Aladdin O'Brien

"Aladdin O'Brien" by Gouverneur Morris is a tale from a bygone era, concerning a youth named Aladdin O'Brien who, with his pal Margaret, unexpectedly commences an adventure down a river, after sneaking away from Sunday school. The story looks like it will tell of growing up, the simplicity of being a child, and the knotty bits of friendships that start when you are young, all mixed with harmless tricks and a little scary peril. Aladdin takes Margaret on a boat ride but his rowing skills fail, ending up with them adrift and anxious, despite his initial confidence. As they try to find their way back, their frank talks and feelings begin to show more as they deal with their risky situation, mixing childhood misbehavior with the reality of making bad decisions, getting things ready for tougher stuff ahead and possibly the future of their relationship.