The Rock.

[Kitosdad]

"But Dad, I swear it is moving. I saw it move yesterday and I put another rock under it to try and stop it." Young John Pickford stood pleading with his father to notify the authorities about what he had witnessed.

The huge rock towered many hundreds of feet above the village.

"And just how many times have I told you to stop going up there? You'll fall and get killed one of these days."
Exasperation tinged his Father's words. "Last time John, last time. No more warnings."

Young John lay in his bed and racked his brains as to just how he could get anyone to believe him.
He had told his classmates and his teacher.
He had told the police and the fire service commander, and all had treat his pleas with humour and disdain.

"John, that rock has stood there for many, many years. An inspection team go up the mountain every three months to inspect it and they have never reported any movement whatsoever."

Just what could he say or do to convince them all?
He barely slept that night, so deep was his concern for the safety of the village and his friends.

The next day he went to the council offices and asked for an appointment to see the Mayor.
"And just what would you wish to discuss with the Mayor,?" smiled the secretary.
"It's about the big rock that stands above the village," he blurted out.
The secretary didn't hide her amusement at his statement.
"Well Mr.Pickford, I'm afraid his Honour is far too busy to grant appointments about such trivial matters.
Perhaps you could try again in a few months when things are not so hectic."
She muffled a snigger as John trudged out of the office.
Really, she said to herself, the rock is going to fall on us,....... piffle!

John walked slowly home and raised his eyes to the mountain top several times.
Well, he had done his very best.
No-one could say he hadn't warned them.

The next day at school John was engrossed in a mathematical problem when there was a distant rumble that grew slowly to an enormous roar and stones and small boulders began to bombard the roof and windows of the school.

The teacher looked directly at John, and John looked straight back at him and shrugged his shoulders.
"I tried to warn them, but no-one would believe me."

Kitos.
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