The Slingstone

My old youthpastor's son, Garret, has been diagnosed with a disease that leaves him unable to even climb the stairs at age seven. They think he might live to be twentyone, but it's not certain. I wrote a story for Garret, and I was hoping maybe you all could say if it sounds OK for a seven-year-old. Sorry, but I couldn't get my picture to load.


Tom was a turtle. He wasn’t fast, he couldn’t speak well, and he smelled horrible. Day in and day out, he basked on a rock in the river and watched as a jackal, serpents, and mice frolicked on land.

He sighed one day. Why am I so slow? This shell is so heavy and hard I can’t do anything!

“Hey, Tom,” Jason the jackal called, “I’ll bet you wished you were as fast as me.”

The other animals laughed, hissed and squeaked.

Tom shrank into his shell. The sounds outside became silent. He glanced out through the small opening, but the others had vanished.

That’s funny…they always play for hours.

His heart nearly stopped as something lifted him into the air. He lip quivered as he saw a human boy with thick curly hair. The boy played with a sling and a walking stick in his other hand as he dropped Tom into a pouch at his side.

Let me out! I’m not a rock!

He was bounced around as the boy ran. In the darkness of the pouch, Tom listened as many voices became louder and louder. They all hushed and one pair of feet patted the ground. Tom stretched his neck to look at the boy. The boy whispered to himself, “God, help me, your servant.”

Tom shrank into his shell as a voice shook the sky. “Am I a dog that you come a me with a stick?”

The boy tensed, and Tom saw sweat trickle down his cheek. His voice didn’t quaver as he looked up and shouted at someone. “This day the Lord will hand you over to me.”

I wish I was that brave to shout at someone like that! Who’s he speaking to?

Tom trembled as the voice roared and the ground shook. The sun blinded him as the boy snatched Tom from the pouch and slipped him into his sling. Tom nearly threw up as he was slung round and round. He glimpsed two armies, but he couldn’t make out anything else. He shut his eyes.

Iiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!

Tom’s cheeks filled with air as he rocketed through space. He peeked through an eyelid. He shot towards a giant with bright armor and an enormous spear. Tom screamed as the brown giant’s eyes widened. Tom crashed into his forehead.

Tom spiraled towards the ground as the giant roared and stumbled. He hit the ground and looked up; the giant staggered, held his head, and fell forward.
He’s going to fall on me!

Tom scurried away as fast as his stubby legs could go. A cloud of sand rushed through his shell as the giant hit the ground an inch away from him. Tom sighed and crawled back towards the river, leaving the sounds of shouting and swords clashing behind.

“David has defeated Goliath!”

The brush on the bank of the river rustled as Tom returned home. Jason and the other animals erupted from the undergrowth.

“That was amazing!” The mice squeaked.

“Stupendously spectacular!” A snake hissed.

Jason patted Tom’s shell and smiled. “I wish I had a shell like yours. I never could have done what you did!”