Look At What Mathew is Missing

     Mathew was a happy young boy who did very little in his day. He would rise from his bed and rush through his breakfast. The school bus would honk the horn and alert Mathew that he was there to pick him up and head off to the school far into the city. A bell would sound allowing the children to go out side and have lots of fun with each other. The sound of children playing was a joyous time. There is nothing more beautiful than the sound of a child's laughter.

     The last bell of the day would allow the children to prepare themselves to return home. The buses would line up behind one another as the children boarded in an orderly fashion. Mathew had only one thing on his mind and I can assure you it was not to go outside in the back yard and have plenty of fun. Mathew's mother did not have to call out his name to come inside and eat supper. He could be found in his bedroom playing endless games on his computer. It was a sad thing to see what Mathew was truly missing outside his room.

     Most of the children would return home and finish up any of their lessons that they did not complete while in school. Most children would not have any homework to finish and it was because playtime after school in the neighbourhood was all they longed to do. Mathew on the other hand would not finish his homework when he got home. He was focussed on his games on the computer. He would tell fibs to his mom when she has asked if he had completed all his homework. That was not the right thing to do. Lying causes so much trouble.

     Mathew needed to be held accountable for the lies he had given. It was not long before those lies would catch up with him. There was nothing wrong with playing his favorite games on the computer but it was very important that school work came first. As Mathew played away on the computer the excitement from the many children who were playing all kinds of sports out side his bedroom window filled the air. This fun time did not interest Mathew at all. If he had to get up from the computer to grab a drink or answer to his mom's calling he would pass by the window and see the children.

     He would shrug his shoulders with a hint of no concern. The computer was a gift to Mathew for his tenth birthday. He was so excited. Mom and Dad had not taken notice that life around Mathew's computer games was depriving him from fresh air and socializing with the many children on his street. One day one of the mothers in the neighbourhood had made plans for all the children to participate in a Easter Egg Hunt when Easter arrived just around the corner. The children were more than happy to help make this hunt a success.

     The large notices were placed on the community mail boxes for all to see. The leader of the hunt was Mrs. Cottontail. This was the name the children chose to call her. She would get all dressed up like a very tall Bunny and carry a huge basket full of candy and Easter eggs shells filled with jelly beans and a surprise that only the lucky finders would receive. The children were all willing to donate some of their savings to help buy the Easter goodies so that everyone could share. It was a few days before the very special Easter Egg Hunt and Mathew was not participating in any way.

     Something had to be done. Mathew needed to be approached about his failure to join in with the other children.  It was unusual that his mom and dad did not encourage Mathew to give up his computer games when exciting events were in the works. Mrs. Cottontail decided to pay a visit to Mathew's parents and remind them of the Easter Egg Hunt. Maybe his parents just forgot. Maybe they did not get to see the advertisement left on the mail box. Either way Mrs. Cottontail was going to knock on the door and remind them to ask Mathew to join in.

     'Knock! Knock!' Mrs. Cottontail waited patiently until Mathew's parent answered the front door.  There was no response so Mrs. Cottontail pressed the doorbell. The door bell alerted the parent and the door was opened with a smiling mother standing in the doorway.

     'Why hello! Who may you be?' asked Mathew's mother.

     'Hi! I am Mrs. Cottontail, oops! I mean I am your neighbour from down the street. I was just paying you a visit about the Easter Egg Hunt that is planned.' 

     'I am so sorry. I have no idea about this Easter Egg Hunt' replied Mathew's mother.

     'I placed a huge notice of the Easter Egg Hunt on everyone's community mail box. Did you not receive yours?' asked Mrs. Cottontail

     'Well Mathew collects the mail everyday because he passes by the box when returning home from school. I have not seen any advertisements.  Why don't you come in and have tea and we can talk some more about this Easter Egg Hunt. It sounds so exciting.' requested Mathew's mother.

     An hour had passed and Mathew's mother was caught up to date in all the wonderful things that were happening around the neighbourhood. It was so unusual that Mathew did not show or even speak of the children and the many sports they all shared with each other. Something was not right in Mathew's house. When his dad came home from work Mathew's mother decided it was time to sit at the table together and discuss what was happening or what was not happening around their home.