The Two Brothers

by Dale Larson

There were two teenage boys named Axel and Minus. They lived on the family farm. They were typical high school boys with lots of friends. Bud and Margie were their parents.

One Saturday morning, their father, Bud, asked Axel if he would finish moving the corn to the feeding bin. Axel said he would do it. Then Bud asked Minus if he would finish cutting down the hay. Minus told his father he had plans to go to the fair with his friends, Ernie and Einer, and could not do it.

“Besides, I’ve been working all week,” Minus told his father.

Bud and Margie were going to the big city of Sioux City to have dinner with relatives and see them off to the airport, and they would not be home until later that afternoon. Margie asked if they could stay in town and go shopping, but Bud said that he had to get home and finish cutting the hay.

Shortly after mom and dad had left, Axel’s friends, Max and Earl, came flying up the dusty driveway.

“Hey, Axel, we got to get to Omaha.”

Leapin’ Larry, the Hollywood stunt man, was going to be in town for one day and was going to jump six minivans with his motorcycle.

Axel thought for a moment, then said, “I told dad I would move the corn to the feeding bin, but I don’t think it needs to be done today. Shoot, let’s get out of here.”

They climbed into Earl’s pickup, and away they went to see Leapin’ Larry.

Then Ernie and Einer came racing in to pick up Minus, to go to the fair.

Einer said, “Let’s go, Minus. There’s girls a-waitin’.”

Minus said, “I don’t think I should go. Dad asked me to cut down the hay.”

Ernie told him, “You got ten seconds to decide. I didn’t get slicked up for nothin’.”

And Einer echoed, “I’ve got fifty quarters for the ball-in-the-milk-can game.”

“Go on without me,” Minus said. “Good chance of rain next week. I know dad wants that hay cut.”

So Einer and slick Ernie went peeling out the driveway.

Minus went to the shed, fired up the tractor, and started out to the field. It was about three o’clock when he finished cutting the hay and headed for home. Just when he was driving up the driveway, mom and dad turned in right behind him.

“I thought you were going to the fair,” said Minus’ dad.

“I was, but I thought you shouldn’t have to cut the hay tonight. Besides, I can still go tonight.”

“By the way, where’s Axel?” said Bud. “He hasn’t moved the corn, yet.”

Minus said, “He went to Omaha with Max and Earl to see Leapin’ Larry.”

“Well, I suppose I’d better move it myself then. I’m going to have a word with that boy tomorrow.”

“I can help you, dad,” Minus said. “We’ll get done twice as fast then.”

“Son, you don’t know how happy I was to see that hay cut when I got home.”

When Bud got in the house, he said, “Margie, don’t make supper. We’re going to town to eat. Minus already cut the hay.”

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A last word:

In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus tells a story about two brothers. They weren’t from around these parts, but the situation might be very familiar. One son had good intentions, or at least said he had good intentions. But he didn’t actually obey his father. The other son had an excuse, but at the end of the day, his work was done. The point of the parable is pretty easy.

  
[-] © 2007 by Dale Larson