Little Robert sadly looked on as the world he loved got smaller and smaller.

“It’s okay, Mr. Pepper,” he said into the ear of his ragged, stuffed zebra.  His dad had given it to him on his first birthday.  “Mama says it’s going to be better at the new place.”

Mr. Pepper gave a blank stare with no encouragement.

Robert had grown up a lot in the last four months and he knew he needed Mr. Pepper now, more than ever.  As he looked out the wide, back window of the Ford wagon, all he understood in his six years of life was rolling past.

“You remember what I said?” his mama asked, looking in the rear view mirror, stack after stack of laundry baskets riding along as passengers.  She still looked tired, as usual, but there was a weight that seemed to be lifting with each house they passed.

His eyes were starting to tear up, so he wiped them quick.

“You said it’s going to be better.”

“And what else?” she continued, turning past Marshall’s Corner Store.  Through the large window panes Robert saw all the boys from the neighborhood, huddled around the new arcade game.   He wasn’t allowed to go to Marshall’s by himself – not yet.  When he turned eight.

“You said I’m not suppose to cry,” Robert answered.

“Good boy.”

The old, brown car found it’s way into the local traffic of Main Street and eventually onto the highway.  Off to the side he saw his school glide by and in no time it was a blur in the distance.

Robert turned his head to look out of the other window and watch the cars pass.  He wiped his cheek again and squeezed Mr. Pepper harder.

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First sentence of this story submitted by Brian T. It received third most votes for sentences submitted the week of September 10, 2012.  

Please leave comments below on if you liked the direction I took the story, or if you would have personally went a different way.  I would love to know!