[ WP ] The shortest story ever told . Once upon a time there was a magical place where it never rained . The end .

`` Once upon a time, there was a magical place where it never rained. The end.'' The boys of D tent laughed uproariously. I turned to leave. E and F tent still needed their water. 
 
 The campers at Camp Green Lake were a rambunctious sort. Much like myself they were outcasts of society. There was no place for them so the courts placed them here. `` Placed'' was generous. They were given a choice, jail or camp. At that age I would have picked camp as well. Unfortunately camp did n't exist as an option then and I had been in and out of correctional centers for youth and adults my whole life up until now. Now, I have an opportunity to work with kids that were just like me at that age and help them make better choices. 
 
 I hopped into the cab of the brown, battered F-350 with a 200 gallon water tank fixed to the back. Kids called it `` The Camel'' and I used to fill their water bottles during the day. 
 
 I started the truck and reached instinctively for the pack of cigarettes in my shirt pocket. The pocket lay flat and empty. Quitting was n't an easy endeavor. But neither was correcting the course these boys were on ad I wanted to set a good example where I could. Even the little things count. 
 
 As I pulled away from D tents site I heard my name, Mr. Sir, being called. I assumed it was a thank you and waved out the window. It was probably the most affection these poor boys had gotten in years. Most came from broken homes, from parents who did n't care about them and those thoughts only serve to fuel my resolve to help these boys. Only someone who's been where they've been could help, I knew that. That's why I took it upon myself to be a mentor and, if you will, a surrogate father. I reminisced about my own father. He was n't around for long and my memories were short, suffice to say, I was better off without him. But not without a strong male presence which is something I tried my utmost to give to these poor, poor boys. 
 
 My mouth itched in that special way when it needs a cigarette. Recalling I had none in my pocket, I reached towards the passenger seat for my 5 lb. bag of sunflower seeds. My hand came down on nothing but cracked vinyl. I glanced down, the bag was gone. 
 
 In an instant, I had the truck turned around. The parenting book on tape in the truck said that punishment had to be handed out swiftly or it would n't be associated with the action. As I pulled up I saw Magnet throw Caveman something. It flopped through the air and I recognized it as my bag of seeds. I parked the truck and walked up to the boys. 
 
 `` Caveman'' I said, trying to keep my voice even and calm, `` what's that in your hole?'' 
 
 He denied it at first. Stating he did n't know what it was. 
 
 I stared at him. Hard. I wanted him to tell me the truth and it was all I could do not to turn on Magnet and target him as the guilty one. 
 
 `` I took the bag out of your truck, Mr. Sir.'' 
 
 I wanted to cry. He had n't taken it. He'd just been the guy left with the bag, he'd done nothing wrong but there was nothing I could do without a confession from Magnet 
 
 `` Get in, I think the warden would like to see what you found.'' 
 
 
 
 -States deposition of Leslie Sir in the matter of The State v Camp Greenlake 
 
 
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