The Life and Hard Times of Grantly Marshall

"The Life and Hard Times of Grantly Marshall"
Could anyone imagine having no money, few friends, and no chance to succeed in life? Well, for one individual this situation is all too real.
Grantly Reed Marshall, a 18-year-old high school student from Franklin Square, Ohio, had big dreams but little money. Grantly had reached a crucial time in his life. He desperately wanted to attend college. Grantly's siblings were much smarter than he was, as were his parents. None of his classmates expected Grantly to amount to anything, but this made him more determined.
Grantly's family was very different. They had one light bulb in their entire house. Grantly got his name when his mother read the book Childbirth Without Pain, by Dr. Grantly Reed.
His father ran for president in 1928 under the Communist Party.
During this period in his life when they usually excluded him from the other kids, and was the poorest he would ever be, Grantly wanted most of all to go to college.
The best things Grantly knew how to do was act and recite poetry. He would memorize poetry with more than twenty stanzas in a week and recite them to anyone who would listen to him speak.
Finally, with scholarships, student aid and multiple jobs Grantly fulfilled his dream of attending college. Majoring in theater Grantly graduated Kent State University in 1972 with honors.
After he graduated, Grantly did act in local theaters for a few weeks and then decided to do to the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Just weeks before he was to leave Grantly's father fell ill and died shortly there after. Grantly knew his father would want him to go to the Olympics anyway so off he went to Germany. Because he was such a passionate speaker Grantly could speak many languages and had no problems in Europe.
A few people Grantly did know and was friends with began to wonder about him after the Summer Games ended and he did not return. Then, one day Gary Johnson, one of Grantly's only friend's received a phone call. It was none other than Grantly. It ended up that Grantly loved Germany and he got a job as a German Postal Worker. Gary had many more long talks with Grantly. These talks did not cost either of them a cent because Grantly always called from the post office. This did make Gary cautious but, they were never caught.
Grantly, once again started acting and reciting poetry. People began to notice how good he was and Grantly began to make friends with more important people in Munich. Grantly then got the opportunity to produce a play entitled "The Sleuth." It was a huge hit throughout the city. Grantly then began to get more opportunities to produce plays. Soon Grantly Reed Marshal was the most sought after play producer in Munich.
For his 20th high school reunion Grantly came back to the states. He was dared by a few students to memorize and recite the poem "Casey at the Bat" at the next night's reception. Grantly went to the library that afternoon and with a copy of the poem walked the streets trying to embed the words im his mind.Grantly received a standing ovation as he coolly stepped up to the microphone. Without anything to rely on but his memory, he stood before the audience and recited the poem with but one flaw.
Everyone agreed Granlty had done quite a bot for himself. He started by acting in small plays and now he produced them with a budget over one million dollars. Not a sole their could disagree that poor, Grantly Reed Marshall was the richest man their. Not for his money, but for what he had the most of, a good personality.



By Graham T. Sobotka