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These stories as a whole or in part is Copyright © 1967-2005 by George T Mason of East Stroudsburg PA.. These stories may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion. These stories may not be modified in any way. These stories may not be posted on a mirror site or any other Internet site without the written permission of the author. These stories may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums. These stories will not be lettered, written, printed, Xeroxed, laser printed, cut, carved, laid, inlayed, graved, or engraved, upon anything movable or immovable under the whole canopy of heaven whereby or whereon the least letter, character, symbol, or semblance of the same might become legible, or intelligible, to yourself or any other person, Without the written permission of the author or his next of kin upon his death.  That should cover that.

Zach

Zachary Nathanial Mason was born on September the eleventh nineteen hundred and ninety three.  It was a beautiful day to be born a fact not lost on me as I traveled on my way to the hospital with my Mother In law by my side.  My own parents were off on yet another camping trip way to busy with that stuff to be worried about something as simple as bringing a new life into the world.  Zach has proven to be a source of fascination to me in some of the things he has done.  I see a lot of myself in that lad.

Zach's First words

The first time Zachary spoke was at birth.  No I know that sounds strange but sure enough after he was done crying he looked up at the nurse with his bright red hair and said simply and with perfect English: "HI!"  The doctor assured me that it was just gas but I have been looking at him closely since just waiting for this worlds next Einstein to bubble to the surface.  I dream of the day I hear "See that red headed kid?  he just discovered synthetic fuel you can make out of old tires!" and I can reply "That's my boy!"  Soon after he came home and I discovered babies come toothless and drooling, I felt I made a mistake, perhaps my bundle of joy was not so much a genius as I had thought but instead was happy looking at me with that blank expression when I stole his binky.   Right about the time I had abandoned all hope, I was watching the history channel and a show about World War 2 blimps was on.  Zach was babbling away bouncing in his seat when he pointed at the screen and said "dirigible"  Actually he said "blablablablalbablablabla-dirigible-blablablablabla" but the dirigible word was defiantly there.  I turned quickly and looked at the genius, my faith renewed and I said: SAY THAT AGAIN! to which he replied "blablablablalbablablabla" No! not that part say "dirigible!" and a look of understanding came over the boys face, he instantly knew what I wanted and a communication was made.  He then smartly replied "blablablablalbablablabla"  I went back to my program.

Uncle Jeff and shallow Zach

To fully understand Zach you need to understand just how spoiled this guy really is.  My mother in law doted on him and worshiped the ground he walked on.  She would buy him anything he asked for.  If you had nothing to bring to the table Zach had no use for you.  That to some degree still happens which if he were a genius that could be excused, however at thirteen that has yet to manifest itself unless you consider blank staring his mother a quality that screams genius.  My friend Jeff would come to the house and each time he did Zach would wail at the top of his lungs.  Jeff tried his best but to no avail. Jeff vowed he would win over the Zach man, and on Christmas day it happened.  Jeff came through the door with his customary hello, Zach looked up and big eyes was about to scream, you could see the lip pursing in and out and we were anticipating the unearthly wail when from behind his back Jeff produced a Tonka Backhoe to which Zach laid eyes in and said "HI JEFF!"  I guess everyone has their price and Jeff found Zach's

Zach and the soap elephant

Second byte computers resided at 18 North Salem Street in Dover, NJ.  Right in front of a custom cabinet maker named John.  John did some nice work, some of the nicest I have ever seen.  He did some really nice work in the Dakota building in New York.  John was also famous for getting more parking tickets than anyone I have ever met.  He was called out on a job one day to do some custom carving on a knewalpost at the bottom of a grand stairway.  the top of the post once sported a custom carved wooden elephant  and somehow or another it just disappeared at a party thrown by teenagers while his parents were out of town. John being ever resourceful, searched the local homeless population looking for a woodcarver and he found a guy who could do the job.  He found one and soap models were begun.  Zach was fascinated by this art form and our homeless acquaintance asked me if he could try it while assuring me that the soap carving set was save for a five year old.  I nodded against my better judgment and Zach asked the man how to do it.  The man replied," just remove all the parts that are not an elephant."  Zach went to work and I herd the door bell ring in the store so I went to help the customer.  when I got back here was Zach looking intently at the huge pile of soap chips he had made.  I asked Zach what happened to the elephant he was going to carve and he said quietly "I don't know if this guy knows it or not but I can tell you there was no elephant inside this one."