Worth his while

In a sweltering May afternoon, ten‑year‑old Benny Jordan wanders the cramped streets of his river‑front town, dreaming of cooler breezes and the simple pleasures of country life. He watches the bustling wharf, where fresh strawberries arrive and the heat makes even the water seem still, while his mother sews tirelessly to keep food on the table. The modest household of Benny, his younger sister Kitty, and their hardworking mother is held together by modest meals of bread, milk, and the occasional sweet memory of ice cream.

Benny’s yearning for a farm—where strawberries ripen under open skies and the cost of living feels lighter—sparks a quiet determination to help his family find a better way. As the children set the table for a humble supper, their conversation hints at the possibilities and challenges of leaving the city behind. Listeners will be drawn into the everyday hopes and struggles of a close‑knit family navigating poverty, ambition, and the promise of a different future.