AWARD WINNING SHORT STORY TOOK FIRST PLACE ON RTE'S LIVELINE THIS YEAR. WELL DONE TOM!

 

Itchy Scratchy

By 8-year-old Tom O'Flaherty 

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      Eddie is very old, he is a whole 60 years old. He is bent over with a hump on his back. His long coat won't close in the cold wind. He wears a flat cap which he lifts up and down all the time to scratch his head. His head is crawling with nits, they run down his neck and around the collar of his coat. Itchy, scratchy, itchy, scratchy.

At night he sleeps in the shop doorway using a blanket given to him by a charity. He feels very cold when he wakes up. As the day goes on he becomes hungry and bored. Eddie rummages in the street bins for food. He mutters curses as he gets crosser. If you pass him by he will swear at you, all the time lifting the hat itching and scratching, itching and scratching.

      Eddie's home was taken from him when he lost his job and he ran out of money. He couldn't afford to pay any of the bills. It wasn't long before he found himself living on the street. What he wants more than anything is food and a home.

One day as Eddie walked down the main street, itching and scratching, itching and scratching he saw something shiny on the ground. It was a €1 coin. A shiny new €1 coin. He held it in his hand staring at it until finally, he decided what to do. He would spend it in the Centra. When he went into the shop instead of buying something to eat he buys a lotto card. Gripping the card he scratches it with his dirty nails. Itchy, scratchy, itchy, scratchy. He didn't win €100 that would be too much. But he did win €80. A whole €80! Laughing he hid the money inside his flat cap, it would be safe in there. Nobody would go near it in there. Itchy, scratchy, itchy, scratchy.

      It was getting late in the day and Eddie had thought long and hard what to do with all that money. A tent he decided would make a good home so he bought one in the camping shop. He also bought a sleeping bag and food. The shopkeepers were happy to see him leave the shop and it wasn't long before they were itching and scratching, itching, and scratching.

      Eddie pitched his tent in a field. Later that day someone else pitches a tent in the same field. He gets a fire going, calls to Eddie offering him heat and some cooked food. The lotto brought Eddie more than money, he and his new friend were very happy sharing the food near the blazing fire. You can see them there now, itching and scratching, itching and scratching.