The Boot Boy and the Duke

This short-short story from my book of short fiction, Welsh Cakes: Book of Short Stories, was written when I was involved in Literacy work with adults. I was a tutor with the Literacy Society of South Muskoka.

The story begins:
"Once upon a time there were two babies born on the same day, on the same estate. One was born to the Duke and Duchess amidst great celebration, while the other was born to a lowly servant and his wife in a hut at the edge of the property. This was the poor couple’s thirteenth child and though they were happy at his birth, it meant another mouth to feed with the same amount of money.

"The Duke’s son was given the best of education and learnt many things out of books. As he grew up, he traveled far and wide and saw much that interested him. He met many kings and queens in many lands and, after some time, chose the most beautiful of all the princesses and married her.

"The servant’s son became the boot boy at the age of six. He had to be up early every morning, cleaning and polishing the many boots and shoes in the manor house. He had no time for learning and even if he had, there was no one who would teach him. He never traveled from the estate and knew nothing of other lands and their people.

"But the resident doctor took a liking to the boy and taught him the alphabet and showed him how to use herbs to help people who were sick."

The story goes on through the lives of these two people until the day of their deaths. St Peter asked the same question to each of them. “Have you read the words of my letter? The ones that say, ‘Whatever gift each of you may have received, use it in service to one another, like good stewards dispensing the grace of God in its varied forms.’”

Though the Duke's answer was in the affirmative St. Peter was not impressed. Yes, he had read the words but he had not acted on them. Peter tells him that he must go to the bottom level of heaven where he must stay until he learned to share his gifts with others.

The boot boy's answer to St. Peter was in the negative “ 'Even though you did not know these words nor could you read them,' said St. Peter, 'yet you have acted upon their spirit. You have shared with others the gifts God gave to you. So you will come to the uppermost level of heaven and join with the saints and angels around God’s throne.'

"Peter opened the gate and the boot boy entered the kingdom of God while the Duke was escorted to the lowest level to learn how to use and share God’s gifts with others."

This story is like a little parable or fable which tells us that if we have reading and writing skills it is important that we use them for the good of others.