The Great Vegetable Revolution * Edited*

by jemjive

Published April 28, 2010

In Stories

School assignment that I like. Comments appreciated! :)

The Great Vegetable Revolution

There once was a perfect world where children never talked back to their

parents and always ate their vegetables. One little boy changed all that with one

silly argument that started a huge war. Later to be known as “The Great

Vegetable Revolution”.

“Mom, I am done eating, may I go play with my train set now?” asked

Timothy politely.

“Why Timothy, you have not even touched your vegetables, after you

finish you may go play,” replied his mother.

“But mom,” whined Timothy, “brussel sprouts are gross! I would rather go

play with my toy train.”

“Darling, I know you would, but growing boys need their vegetables so

they can get big and strong,” explained his mother.

“How does something so gross make you healthy? It is slimy, green and tastes

terrible,” cringed Timothy, “how can you be sure it isn’t poisonous?”

Timothy’s mother was so stunned. He had never argued before! Finally she

stated “I do not care if you don’t like them you can still eat them.”

“Mom,” moaned Timothy, “Benjamin’s mom never makes him eat brussel

sprouts, she never even makes him eat vegetables at all.”

Timothy’s mother sighed “Fine go and play, but if you get hungry later

guess what you’ll be eating.”

“Thanks mom, you’re the best!” exclaimed Timothy.

Timothy’s mother let out a long sigh and wondered to herself, “Am I? Am I

really the best? Who lets their child out of eating vegetables? Nobody I know.”

Maybe Timothy’s mother should not have done that. Though how was she

to know how big this little thing would become? The thing is, she didn’t.

“Timothy, be sure to eat those scrumptious looking carrots your mother

packed you, don’t just eat your sweets,” chided Miss Stinson, during the lunch

period of her Kindergarten class.

Timothy scowled and grouched, “My mom doesn’t make me eat my

vegetables! I even got out of brussel sprouts last night.”

“Oh Timothy,” chuckled Miss Stinson, “I am sure you didn’t. Everyone

always eats their vegetables. They are what make you grow!”

“Miss Stinson, I am not lying! My mom let me go and play with my train set

instead of eating my brussel sprouts!” hollered Timothy.

“Timothy if you would care to lower your voice! There are other people in

this room that do not care to hear your yelling,” She voiced sternly, and then

added, “Who here does not like a good helping of peas, carrots, broccoli, or even

eggplant?” Miss Stinson watched as slowly every hand in the room went up.

Realizing she was losing the argument, she whispered to Timothy “Fine do not

eat your carrots. I do not wish to continue this little fit over vegetables, if you do

you may do so in the principal’s office.” If only she new this “little fit” would not

be little for long.

A girl named Bernice overheard Miss Stinson lowered tone and

announced loudly to the whole class, “Did you hear, Timothy does not have to

eat his carrots!”

Every child in the class then didn’t want to eat their vegetables. It finally

became crazy and noisy that the principal was called down but even he could not

settle it down. It got to be so out of control that parents were called and the

Kindergarten class was sent home early, but it still didn’t stop there. The children

carried it home with them and refused to eat vegetables. It quickly spread from

child to child like a highly contagious cold. Even the sweetest of children were

rebelling against vegetables. Children of all ages were boycotting vegetables all

around the world. This was known as “The Great Vegetable Revolution” and was

the headline of newspapers and topic of television news for weeks before

someone put an end to it. This person believed they started it and would also

finish it. This person was Timothy’s mother.

“Please, Mr. Gilbert! If I could just have a moment of your time to explain

my idea! It could end this war!” begged Timothy’s mother.

“Alright fine, you have 5 minutes.” huffed Henry Gilbert.

Just like that she was in. She spent those 5 minutes explaining to him her

simple idea to end “The Great Vegetable Revolution”. He thought it was brilliant!

It would be on tomorrow’s 12 o’clock news! It would be shown in schools and

public places all over the world.

The next day millions of people tuned in to the 7X7 World News to hear,

“Hello, I am Henry Gilbert from the 7X7 World News. I have just got some new

information that will blow you away! I have received proof that these veggie

hating children will not like. Vegetables ARE what make you grow. Without them

you never will,” spoke this brilliant man.

Of course every newspaper and television news channels caught on to

this story. They soon had every child in the world believing them. Grocery stores

had an overflow of parents rushing in to finally buy vegetables again. Even little

Timothy, the boy who started it all, requested vegetables.

Mom, mom, mom! Did you see the news today?” yelled Timothy

excitedly.

“Yes, I sure did. There was the most interesting story about vegetables,”

his mother answered.

“You need to get out there and buy some vegetables,” ordered Timothy,

“or I might even start shrinking!”

“I had a feeling you were going to say that,” laughed his mother, “there

already are some in the refrigerator.”

“Thanks mom you are the best!” exclaimed Timothy.

With that his mother smiled to herself, “I am. I really am.”

THE END

Comments & reviews · 7
User avatar
jemjive
Comment
jemjive commented Comment · Jul 4, 2010

Yeah sorry for the format of it! I copied and pasted it! :P

User avatar
MiaParamore
Review
MiaParamore wrote a review Review · Jul 3, 2010

Hey jem.

As promised in the chatwall here I am to review. I might not be able to criticize much for the very reason that it was short and also it looked like it was meant to be for children. :D

“Mom, I am done eating, may I go play with my train set now?” asked

Timothy politely.
I think Timothy politely should be included in the very above line.

“How does something so gross make you healthy? It is slimy, green and tastes

terrible,” cringed Timothy, “how can you be sure it isn’t poisonous?”
I liked this line. The innocence of the boy has been captured here. Shubhi likes it!

Timothy’s mother was so stunned. He had never argued before! Finally she

stated “I do not care if you don’t like them you can still eat them.”
Well, here I found the dialog a clump. You could probably like it like this: "I do not care if you don't like them, but you've still got to eat them."

She spent those 5 minutes explaining to him her

simple idea to end “The Great Vegetable Revolution”.
I think here you should spell 5 instead of writing the numerical for it!

Of course, every newspaper and television news channels caught on to

this story.


"Mom, mom, mom! Did you see the news today?” yelled Timothy

excitedly.
You forgot the starting quotes.

Well, Jem this is the first time me reviewing your stuff. So well, hey!
The very thing I liked here about this was the message behind it, if not wholly correct it was somewhere right. The way you made this story for the children just caught my attention. I mean, I have never saw anyone here writing stories for children of four or five, which is as important as writing for adults. Because here you have to conclude everything in a limited time, catch a child's attention, as they have a short span of attention, and then keep a message behind it. Parents also like their young ones to read the books with something meaningful behind. Well, lot on that.

The writing as it was simple, at the same time didn't divert my attention. i really liked how you made it simple, but yet captivating. And also because of ti's length I could read it quickly and comment.

I would have to agree with Black Thought that everytime substituting some other word for 'said' makes the story look superficial and it seems like you are forcing it out of your head. Well, sometimes to substitute is a great thing and you should keep on doing with it, but in a limit.

The other thing I noticed however was that you don't write sentences in one line and make them come down, which kind of felt irritating to read, but then it is your personal choice. this way, it confuses the reader sometimes.

Well, I don't have much to say so I would sign-off for now and come back when you have something else to get reviewed.

~Shubhi

User avatar
jemjive
Comment
jemjive commented Comment · May 1, 2010

Yeah, I know that hahaha. The thing was though that it was a school assignment and it is a quotation story. It is supposed to be composed of quotations, that is the style. With short syories you can get away with it. I am currently trying to work out a novel and keeping your comments in mind I am not using a million different dialogue tags and all quotations. :)

User avatar
Black Thought
Comment
Black Thought commented Comment · Apr 29, 2010

jemjive wrote:Thanks Jane! :) BlackThought, It was a school assignment and we were not allowed to use the word "said" I quite like the detail different words give but yes I am tinking about taking two or three out and just adding said.



Just keep in mind, not all dialogue has to be in quotes. You can use summary dialogue, indirect dialogue or a mixture of all the varieties. I like to limit direct quotes to the gems of the conversation, that way it preserves the dramatic effect direct dialogue has.

User avatar
jemjive
Comment
jemjive commented Comment · Apr 29, 2010

Thanks Jane! :) BlackThought, It was a school assignment and we were not allowed to use the word "said" I quite like the detail different words give but yes I am tinking about taking two or three out and just adding said.

User avatar
Black Thought
Review
Black Thought wrote a review Review · Apr 29, 2010

This was an interesting story. The only problems I had with it were the quotation tags which tend to get a little irritating at times.
“Darling, I know you would, but growing boys need their vegetables so
they can get big and strong,” explained his mother.

“Thanks mom, you’re the best!” exclaimed Timothy.

“Oh Timothy,” chuckled Miss Stinson

This idea of constantly churning up substitutes for the word "said" tends to annoy me, then again it may just play to the overall tone of the narrative. You may consider using more indirect dialogue in some parts of the story.

Also I would change "It quickly spread from child to child like a highly contagious cold." to "It quickly spread from child to child like a cold." It's still pretty cliche either way, but it seems more true to the narration style the second way.

JaneThermopolis wrote a review Review · Apr 28, 2010

I thought this was a very awesome story, makes you think about what life would be like if this and this happened. What if kids ALWAYS ate their vegetables and NEVER got into fights? It's an interesting perspective, like looking into a new world. Very entertaining story. I also thought it was very humorous. I didn't take note of any apparent grammar or spelling answers, but I honestly wasn't looking very hard for them.
Good job,
Jane



Poetry is the art of creating imaginary gardens with real toads.
— Marianne Moore