The ultra-energetic five-year-old — Elliott, by name — came running over to my table to announce, “I’m king of the Jews.”

He is a redhead and I know from experience they can be a lot of fun because Trinity, my 5-year-old great-granddaughter, is also a little carrot-top character.

I wanted to “interview” Elliott. In a previous newspaper life, for about 30 years, I interviewed elementary school students, a fun, entertaining experience.

Five was a bit young, and my scheduled 15-minute interview was interspersed by the wild lad crawling under tables and running around in circles, but, every now and then, he did stay still and I did get some interesting info from him: “I like to sleep in bed ‘cause it gets rid of my hiccups.” “The (Roman) soldiers were mean, and King Herod was mean.”

Those pieces of information came from a play he was doing in church. Where this came from, I’m not sure: “I’m gonna be an Indian in the Christmas play.”

Of course, kids are always asked what they are thankful for: “Jesus lives in my heart, but my heart is too small.” No, Elliott, there is room.

***

I often talk, with justifiable pride, about my hometown of Hertford, N.C., being the home of Jimmy “Catfish” Hunter and Wolfman Jack. But we are proudest of Capt. Corbin Cherry, who was recently appointed director of chaplain services for the U.S. Army.

He was the first combat-wounded chaplain to hold the post. A highly decorated military chaplain, he lost his leg to a land mine in the A Shau Valley, near Hue in Vietnam.

He was awarded two purple hearts, a Silver Star, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the military after 30 years of service. Previous jobs: Chief of the Chaplain Service at both the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the V.A. central office in Washington, D.C., and chaplain of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco’s Presidio.

Corbin, a Methodist, who is back home in Hertford, has been a good friend for many years, and he has authored several books of inspiration.

***

Quick history lesson. Who delivered the first official presidential address on radio? The not-so-silent Cal — Calvin Coolidge.

***

And, I leave you with this thought: The most impressive example of tolerance is a golden wedding anniversary. Check out Proverbs 5:18.

During a 60-year career spanning newspapers, radio and television, Frank Roberts has been there and done that. Today, he’s doing it in retirement from North Carolina, but he continues to keep an eye set on Suffolk and an ear cocked on country music. Email him at froberts73@embarqmail.com.