Read Kinard Mythology Anthology Volume III Page 13

Cal was trying to overcome the fear that had built up inside of him. He knew that Bruce had accepted his invitation to battle him. Cal was hoping that once the battle started he would be able to make a deal with Bruce that if he won,

  Bruce would have to give everybody their color back. But the thing that frightened Cal the most was that if Cal lost… Bruce would be able to keep everybody and everything black forever. Cal was sure that this deal was the only way that Bruce who was as stubborn as a mule would fight.  

  Bruce was wondering about why Cal would ask him to battle even though Bruce was sure that he would truly crush Cal. Bruce decided that anything that Cal tried to talk him into, he would just respond with a maybe so that if he did lose, then he would not have to follow whatever Cal told him.  

  Then it was time. It was time for the battle to begin. Cal stood at the edge of the field where he and Bruce Black were going to battle each other.

  Bruce stood on the other side of the fighters field and prepared for his battle with Colorful Cal. Bruce was almost 100% certain that he was going to win the gory battle and that Cal would be crushed that he had no color.

  Cal and Bruce marched slowly toward the center of the field. When they arrived, Cal decided to propose his idea that if he won, then Bruce would have to turn everybody back to their original color. And if Cal lost, then everything would stay black as black licorice. Forever.

  Cal and Bruce combatted each other for hours. Until finally, Cal had Bruce pinned to the ground. Bruce was thinking about how surprised he was that Cal had the skills to pin him to the ground.

  “Okay, okay,” Bruce replied. Did he dare say it? He dared. “Okay fine, you win,” Bruce said.

  “Hooray!” Cal answered.  

  The only reason that Bruce admitted that he had lost was that he wasn’t for sure in agreement with the idea that he would give everybody their color back because he said maybe.

  Cal was so excited that he didn’t even bother to ask Bruce about the deal. Cal sped back to his wonderful little cottage which was where all of his friends were waiting for him. Cal was happy that he won the battle and he was even more excited to share the news with his friends.

  “Did you win?” asked all of his friends in unison. “I did,” said Cal.

  “Do we get our colors back?” asked Mahoney.

  “Oh man,” Cal said. “I completely forgot!”

  “You forgot what?” asked Tan Teddy.

  “I forgot to remind Bruce Black to change our colors back,” Cal said.

  “Well go hurry and ask him before he leaves!” said Maroon Max.

  “Okay, okay!” said Cal. So Cal ran through all of the black leaves and flowers around his house and then he finally arrived at the field where Bruce Black was still waiting.

  Cal tried slowly to approach Bruce Black without startling him and carefully laid his hand on Bruce’s shoulder.

  “What!” Bruce yelled.

  “I just wanted to ask a question,” said Cal.

  “Fine, then get it over with,” said Bruce Black.

  “Could you please give us our colors back?” asked Cal.

  Then something strange happened. Something that was as strange as a fish living on land that Cal definitely did not expect. Bruce started to cry. Bruce cried so hard and so loud that Cal just stood there wondering what to do.

  “What’s  the matter?” Cal asked.

  “I don’t have color,” said Bruce.

  “Oh, I see why you’re sad now,” said Cal.

  “I will give you back your color, though,” Bruce replied.

  “Yipee!” said Cal.

  “I just thought that if I took your color, then I would turn colorful too,” Bruce replied sadly. And with that Bruce fell asleep on the fresh, cool grass where he had been sitting.