THE LAST LAUGH

(AN: THIS IS NOT EDITED YET)

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Sheridan's POV (point of view):

I'm Sheridan Wesley. I'm eleven years old. I've always lived with my dad. He's the only person I've got. He loves me and I love him too. But soon our lives changed. Mine especially.

~~~

It was a sunny day in Blueville, a rural small town not far away from Tennessee. The kind of place where everyone knew everyone. My dad was one of the most popular and well-liked people of Blueville. He owned vast land and a big ranch.

I always loved working with him. I loved the farm life. I knew how to ride horses, milk cows, make butter, plant seeds and harvest crops. I was well loved by all my dad's employees and well known too by the people of the town. I was the little boy who always gave a helping hand.

"Sheridan??" my dad called from downstairs one day.

"Yes, dad!" I replied coming over to meet him. He was at the table.

Breakfast was ready.

"Sit down, son."

I did. We ate toast with jam and drank fresh milk. I looked at my mom's picture on the wall. I'd never known her because I'd lost her immediately I was born. My dad noticed me.

"Your mother loved you with all her heart, Sheridan. She wanted you to be that hardworking and kind boy you are today." he smiled at me and I smiled back.

"Thanks, dad."

"When you will be big enough, you'll take over my ranch and company."

"Really, dad??"

My father had always spoken about his company in the city of Los Angeles. I'd never been to Los Angeles nor had I ever seen his company. I only saw it on pictures. Whenever I asked him why we didn't live in Los Angeles, he would reply:

"I wanted you to grow up here in our native hometown. I didn't want you to be obsessed with technology and to be a spoiled brat. I want to groom you for the hard life. I want you to be able to survive tomorrow if you don't have money. One never knows what the future holds, son."

And he was right.

"Yes. Really. All this will be yours someday." he added.

"Thanks, dad." I stood up to hug him. He hugged me tight.

"I love you, son. You deserve the best."

"I love you too."

"Good. Now let's go for a ride with the horses."

"Cool!" I loved exploring the woods with my dad. He was one of the best memories of my childhood.