A couple days later, Michal’s mama asked, “Mike dearie, do you think you can run to your Dad’s work and give him his lunch?”
Mike almost replied, “Mama, you know I was planning on going fishin’ with the gang.”
But his Mom spoke before he could, “He also left his watch - the forgetful man, you can run it over to him also.”
Well there was never an item that that Mike liked more then his dad’s pocket watch. It was made out of solid gold, with an inscription that said Michal G. Hovelen. It was given to his daddy from his daddy’s daddy, and one day it would be Michal’s; instantly takin’ up the opportunity to carry the wonderful watch all the way to his pa’s work.
Mike said, “I guess I could run it over quickly. After all, Pa can’t work through the day without his lunch. That should be considered a sin having a hard workin’ man go all day without a smidgen of food. But I have to do it quickly Ma, the boys ain’t gonna wait forever, ya know?”
And with that being said, Mike proudly started to walk to town, with his daddy’s watch hangin’ from his old worn-out overall pocket.
It was just under a two mile walk to town, but with the hot summer sun bakin’ everything in its path, the walk felt like an eternity for poor Mike. Slowly he started to daydream about the pond…
“It’d be shaded with that big willow tree,” he said with a sigh, “the cool water would lap against my feet and the grass would be so nice to lie in,” thought Mike longingly.




















He was day-dreamin’ so deeply, he didn’t notice the watch slip from his pocket and fall into his daddy’s lunch basket.
Well he made it all the way to his pa’s work before he realized that the watch was gone. A bolt of fear went straight through his heart and he was just ‘bout to turn around to go lookin’ for it when he heard his daddy’s co-worker, Mr. Bill.
“Well if that don't beat all, ain’t cha little Michal Hovelen?” Mr. Bill said, “I see you’re bringin’ ya pa’s lunch for him.” Whilst talkin’, Mr. Bill started to walk up to Mike.
It was then and there that Mike realized that Mr. Bill was in a yakking mood, which is bad for anyone in a hurry. You see everyone in town knows that Mr. Bill could talk up a storm about anythin’ really; he’s the town gossip and the person everyone goes to for any juicy news ‘round these parts.
So when Mr. Bill asked, “How’s the farm doin’, boy?”
Mike knew that he had to think of an excuse to leave and he had to do it fast too, or else he might end up talkin’ with Mr. Bill ‘till the sun went down.
Suddenly Mike felt an arm drop around his shoulders… Scared him clear out of his wits it did! He turned around so fast, that he on accidently hit the offender with the lunch basket.
“Gosh Pa, ya scared me! You should know better than to spook a person when they’s holdin’ your lunch!” was what Michal said when we saw who he hit.
Letting out a chuckle, Mr. Hovelen said, “Guess your right about that. Did you come all this way just to bring me my lunch?”
“Yes I did.” replied Mike happily, “I also brought…” a look of complete horror pasted Mike’s face - then quick as lightning he handed the basket to his dad and went running down the road.
Mr. Hovelen yelled out to him, “Mike! Where do you think you’re going in such a hurry?”
“The pond, pa!” Yelled Mike instantly, as he kept running, “The boys are waiting for me!”
“Does your Ma know?”
“Yes!” was his answer that could be barely heard ‘cause he was so far away.
Mike spent the rest of the afternoon lookin’ for that watch. When he had to head home a look of sorrow, terror and exhaustion could be seen on that small face.
He was all but crying when he opened up his front door and when he finally grew enough courage to face his pa and tell him that he lost the watch, he looked ready to pass out. So you could only imagine the surprise when he saw the golden chain peeking from his dad’s work slacks.