The Gift
By Jeff Chandler

There once was a little boy named Joe and he liked to play the guitar. In fact he liked to play it so much that he had dreams of making it big someday. Joe was only seven years old and he had enormous natural ability to play and sing. So this became his hobby, though he really knew that he wanted to be a star. His voice was incredible and he thought he had the most talented voice around. Although he listened to other singers, he just knew it would be easy for him to secure a deal with a major record company.

When Joe was only fifteen years old, he appeared on a local TV show and he performed superbly and girls went for him just like when Elvis would sing. Joe had one problem though. He couldn't get a good job for anything. He joined the Navy when he was only seventeen but he still wasn't making any money. He went overseas where he unexpectedly met a girl named Olive and they unexpectedly got married. Even though they were in love, Joe still did not make enough to live on. It seemed as though Joe's gift was all he had going for him, but at the same time he was poor. Joe tried to get good jobs but nobody would pay him anything. At the same time women everywhere thought the world of his playing and singing.

After he got out of the Navy, he and his wife flew back to Joe's parents' house in Jackson, Ms where they would stay, Time flew by and Joe had a son and then a daughter. His wife became dismayed with Joe and his dream and she stopped caring about Joe.
Things got increasingly worse because Joe wasn't qualified to do anything. His dad, his wife and his brother teased him half-serious about having no job. Everybody was drinking heavily and even Joe felt like he was doomed. He couldn't think of anything he could do.

Joe decided to go the school where he earned his AAS in banking and finance and his BSBA in business administration. He sent his wife and two children back to Scotland so they'd have a chance at making it without all the arrogant agitation that alcoholics do.
After that Joe began to write songs feverishly. Everybody kept agitating him about being thrown out on the street. Secretly Joe knew that all the men wanted to trash his respect so he would give up his bride easily but Joe wasn't about to give in to those dogs.
It's no wonder that Joe became a Christian man after being teased and taughted by those idiots for so long.

Joe is on the verge of making it big now and everybody sort of respects him but they still want to teased and agitate him and make him upset over him not being able to get a good job. The talent Joe was giving has made him a curious thing. The problem is most people are jealous of Joe and his singing. So even though they may love him to death, they keep teasing and provoking him to fight because they think it's the thing to do. Joe may find his way to being a star but it's a rough and rocky road that his gift led him down.

THE END

Learn more about this author, Jeffery Chandler.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: Dreams ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!