To make some sense of this story google Wheat Sharks and you can see some images this story was based on.
Scott was elbow-deep into the dishes, hands automatically washing and rinsing the lunch things while his brain whirled away listing the chores he'd been unable to get done during the week. It was a long list, and he sighed as he realised he would once again miss the Saturday afternoon movie marathon they had every week. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to be there from the start, usually just managing to creep in at the end.
No point grumbling about it, he thought, just gotta work smarter if he wanted…A scream from outside tore him from his thoughts, causing his heart to leap into his mouth and paralyse him.
There it was again, and Scott was galvanised into action, grabbing a hand towel as he charged outside, vaguely aware of John materialising beside him, and the two of them ran through the back garden, through the gate and on into the wheat fields.
Alan was now screaming constantly and running back towards the house, tears streaming and being completely absorbed in his terror he ran headlong into Scott, knocking him over and landing on top. John threw himself onto his knees next to the five-year-old while they all caught their breath.
'Allie, Allie what's wrong?' Scott eventually managed to ask. Alan wasn't screaming now, but his chest was heaving and he was crying. He folded his youngest brother into a loose hug and waited, while John placed a hand on Alan's shoulder.
'Gor…Gord…Gordon. He..He's been eaten!' came the gasped reply, fresh tears spilling. Scott hugged Alan tighter while throwing a quizzical look at John over Alan's shoulder. John shrugged. He had no idea either.
Giving Alan a minute to calm down, Scott racked his brain as to what Alan was on about, but the fact was that Gordon wasn't here, and the eight-year-old had set off after lunch with Alan to go exploring. A sneaking suspicion was forming in his mind, and he leaned back so he could see Alan's face.
'Did you two go Mr. George's wheat field again?' he asked, already sure of the answer. George, their neighbouring farmer, had been complaining to Scott that the two had damaged some of his crop and had said he was going to do something to stop them. Scott had no idea what he was going to do, but Al's immediately guilty look told him his youngest brothers had found out.
Sighing, Scott got to his feet and the other two followed, Alan clinging to his side as they made their way over. He really didn't get it, they had plenty of their own wheat fields, why on earth was Gordon so intent on George's?
The answer to that question became clear as they came up to the field. An enormous sign had been painted and underneath it sat a grumpy Gordon, clearly not happy at something. 'What's the matter, Fish?' asked John. Gordon looked up and had the good grace to look guilty. He knew he was in trouble the minute Alan had screamed.
'Mr George is no fun. There aren't any sharks in this field, I went and looked!' The complete unhappiness of not finding sharks in a Kansas wheat field caused his older brothers to burst out laughing, and after a second the youngest two joined in.
'Gordon, that was a classic. Don't ever change, Fish,' spluttered Scott through his laughter as he hugged Alan on one side and Gordon on the other. Steering them away from the field and back towards home, he listened as Gordon launched into an explanation of why sharks couldn't live in a wheat field and why he'd had to find out for sure.
'Well, I am very grateful there are no sharks,' Scott said as they entered the kitchen. 'But you both promised that you wouldn't disturb Mr George's fields again, and you broke your promise.' Both boys hung their heads. No one liked disappointing their eldest brother, even if he had found it funny. 'So as punishment, I think that you have to sit through one movie of Virgil's choice before you can pick one.'
There were groans. Virgil liked movies about art and music. Virgil, who had been practicing his scales and arpeggios and had missed all of the excitement, came into the kitchen just in time to hear that. His eyes lit up, and although he could tell he had missed something, usually he had to sit through The Little Mermaid and Cars before he could have a choice, so he was delighted.
Scott thought back to the list of chores he had to do and looked at the unfinished dishes. What the heck, time with his brothers was more important today, and they set about getting everything ready. Movie marathon was a go.