Elroy’s Story IX

Friday morning arrives at last. A rainy day. One of those days which looks as though the skies will never clear. The milkman arrives a little later than usual. This surprises Bill tremendously. In the ten years the milkman has been delivering milk to the Ordinary's house, he has never ever been two minutes off schedule. A half hour goes by before the milkman rattles the milk bottles; announcing the milk is here. Bill has already showered shaved and changed into his business suit by then and so he goes downstairs to take in the milk.

Bill is met with a surprising sight. He stands in the doorway with the door open letting the rain pour in onto the hallway carpet. Elroy is sitting in a large crate on the top doorstep. The crate is filled with milk bottle tops (it is the only packaging material the fellows down at the dairy were able to find on such a short notice). A makeshift umbrella of cardboard is suspended over his head. On the side of the crate is a sign, which is colourfully painted with flowers, hearts, moons and stars and in the middle are the words, "Happy Birth Day! To you, Nancy and Bill Ordinary. Here is your special special child, Elroy. Your wish come true!"

A great uproar suddenly starts in the kitchen. Elroy has found the cupboard with the pots and pans and has started on the task of emptying all of its contents onto the floor. Nancy and Bill run down the hallway. Elroy is standing in the middle of the floor with the pots and pans scattered all around him. He has a big smile of satisfaction on his face, as if to say, "Well, that's a job well done!"