National Adult Literacy Database

June 9, 2003

This story was written by Jason Adair, from Salisbury, NB. According to his teacher, Jason fears writing and has difficulty reading, so it is an accomplishment for him to have written this. He spells most words as they sound. Jason has help from a Laubach tutor at the Community Academic Services Program (CASP) in Salisbury twice a week.

The wrong mistake

by Jason Adair

The story began many years ago; the year was 1215 AD, and there were many people trying to take the throne of Egypt. The Pharaoh had died and there was no heir to the throne because the Pharaoh was too young so, when he died, his people weren't ready to make his tomb, and the high priest had only seventy-two hours to find a place for the young Pharaoh. It was hard, back-breaking work, working day and night to construct a proper tomb. Finally, it was finished and, just in time, the Pharaoh was put to rest.

Now the question remained : Who was going to be the next Pharaoh of Egypt?

There were so many people who would like to be Pharaoh, but who would it be?

Days went by, but still nothing but fighting. Then finally one day, after it had rained, one man stepped forward and said, "I will be your new Pharaoh of Egypt."

The people laughed at him. Again the strange man said, "I will be Pharaoh."The people paused for a moment, and one man said to him, "Why should you be Pharaoh?" and he waited silently. The strange man said, "Because I have great power over the sands, and I have traveled great distances to be here after the Pharaoh died to claim the throne for myself" and he said this with evil in his eyes.

The people said to the strange man, "How do we know you are what you say you are?"

The strange man said, "I'll give you an example of my powers, you fools, - and by the way, you can call me Mearic - and if you don't join me now, I will take it by force if I have to."

Then, after Mearic said those words, just like he said he would, he gave them an example of his powers. The people were scared, but they did what he wanted.

Within a few weeks, Egypt was falling apart. Day after day, the people suffered, until one day, out of the darkness, come a man wearing a black robe. The people ran for cover and hoped for the best to happen. The man stopped and looked around, then he walked up to the kingdom, and he said, "Come out, Mearic, and face me."

Just then, Mearic jumped up out of his throne. The Pharaoh looked scared of this man. A few minutes passed, then Mearic came out and said to the man in black, "Drago, how can you be alive? I buried you under tons of rocks."

"That you did, Mearic, but a goddess saved me and gave me powers that are greater than yours. You will let these people go now, or you will suffer the consequences."

"No, I will not release my slaves. I beat you before, and I will beat you again if it's the last thing I do."And with that, the war began.

It wasn't very long before Mearic was losing the battle. Soon, it seemed over, and Mearic had lost, but just when they thought it was over, Mearic, in a desperate chance, tried to kill Drago. But Drago knew Mearic would never give up just like that, so Drago was ready for him. Just like he thought, Mearic tried it, and in a flash, it was over. Mearic was dead.

Then the goddess appeared out of nowhere and took Mearic's robe and said, "There is no use for your powers now" and, with just a flick of her hand, his powers were gone.

Then Drago turned to her."What do I do now?" he asked.

"You will be Pharaoh of Egypt now."

"What about the land and the people?" he asked.

"It will be back to normal after I am gone." She replied.

"Before you go, I want to thank you for everything you did for me."And the goddess said, "Just remember to be kind to the people and not controlling."

"I promise I will, goddess."

And then she was gone; and as she said, the lands and the people were back to normal again. The people were happy again. They had a good Pharaoh now, and everything was fine at last.