Ordinary Otto A Children's Story

Otto Oglethorpe lived in Otterville, Ontario. He was such an ordinary guy that people called him “Ordinary Otto”. In addition to chores his parents assigned him to do around their home in order to receive an allowance, the youngster also earned extra money by working after school at his dad’s business, known as Honest Oglethorpe’s Gasoline And Auto Repair Shop. Otto was not well known at school, and few students knew much about him. He did not participate in any school activities, played no sports, and chose not to hang out with other students. He was not peculiar, just ordinary.

Sometimes, what an ordinary person does when confronted with extraordinary circumstances is the best definition of courage. On an ordinary day, this ordinary guy demonstrated great courage in the face of extraordinary circumstances. In addition to pumping gasoline, Otto washed windshields, checked the motor oil, and added extra air to tires that needed it. Many people gave the lad tips for doing this extra work. One day, a wealthy elderly lady, Mrs. Ophelia Oppenheimer, pulled into the station. After he completed his tasks, she thanked him and handed over a five-dollar tip--more than any driver had ever given him!

Then it happened. A big, mean man named Orson Ornery rushed out of an alley, jerked open Mrs. Oppenheimer’s door, and snatched her purse. Otto did not think twice. He rushed straight toward the man, who was at least twice his size, tackled him, and shouted for his dad to call the police. Furious, the man pulled out a long knife, stabbed the boy, and ran away. In his haste, he dropped Mrs. Oppenheimer’s purse. Otto was bleeding badly, and a crowd gathered to help if possible. Among them was a doctor who administered first aid and called an ambulance.

Cradling his son in his arms, Mr. Oglethorpe feared that the boy was dying. His limp body seemed lifeless. While facing this terrifying moment, the weeping father heard Otto groan, “Dad, it hurts real bad, but I will live.” Those few words made the father hopeful that the boy still had a fighting chance, but a very slim one.

The ambulance arrived, and many in the crowd wept as the ambulance sped away. Mrs. Oppenheimer opened her purse, took out a huge wad of bills, and said, “Mr. Oglethorpe, he will recover, and when he does, give him this.”

For several days, Otto’s life hung in the balance. Although the wound did not injure any vital organs, he had lost a dangerous amount of blood. Mr. and Mrs. Oglethorpe never left his bedside. Then, one morning, they heard Otto whisper, “Gee whiz, I am so hungry and thirsty.” That was it! The nurses cheered, and after checking Otto’s vital signs, the doctor said these beautiful words: “This boy will live.” When Otto walked out of the hospital unassisted, he was shocked and surprised to see all of his schoolmates cheering. Never again did they use this nickname: Ordinary Otto.

NOTE: Jimmy Reed is a retired college professor and author of several books. This story is from his latest, a children’s book entitled FROM A TO Z, TO YOU FROM ME. Each story in the book maximizes the use of an alphabetical letter, enhanced by alliteration and assonance. The book is available on Amazon, or can be purchased directly from the author. His email address is jimmycecilreedjr@gmail.com