Growing Higher and Faster

Erwin, a 7 years old boy, aspires to grow up so fast like his eldest brothers. Among the brood of 5 boys in the family, he is the youngest, and somehow the least who got the attention from their parents. Erwin also get upsets from time to time that her older brother always teased him for being the youngest, and they nickname him “Little Erwin” or “Erwin the Small”. Because he is the smallest, the older brothers put upon him, or they bullied him. Erwin was so frustrated with his situation. He cannot enjoy the outdoor activities that his older brothers usually do, while he is always reminded by his parents like

“Don’t stay up to long outside the house, you have homework to do”, or “It’s dangerous to go outside the night at night, there are monsters during those hours”. He ask his father, how can he grow up fast, his father answers him “Do some house chores; keep yourself busy, you will grow up fast”. He followed what his father told him. But he only grows tired and sweaty. He asks his mother the same thing he asked his father. His mother answered to him “Eat many as you can, so that you will grow faster”. He eats many as he can, but he doesn’t grow up fast. He only got full from too much eating. He asked James, one of his older brothers, he wants to grow up fast. His older brother answered him “Play sports like football or basketball, you will grow up fast”. The only problem is he doesn’t know or have no knowledge in any of the sports. He is only 7 years old. His older brothers won’t teach him either. Their only reply to him was “You’re too little to play sports, wait when you grow up”. He is getting more frustrated.

The only person who can understand Erwin’s dilemma is his grandfather Austin, or Grandpa Austin. One afternoon, they are only 2 inside the house; Erwin went into his Grandpa Austin, in which the latter is sitting in his rocking chair, reading newspaper. Grandpa Austin has no hesitation if it is Erwin who wants to speak to him.

“What is it my son, it seems something bothering you” Grandpa Austin ask him

“Actually, Grandpa, my problem is still the same.”

“Hehehe, you want to grow up soon” Grandpa asked him again

“Yes Grandpa, maybe you have some other ideas how will I grow up fast.”

“Well my son, you will go grow up fast, if you have done something noble or heroic deed”

“What kind of deed Grandpa?”

“Any deed that people will proud of you, and cheer for you. And before you know it, you will grow up faster and higher you will grow”. Grandpa Austin answered to him again.

“Ok Grandpa, I will do some heroic deed” Erwin said to his Grandpa.

While walking outside the neighborhood, he is still thinking what kind of a deed he will do so that he will grow up fast and high. Then out of the blue, a girl runs towards him, panicking

“Help me, my cat is up in the tree, and he can’t go down, please help me” the girl pleads to Erwin.

“Where is your cat?” asked Erwin to the girl.

“Up there, in that tree” the girl points.

They ran towards the tree. The cat is standing in one of the major branch of the tree, shaking and moaning “Mew mew mew”. All the other children, including Erwin’s older brothers, attempted to climb the tree, but the tree is too high for them or they are heavy to climb up the tree. So Erwin climb the tree slowly and with little steps until he reach the cat, while the other children looking downward. The cat is now in Erwin’s arms. Again, he slowly goes down from the tree and gives the cat to the girl. The girl is only happy that her cat is in her hands. Children praise and cheers Erwin. They hold him and toss him up. Erwin is happy, he now GROWS HIGHER AND FASTER.