Jebediah, the leper bullfrog (593 hits)
Category: NoneRating: -1.95 on 20 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by paul_anthony (View user info) at 2007-03-14 20:29:59 EDT
Tommy walked past the house as quickly as he could without running. To run now
would draw the ridicule of everyone in the crowd, and he didn't want that, especially after
telling them he wasn't afraid of the old Morgan place. Hadn't Mr. Morgan been dead for
three years? Ghosts don't exist.
* * * * *
Jebediah Morgan was disliked by all and sundry from the time he was a teenager. His
pock-marked face drew grimaces from people wherever he went, and some say that
added to his unpleasant personality. Either way, his attitude and his mouth got his
ass kicked all through school.
Many of the residents at the retirement center claimed they knew Jeb when he was a
small boy, and they told of a sweet, mild-spoken young child who liked everyone and
was liked in return. When he hit puberty, everything changed.
* * * * *
"Mrs. Morgan, I want your son to see a dermatologist."
"Doc, we ain't got that kind of money. Anyway, a few pimples never hurt a boy."
"Ma'am, what you call 'pimples' are open, festering boils. The chances of infection
and scarring are very great. He needs a specialist, and soon."
"No sir, doc, we ain't got no money."
The doctor was silent as the woman left, wondering why she spent so much at the
local night spot but wouldn't help her son. Some people needed a lesson in priorities.
***********
Jeb Morgan sat in the darkened living room of his old house, the only illumination
coming from the fireplace, into which he stared with a face that could have come
straight from Hell. His mother had died of an alcohol overdose twenty-five years
ago, and he had cursed her name since that day.
Oh, yes, the doctor had met him coming home from school the day after he and
his mother had kept that wasted appointment.
"Hello Jeb," the doctor called out. "Hold up a minute."
Jebediah stopped for the doc but kept his face averted, as would be his habit in
the years to come.
"What's up, Doc?"
Bill Jamison, M.D. smiled at the comic book reference, but launched directly
into what he had come to say.
"Jeb, did your mom tell you what was said between us yesterday?"
Bill saw Jeb turn almost purple, so he knew the answer.
"Ah, listen Jeb, I've got some things that need done around my house, and I
am willing to pay a good man. . ."
"Doc, that way is bullshit and you know it. It's her job to help me, and she
would have the money if she stayed out of the bar. I guess I'm not as important
as twenty beers every night. Later, Doc."
As Jeb ran away, Bill was sure the boy was crying, and he was just as sure they were tears
of anger. He couldn't get the comments of the townsfolk out of his head:
"Looks like that boy's face was on fire and somebody put it out with a track shoe."
*********************
When Tommy was almost past the old house, he saw something from the corner
of his eye that shook him so much he damn near tripped over his own feet. A man
was standing on the porch of the Morgan place, a man with a head twice normal
size that shone with its own light.
************************
"Jebediah, please stand and give the class your interpretation of the poem
"Annabelle Lee," by Mr. Poe."
"Yeah, leper-face, tell us. Try not to get pus on the desk."
Miss Jacobsen tried to keep order, but the bedlam that ensued caused her to
dismiss the eighth grade class early. She asked Jeb to stay, intending to
apologize to him, but he ran out with the rest.
Jeb cut the remainder of his classes for the day, thinking he would go down by the
river and throw rocks until his mother left for the bar. He had spoken to her only five
times in the two months since the medical appointment, and the last time was a
full-fledged argument about why he thought she was a selfish bitch and how she
thought the Doc was a meddlesome quack.
Rock throwing seemed to be conducive to straightening out thoughts, and this time
every thought ended with a mental image of his mother lying on the kitchen floor with
a knife through her heart. Jeb knew he no longer loved his mother, but he wondered
silently if he could really kill her. Events negated the need to answer his question.
****************
The doorbell never rang at 11:00PM, so Jeb knew something important must be at
the door. The peephole showed the ruddy, chubby face of Captain Ives, the local
Chief of Police, who was rubbing his bulbous nose as he did when he was nervous.
Jebediah jerked the door open, and the Captain spoke at once.
"Er, Jeb me lad, I'm afeared I've got some disturbin' news fer ye."
"What is it, Sean, is it my mother?"
"I'm afraid it is, boyo. Seems her poor old heart failed her down to McKenna's place this night.
Doc Jamison happened to be there, and he done his best to save her, but the Lord works in
mysterious ways, son."
Jeb was taken aback by the news of the Doc being at the bar, and his suspicions were confirmed
when Sean said:
"Yes, the Doc saw her passed out in the booth, so he gave her a shot to help her wake up, only
she didn't wake up like he wanted. She started shakin' like a whore in church, beggin' yer pardon,
boyo, and next we knew she was gone to Gabriel."
Jeb had had many ideas cross his mind quickly before, but never as fast as these. It was a sure
bet the Doc had killed his mother, and he knew why. The tiny bit of love he had for his mother was
still stored in the back of his mind, and it now died an untimely death. All he felt was joy.
"Captain Sean, thank you for bringing the news. You have a good night and a safe trip back to the
station."
User Reviews
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-03-15 05:33:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Looks like I wasn't wrong you plagarising dumb fuck.
Submitted by Snare (user info) at 2007-03-14 22:31:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
If this is shenanigans, its piss-poorly done.
If its a straight up steal of Bubba's work (which is how it looks,) then its just piss-poorly stupid.
Go have a beer with Chad Walmsley, ya theiving fuck.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-03-14 22:06:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
JoeDaddy whaps the plagiarizing buttcheek to the ground.
YO!!! PAUL ANTHONY!!! Are you too stupid to respond??
You are so banned, you ignorant fuck. You are dumber than
Shlongy. Is that possible??????
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:58:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
i'm going to twang my magic twanger froggie and watch you disappear
<poof!>
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:57:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:21:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:10:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
What the fuck is with this plagiarism.
Submitted by tiaprae (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:57:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
*shakes head*
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:38:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
"Id throw
away the cars and the bars in the world (and the wars) and id make sweet love to you.
Heh.
Submitted by SPECIALk (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:28:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Jeremiah was a bullfrog, he was good friend of mine.
I never understood a single word he said but I helped him drink
his whine. He always had some mighty fine wine. Sing it Joy to the
world...all the boys and girls now , joy to the fishies in the deep blue
sea and joy to you and me.
And if i were the king of the world , i tell you what i would do. Id throw
away the cars and the bars in the world and id make sweet love to you.
Sing it now : Joy the the world , all the boys and girls , joy to the fishies
in the deep blue sea , joy to you and me.
Yah know I love the ladies , love to have my fun ... Im a hard knock
flyer and a rain bow rider ... a strait shootin son of a gun , i said a
strait shootin sun of a gun.
Joy to the world , all the boys and girls , joy to all the fishies in the
deep blue sea , joy to you and me.
Joy to the world , all the boys and girls , joy to the world joy to you
and me
Joy to the world , all the boys and girls , joy to the fishies in the deep
blue sea joy to you and me.
Joy the the world , all the boys and girls , joy to the world , joy to you
and me.
Joy to the world , all the boys and girls , joy to the world , joy to you
and me.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:21:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:10:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
What the fuck is with this plagiarism.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:20:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:17:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No problem, Bubba.
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:15:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I gave a serious critique of the story, Bubba.
I stand by it, regardless of who wrote it.
I assumed the poster was the author of the post, that's all.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:15:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:12:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I think Zebra was extending an olive branch, Bubba. Maybe not.
***************
I don't know, Lunger. I replied before he waved the branch.
Zeeb, if you were sincere, Thank You.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:12:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I think Zebra was extending an olive branch, Bubba. Maybe not.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:11:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Jesus.
Nice story Bubba. I was looking forward to giving the guy a +2. Jesus.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:11:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Zebra, stop playing dumb. It's unbecoming, ya fucking tard.
You know this is a cut and paste plagiarism. Whether you liked my story or not,
it was mine. Not his. Not yours. At least be honest.
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:10:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Oh fuck.
Sorry Bubba.
What the fuck is with this plagiarism.
I didn't read the one from the link completely, but if it's the same please accept my criticism as that of someone who like the story enough to seriously critique it.
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:07:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Interesting story, but it seems half done.
The title is terrible.
You might try connecting the first kid somehow to the old man, and basically developing the story and the characters a bit more.
I didn't empathize as much as I should as the reader should because of this under development.
Also, it needed a stronger sense of place and better delineation of time.
The exchange at the end came out of nowhere. Suddenly it's a little Irish town and the kid is 35 years old.
Interesting premise, though.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:03:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
if you're going to plagarize...
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2007-03-14 21:00:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Are you looking for a fight, you plagiarizing bastard?
http://www.ubersite.com/m/90218