What’s to be DoneWith the Iron Man?

           SotheSpringcameroundthefollowingyear,leavesunfurledfromthebuds,daffodilsspearedupfromthesoil,andeverywherethegrassshooknewgreenpoints. TheroundhillovertheIronManwascoveredwithnewgrass. Beforetheendofthesummer,sheepweregrazingonthefinegrassonthelovelyhillock. PeoplewhohadneverheardoftheIronMansawthegreenhillastheydrovepastontheirwaytothesea,andtheysaid: "Whatalovelyhill!Whataperfectplaceforapicnic!" 

           Sopeoplebegantopicnicontopofthehill. Soon,quiteapathwaswornupthere,bypeopleclimbingtoeattheirsandwichesandtakesnapsofeachother. 

           Oneday,afather,amother,alittleboyandalittlegirlstoppedtheircarandclimbedthehillforapicnic. TheyhadneverheardoftheIronManandtheythoughtthehillhadbeenthereforever. 

           Theyspreadatableclothonthegrass.Theysetdowntheplateofsandwiches,abigpie,aroastedchicken, abottleofmilk,abowloftomatoes,abagfulofboiledeggs, adishofbutterandaloafofbread,withcheeseandsaltandcups. Thefathergothisstovegoingtoboilsomewaterfortea, andtheyalllaybackonrugsmunchingfoodandwaitingforthekettletoboil,underthebluesky. 

           Suddenlythefathersaid:"That’sfunny!" 

           "Whatis?"askedthemother. 

           "Ifeltthegroundshake,"thefathersaid."Here,rightbeneathus." 

           "ProbablyanearthquakeinJapan,"saidthemother. 

           "AnearthquakeinJapan?"criedthelittleboy.