“Charlie! Phone!” His mom was screaming. “It’s your Uncle Mel!”
“Thanks mom, I got it from up here!” Charlie yelled back.

Without even a hello, Charlie picked up the phone. “So Uncle Mel, what’s up?”
“It’s field day my boy, pay back time, party time!” Did you get a hold of the newspaper yet? Uncle Mel was feeling ecstatic.
“No, why?” Charlie seemed confused.
“Well, read it and enjoy it. I’m buying 5 more of it when I get to work. Frame it! I told you I have connections. I told you.” Uncle Mel kept the conversation short. Charlie was anxious to see what the paper says.

“Mom! Where’s today’s paper?” He ran downstairs as fast as he could.
“Must be outside still, why?” His mother looked at him with great curiosity. “Aren’t you going to eat breakfast?”
“Not now, mom.” Charlie ran outside and dived into the steps to pick up the paper. He ran upstairs and read it with his pounding heart.

Charlie read the headline:
“TWO PROMINENT BOYS CAUGHT STEALING AT LANES”
“Wow! They made the headlines!” He read on and the article stated Brian and Eddie’s names, their parents’ names and everything that they said, word for word in Uncle Mel’s recorder. The writer mentioned that they could be getting some time in the Juvenile Hall and some community service if the store decided to press charges. Charlie’s name was mentioned 5 times as the store’s hero and Charlie gloated with pride. But to Charlie, just the truth being out was enough for him. He took something from his dresser drawer and ran back downstairs.

“Here’s for you Mom.” Charlie handed his mother the newspaper and she decided to read it right away because the headline just gravitated her towards it. Then Charlie handed her something else. He gave her the gift certificate that the manager rewarded him with and told her to get something nice for wear.

Tears of joy came down her face as Charlie’s dad walked in the kitchen.
What’s going on?” He looked over and Charlie’s mother explained to her husband everything that had happened. In a few minutes, their phone started ringing off the hook. Friends, neighbors and even people who used to ignore them called them and congratulated Charlie. The whole town was talking about Charlie for weeks.

Charlie is still clumsy. He still looked odd to people. But he certainly made a good impression to everyone in Woonsocket. Charlie enjoyed all the attention he’s been getting. But to him, he was just doing his job.

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