order. Blue, then yellow, then red.