Narrator's Point of View Activity 5

Red walked through the pine woods with a basket on her arm. She wanted to reach Grandma's cottage before the soup got cold. Behind a tree the Wolf watched her red hood move between the trunks. He hoped she would stop and talk because he needed time to think of a plan. Red heard a twig snap, which made her heart jump in her chest. "Good morning," said the Wolf, stepping into the path. Red smiled politely but she wondered why his teeth looked so big and shiny. The Wolf smiled too and, of course, he thought his pearly whites were making a great impression on the young lady.

Mandy stood at the edge of the bounce house. Her shoes were already off. The other kids were screaming inside, jumping in big bouncy waves. They yelled for her to come in. Mandy did not want to. She did not like the way the floor moved. She did not like the way the walls bent. Her friend Terra called to her, "Come on, Mandy! You're missing out!" Mandy nodded at Terra like she was going to climb in. But she did not climb in. She wiggled her toes against the rubber mat and wondered if anyone would notice if she just sat down on the grass.

First, place one piece of gum in your mouth. Do not start walking yet. Chew a few times while standing still to build a rhythm. Now, take one step with your left foot. Chew again. Then, prepare yourself for the tricky part. Take one step with your right foot. Make sure that you do not look down at your shoes for too long or you may walk into an object. If you forget which foot is next, stop walking but keep chewing. Keep your chin up and do not panic. You are now walking and chewing gum at the same time.

My humans are strange, but I am training them. My name is Waffles. I have lived with the humans for two whole moons. Every morning, the tall human stares at a glowing flat rectangle and frowns. I think he is praying. The short human often drops cereal on the floor and I clean it up with my face. Then the tall human says, "Waffles, no!" I have learned that "no" means "try faster next time." After that the short human leaves the house with a backpack but always comes back, so I have stopped worrying. The food bowl is mysteriously empty when I wake up. If I bark at it, food appears. I am very smart.

Jester Mott peeked out from behind the curtain. The king was slumped on his throne. His crown sat crooked. His arms were crossed. Mott's stomach twisted with worry as he saw the king snap a breadstick in half. He had never seen the king look so grumpy. Mott ran through his jokes one by one. None of them seemed funny enough. His silly hat with bells jingled as he shifted his weight. He had planned a chicken dance but knew the king had already thrown one goblet into the fireplace. Mott took a deep breath and stepped out onto the marble floor. "Your Majesty," he said, "I have brought news from the chickens." He hoped chickens were still funny.

Saffron and her son Otto sat on a red blanket on top of Wexler Hill. Saffron unwrapped a sandwich. Otto bit into an apple. The sun was high. The grass was warm. Otto pointed at the corner of the blanket. "Ants," he said. Saffron looked down. A thin line of ants was moving toward the basket. Saffron began to quickly chew her sandwich. Otto picked up one of Saffron's sandals from the corner of the blanket. "And just what do you think you are doing with my footwear, Otto?" Saffron snapped. Otto reeled back and responded, "I am saving the day."

I had only been at Greenhill School for three days when Mrs. Porter asked who could take home the class pet. I wanted friends so my hand shot up. "Noodles." What a nice name. I pictured a fluffy gerbil. Maybe a tiny rabbit. Instead, Mrs. Porter rolled out a glass tank with a snake inside it. The snake was longer than my skateboard. "This is Noodles," she said. Two yellow eyes blinked at me. A black tongue slid out. I dropped my backpack on my own foot. I smiled like everything was fine, but my knees were doing jumping jacks. By the time I carried Noodles to my house, I had already promised myself never to volunteer before asking questions again.

Hugh walked up to the lemonade stand on the corner of Oak Street. A small sign on the front of the table read: LEMONADE: $14. Hugh stopped. He read the sign again. A boy named Booker stood behind the table holding a wooden spoon. "Fourteen dollars?" Hugh said. Booker nodded slowly. "Inflation," he said. Hugh looked at the small plastic cup and then he looked at the boy. "Inflation has hit the lemonade market?" Hugh asked. "It has hit everything," replied Booker. Hugh reached for his wallet and offered Booker a dollar. Booker slid a small cup back under the table. "For one dollar," he said, "you can look at the lemon." Hugh laughed at the remark. Booker did not laugh.

You begin Level 1 in the front yard. Press A to start the mower. Move straight down the first row. Do not hit the garden gnome or the red sprinkler. When you reach the end of the row, press A to begin turning. Turn left. Now go back the other way. Make sure that you keep the lines straight and do not miss any patches. Finish all twelve rows to unlock the side yard. Well done! You have mowed a lawn in a video game.

Rowan stood in front of the judge's tall desk. He thought that the courtroom smelled like old paper and floor polish. A blue folder sat beside the judge's hand. Rowan felt his knees wobble. He did not know how big trouble could get in a room this quiet. The judge put on her glasses and opened the folder. Rowan wished the clock on the wall would stop ticking so loudly.

Leo and June sat in the sandbox beside one toy dump truck. The truck was half buried in the sand. They both reached for it at the same time, each catching a piece of it at the same time. They stared at one another briefly, and then Leo let go and June let go too. The dump truck fell to the sand once again and each stared at it. A few moments passed until Leo said, "You can use it." June smiled, "No, it's your turn." Leo grabbed a discarded blue shovel on the side of the sand box. He begain to fill the truck while June pushed it in to place. "Fill her up," she giggled. Leo and June then began discussing plans to build a new road that might join their kingdoms.

Mayor Marshmallow sat behind his licorice desk. He wished his coffee was stronger. Snug the Gumdrop pointed at Twist the Peppermint. His green sugar finger was shaking with anger. "He nibbled my frosting fence!" Snug shouted. He had been planning this speech all morning. Twist looked at his shoes. He was hoping nobody would smell the frosting on his breath. The mayor cleared his throat. He saw rainclouds forming overhead. Mayor Marshmallow knew that he had to make a decision quickly before they all melted in the rain.

I am writing this to clear my name. People say I am the bad giant from the beanstalk story. That is not the whole truth. I was just sitting down to lunch when a small boy climbed in through my kitchen window and stole my golden harp. He also stole my favorite hen. I chased him, of course. Wouldn't you? When he reached the beanstalk, he chopped it down with my own axe. I'm pretty sure that he was trying to kill me. Now I don't want to press charges or drag this thing through the courts. I would just like my harp and my hen back. That is all I am asking.

Nadine crouched behind the couch with the party blower in her lap. She had been planning this for weeks. Andrew was almost home and she thought that she could hear his footsteps on the porch. Outside the door, Andrew fumbled with his keys. He was pretty upset because it seemed like Nadine had forgotten his birthday. He let out a sigh. He just wanted to disappear into his room. As he pushed the door open, Nadine prepared to deliver the surprise.

Cordelia the sparrow perched at the end of the fence. She was trying to enjoy her morning. Two branches over, Tilly the finch was already chirping at top volume. Cordelia rolled her eyes. She thought that all Tilly ever did was gossip. Yesterday Tilly told everyone that Robyne the robin's nest was crooked. The day before that, Tilly claimed she had seen Barry the cardinal stealing seeds. Cordelia thought that maybe Tilly just made all this stuff up. Then Tilly chirped a new burst of news. Cordelia turned away. She had no interest in starting her day with rumors.

You stand at the science lab table with your goggles on. In front of you, a beaker of purple fizz begins to climb the glass. Your lab partner has mixed the wrong bottle into the slime solution. The teacher is across the room. You have about five seconds before the foam overfills the beaker. You can try to cork the beaker or you can ask the teacher for help. If you choose the cork, turn to page 16. If you call for help, turn to page 41.

Red stood in front of the mirror in the dojo dressing room. He turned to one side and then the other. He frowned. He was sure that his new red ninja suit made him look chubby. He pinched the crimson fabric and sighed. Blue walked in with a smoothie. He had been through this with Red before and he already knew how this conversation was going to go. "Does this suit make me look fat?" Red asked. Blue paused for a moment and replied, "You look fine, dude." But he did not look up. Blue continued drinking his smoothie and continued, "You look great. You look like a ninja." Red was not convinced. He felt sure every enemy ninja would spot him from a rooftop away. He was unsure that he would be able to climb up the rope ladder. Tonight was a big mission. Blue took a long sip of his smoothie and tried to back out of the room.

I had been riding for many days when I came upon the strangest castle I had ever seen. Glowing scrolls floated beside the road. Pictures of meats and breads shined in the light. A voice spoke to me from a small stone box. "Welcome, can I take your order?" the box asked. I did not know who lived inside the box. I raised my visor and bowed politely. "Good evening, great wizard," I said. "I am hungry from my journey. Have you any turkey legs?" The box told me that they did not have turkey legs. I rode forward to a window of bright light. A small person handed me a paper sack.

WANTED: Night shift zookeeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo. You will work from sunset until sunrise. You will feed the owls at 11:00 PM. Do NOT look the wolves directly in the eye. If you hear singing from the bat cave, close the door and walk away. Do not disturb them. You will receive your lunch break at midnight. You may take one bag of trail mix per shift. If hired, you will start training this Monday night. Bring your own flashlight.

The alien stepped out of its ship and into the kitchen. A gray cat sat on the floor near an empty metal bowl. "Greetings, leader of Earth," the alien said. "Take me to your high commander." The cat blinked. The cat licked one paw. The alien waited. "Did you hear me?" the alien asked. "I have traveled far." The cat stood up and walked toward the hallway. The alien followed. The cat stopped outside a bedroom door and sat down. A woman opened the door wearing a green bathrobe. "Mittens, did you knock?" the woman asked. The alien stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Ah, you must be the leader of Earth. Take me to your high commander," it said.

Red walked along the forest path with a basket tucked against her side. She hoped to reach Grandma's cottage before the afternoon shadows stretched across the trail and her soup got cold. Behind a pine tree, the Wolf watched the red hood bob between the trunks. Yes, he was hungry, but he was also disciplined and so he waited. A good plan, he believed, required patience. Red heard a twig snap, which made her heart jump in her chest, and so she turned toward the noise. The Wolf stepped into the path and bowed so low that his nose nearly touched the moss. "Good morning, little traveler," he said. Red smiled, but she wondered why his teeth looked so big and shiny. The Wolf smiled also, thinking that his pearly whites were making a great impression on the young lady.

Mandy stood at the edge of the bounce house with her shoes lined up in a neat row beside the entrance. Inside, the other kids were screaming, laughing, and jumping in great rolling waves. Her friend Terra called to her, "Come on, Mandy! You're missing out!" Mandy nodded at Terra like she was going to climb in, but she did not climb in. Mandy did not like the way the floor moved when other people jumped and she did not like the way the walls seemed to breathe like a giant lung. She nodded through the netting in a way she hoped looked like "almost ready." But she was not almost ready. She sat just outside of the mouth-shaped entrance of the giant inflatable shark and tried to think of a good reason why she might have to continue sitting in the grass for the next several hours.

Begin by placing one piece of gum in your mouth. Do not start walking yet. You may think you are ready but you should chew a few times while standing still first to build a steady rhythm. Now take one careful step forward with your left foot. Chew again. Then, prepare yourself for the tricky part: taking one step with your right foot. Concentrate, keep your eyes on the path in front of you, and remember that if you look down at your shoes for too long then you may walk into an object. You may encounter a problem such as forgetting which foot is next, but don't let this frustrate you. Stop walking immediately but DO keep chewing. Simply face forward and try again, one foot in front of the other. Once your steps and chews fall into a steady rhythm, increase your speed to a normal pace. Congratulations! You are now walking and chewing gum at the same time.

My humans are strange, but I am training them. My name is Waffles and I have lived with the humans for two whole moons. They are loving creatures though their habits are confusing. Every morning, the tall human stares at a glowing flat rectangle and frowns. I think that he is praying. Sometimes the smallest one spills cereal on the floor, and I clean it up with my face. Then the tall human points at me and says, "Waffles, no!" I have learned that "no" means "you are doing important work, but please do it secretly." After that the short human leaves the house with a backpack, which used to worry me, but, after studying her habits, I have found that she always returns by dinner, so I have stopped worrying. The food bowl is mysteriously empty when I wake up, but I have figured out that if I bark at it, food appears. I am very smart, unlike the humans, who learn very slowly and will often walk right past a perfectly good squirrel without chasing it.

Jester Mott peeked out from behind the heavy velvet curtain. The king sat slumped on his throne, his crown crooked and his arms folded across his belt. Mott's stomach twisted with worry. He had been a jester at this court for nine years and he had never seen the king look this grumpy at supper. He had planned to open his set with a chicken dance but he knew that the king had already thrown one goblet into the fireplace, so Mott was second guessing his material. He ran through his best jokes in his head, one-by-one, and every punchline felt too small. He felt uncertain about the juggling bit as well as the spoon trick, which had never failed him in the past. His silly hat with bells jingled when he shifted his weight, and the king glanced sharply toward the curtain. Mott froze. He took a slow breath, fixed his lopsided grin in place, and stepped out onto the marble floor. Mott took a deep breath and said "Your Majesty," while beginning to peck and strut, "I have brought news from the chickens."

Saffron and her son Otto sat on a red checkered blanket near the top of Wexler Hill. Saffron unwrapped a turkey sandwich. Otto bit into a green apple. The sun was high. The grass was warm. The picnic basket sat half open between them. Otto stopped mid-bite. He pointed at the corner of the blanket. "Ants," he said, with his mouth full. Saffron looked down. A thin black line of ants was moving in steady single file toward the basket. Otto set down his apple. Saffron began to chew her sandwich with haste. Saffron eyed Otto as he picked up one of her sandals from the corner of the blanket. "And just what do you think you are doing with my footwear, Otto?" Saffron snapped. Otto reeled back the sandal like a cudgel and responded, "I am saving the day."

I had only been at Greenhill School for three days when Mrs. Porter asked who could take home the class pet. I wanted friends so badly that I would have volunteered for almost anything, and since nobody else even moved, my hand floated up. "Noodles." What a nice name. I pictured a fluffy gerbil. Maybe a tiny rabbit. Mrs. Porter smiled in a way that I should have read more carefully. She led me to the back of the room and rolled out a glass tank as long as my dad's couch with a snake inside it. The snake was longer than my skateboard. "This is Noodles," she said cheerfully. Two yellow eyes blinked at me and a black tongue slid out. I dropped my backpack on my own foot. I smiled like everything was fine, but my knees were doing jumping jacks. By the time I wheeled Noodles to my house, I had already promised myself never to volunteer before asking questions again.

Hugh walked up to the lemonade stand on the corner of Oak Street and pulled a one dollar bill from his pocket. A small chalkboard on the front of the table read: LEMONADE: $14. A boy named Booker stood behind the table, holding a wooden mixing spoon. "Fourteen dollars?" Hugh asked. Booker nodded slowly and did not break eye contact. "Inflation," Booker remarked. Hugh looked at the small plastic cup, then at the boy. "Inflation has reached the lemonade market?" Hugh asked. "It has reached everything, sir," Booker said. Hugh offered Booker the dollar bill and said, "Take it or leave it, kid." Booker smirked and said, "For one dollar, you can look at the lemon." Hugh laughed at the remark. Booker did not laugh.

You begin Level 1 of Lawn Mower Simulator Deluxe in the front yard with a half tank of gas. Tap A to start the mower. Once the engine is revving, push the left stick forward and proceed to the end of the first row. Make sure that you are keeping your line straight. Avoid the flower bed, the garden gnome, and the red sprinkler. When you reach the sidewalk, turn left and begin the next row. Continue this pattern until the yard is covered in neat green stripes. Finish all twelve rows to unlock the side yard. Well done! You have mowed a lawn in a video game.

Rowan stood at the front of the courtroom with both hands pressed flat against his sides. He thought that the courtroom smelled like old library books and floor polish. Rowan noticed that the judge sat behind a desk so tall that it made everyone else in the room look smaller. A blue folder rested beside her gavel. Rowan felt his throat tighten when she opened it. He had seen adults whispering over that folder all morning, but no one had explained why the hearing had been moved to the big room. The bailiff shut the door with a soft click. Rowan stared at the judge's glasses and wished he could read the document from where he stood.

Leo and June sat across from each other in the sandbox beside one toy dump truck, which was half buried and near a blue plastic shovel. Both children reached for the toy truck at the same time, staring at one another as each tightened their grip. Then Leo released the truck and June released it too. The dump truck fell to the sand once again and each of the youngsters stared at it. "You take it," said Leo. June shook her head and smiled, "No, it's your turn." Leo picked up the discarded blue shovel and began loading the truck bed with sand. June pushed it into place. "Fill her up," she giggled. By the time the recess whistle blew, Leo and June had built one road connecting their two separate kingdoms.

Mayor Marshmallow sat behind his licorice desk and wished his coffee was stronger. Snug the Gumdrop pointed at Twist the Peppermint and his green sugar finger was shaking with anger. "He nibbled my frosting fence!" Snug shouted. He had been planning this speech all morning and he was determined to make it count. Twist the Peppermint stared down at his striped shoes and shifted his weight from side to side. Twist was hoping that nobody, especially the mayor, would smell the fence-flavored frosting on his breath. The mayor cleared his throat. He saw rainclouds forming overhead and knew that he had to decide this case quickly, before they all melted in the rain.

I am writing this letter to clear my name once and for all. People say I am the bad giant from the beanstalk story, but let me tell you, that is not the whole truth. I was just sitting down to eat my second brunch of the afternoon when a small boy climbed in through my kitchen window. I would have politely helped him find his way back home, but I guess he didn't notice me and immediately began stuffing my belongings into a sack. He took my golden harp, which had been in the family for two hundred years, and he also took my favorite hen, who has a strong aversion to being kidnapped. I chased this thief, of course. I think any reasonable creature would have chased him. When he reached the beanstalk in my garden, he hacked it down with my own axe and I'm pretty sure that he was trying to kill me. Now I don't want to press charges or drag this thing through the courts. I would just like the harp and hen back, and I would also appreciate an apology. That is all I am asking.

Nadine crouched behind the couch with a party blower in her lap. She had been planning this surprise for weeks. It was almost time for Andrew to arrive home and she thought that she could hear footsteps slowing down on the porch. Outside the door, Andrew fumbled with his keys. He was having a terrible day and was pretty upset because it seemed like Nadine had forgotten his birthday. He let out a sigh and then pushed the front door open. As he pushed the door open, Nadine prepared to deliver the surprise.

Cordelia the sparrow perched at the end of the fence and tried to enjoy her morning. The sun had just risen, the dew was glittering, and the bird feeder was overflowing with sunflower seeds. Two branches over, Tilly the finch was already chirping at top volume. Cordelia rolled her eyes. She thought that all Tilly ever did was gossip. Yesterday Tilly had told the whole hedge that Robyne the robin's nest was crooked. The day before that, Tilly claimed that she had seen Barry the cardinal stealing somebody else's seeds. Cordelia thought that maybe Tilly just made all this stuff up. Tilly launched into a fresh burst of news, three sharp chirps and a flutter. Cordelia turned her head pointedly toward the lawn and ruffled her feathers. She had no interest in starting her day with rumors and even less interest in being the kind of sparrow who repeated them.

You are standing at your science lab table when the purple mixture begins to rise. At first, it only bubbles, but soon it begins hissing. Then it climbs the inside of the beaker like it has somewhere important to be. Your lab partner freezes with an empty bottle still in one hand. It appears that your lab partner has mixed the wrong bottle into the solution. Across the room, your teacher is helping another group put out a small fire. You have about five seconds before the foam overfills the beaker. You can try to cork the beaker or you can ask the teacher for help. If you choose the cork, turn to page 16. If you call for help, turn to page 41.

Red stood in front of the long mirror in the dojo dressing room with both hands on his hips. He turned to one side, then the other, then back to the first side. He frowned at his reflection. He was sure that his new red ninja suit made him look chubby. He pinched the crimson fabric and sighed loudly. Blue walked in sipping from a smoothie. He had been through this with Red before and he already knew how this conversation was going to go. "Does this suit make me look fat?" Red asked, tugging at the fabric. Blue paused for a moment and replied, "You look fine, dude." But he had not looked up from his smoothie. Realizing that perhaps he had been unconvincing, Blue continued, "You look great. You look like a ninja." Red was not convinced. He turned to the side again and sucked in his stomach. He felt sure that every enemy ninja in the village would spot him coming from a rooftop away. Tonight was a big mission too, and Red was worried that he wouldn't even be able to get up the rope ladder. Blue took a long, casual pull on his smoothie and tried to back out of the room. Had Blue known before he walked in that Red would be having one of his crises of confidence, he would have just kept strafing past the dojo dressing room.

I had been riding for many days when I came upon the strangest castle I had ever seen. It had no walls and no banners, but glowing scrolls floated beside the road bearing pictures of meats and breads. As I approached a voice spoke to me from a small stone box mounted on a pole. "Welcome to Combo Castle, can I take your order?" the voice asked. I dismounted at once and removed my helmet, since I judged it impolite to address a wizard with my visor down. "Good evening, great enchanter," I said. "I am hungry from my long journey. Have you any roasted turkey legs?" The stone box informed me that they did not sell turkey legs, but they did have something called nuggets. I considered this carefully. I had never tasted a nugget, but I trusted that the wizard would not poison me on a first meeting. I rode forward to a window of bright light, where a small person handed me a paper sack.

Wanted: Night shift zookeeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo. You will work from sunset until sunrise, six nights per week, with Sundays off. You will feed the owls at 11:00 PM. You are not required to reply to them if they ask you WHO you are. Do NOT look the wolves directly in the eye, no matter what they do to get your attention. If you hear singing from the bat cave, close the door and walk away. Do not disturb them under any circumstances. You will receive your lunch break at midnight and you will be provided with one bag of trail mix per shift. If hired, you will start training this Monday night. Bring your own flashlight.

The alien stepped out of its small silver ship and into the middle of an ordinary kitchen. A gray cat sat on the linoleum floor beside an empty metal bowl. The alien straightened its antenna. "Greetings, leader of Earth," it announced. "Take me to your high commander." The cat blinked once and licked one paw. The alien stood still and waited. "Did you hear me?" the alien asked. "I have traveled across seven galaxies for this audience." The cat stood up and walked toward the hallway. The alien followed several steps behind. The cat stopped outside a closed bedroom door and sat down. After a few moments, a woman in a green bathrobe opened the door. "Mittens, did you knock?" the woman asked. The cat looked toward the empty bowl in the kitchen. The alien stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Take me to your high commander," the alien repeated.

Red moved through the pine woods with her basket balanced on one arm, careful not to tilt the soup container wrapped inside the cloth. She wanted to reach Grandma's cottage before the afternoon shadows lengthened and the soup grew too cold to present to Gram. Behind a leaning pine, the Wolf watched the red hood drift between the trees like a bright flag. He felt the sharp tug of hunger but he was disciplined so he waited until his strategy formed. When Red heard a twig snap, her heart jumped in her chest and she stopped and turned toward the noise. The Wolf stepped from behind the tree and bowed with hyperbolic elegance. "Good morning, little traveler," he said. Red smiled but she wondered why his teeth looked so big and shiny. The Wolf smiled also, thinking that his pearly whites were making a great impression on the young lady.

Mandy stood at the edge of the bounce house near her classmates' shoes, which were lined up near the mouth-shaped entrance of the giant inflatable shark. Inside, the other kids from her class were screaming, laughing, and jumping in great rolling waves. Her friend Terra called to her, "Come on, Mandy! You're missing out!" Mandy nodded at Terra like she was going to climb in, but she did not climb in. Mandy did not want to enter the chaotic and dangerous pit of despair known to others as the bounce house. She did not like the way the floor heaved when people jumped or the way the walls hissed at the corners and seemed to breathe like a giant lung. She wiggled her bare toes against the mesh at the entrance and tried to invent a reason that would let her sit down on the grass for the next several hours without anyone in her class deciding she was some kind of baby who was scared of bounce houses.

Begin by selecting one piece of gum. Unwrap it slowly so as not to startle yourself, and place it precisely on the center of your tongue. Begin chewing in a slow, even motion. Try not to think about it too hard, since overthinking is the leading cause of beginner failure in this discipline. The cemeteries are full of people who believed they could walk and chew gum without training. Once you have an even chewing rhythm established, one that feels natural but not aggressive, it is time to take a slow step forward. Once that foot lands on the ground, take a moment to establish balance. Now step forward with your left foot and maintain this rhythm. Repeat this pattern across the floor, the sidewalk, or, for advanced students, a moderate incline. You may encounter a problem such as forgetting which foot is next but don't let this frustrate you. Just stop walking immediately but maintain your rhythmic chewing. Now, face forward and take a careful step with your left foot. Once your steps and chews fall into a steady rhythm, increase your speed to a normal pace. Congratulations! You are now walking and chewing gum at the same time.

My humans are strange, but I have been training them and I am pleased to report that their training is progressing. My name is Waffles and I have lived with the humans for two whole moons. I have found that they are loving creatures for the most part, even though I find their habits deeply confusing. Every morning, the tall human stares at a glowing flat rectangle and frowns. I think that he is praying. The smallest human continues to offer cereal to the floor each morning, and, I clean it up with my face. Then the tall human points at me and says, "Waffles, no!" I have learned that "no" means "you are doing important work, but please do it secretly." The short human leaves the house every weekday morning carrying a heavy backpack, which seemed alarming at first, but, after carefully studying her habits, I have found that she always returns by dinner, so I have stopped worrying when she leaves in the morning. The food bowl is mysteriously empty when I wake up, but I have figured out that if I bark at it, food appears. I am very smart, unlike the humans, who learn very slowly and will often walk right past a perfectly good squirrel without chasing it.

Jester Mott peeked out from behind the heavy velvet curtain of the great hall. The king sat slumped on his throne at the far end, his crown sitting slightly crooked and his arms folded across his belt. Mott's stomach twisted with worry. He had been a jester at this court for nine years and he had never once seen the king look this grumpy at supper. Jester Mott had planned to open his set with a chicken dance but he knew that the king had already thrown one goblet into the fireplace, so Mott was second-guessing his material. Mott ran through his best jokes one by one, but every punchline suddenly felt too small for the size of the room. The juggling bit would not save him tonight, nor would the spoon trick, which had never failed him in the past. His silly hat with bells jingled when he shifted his weight, and the king's eyes snapped sharply toward the curtain. Mott froze then took one slow breath, fixing his lopsided grin into place, and then he stepped out onto the cold marble floor. Mott took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty," while beginning to peck and strut, "I have brought news from the chickens."

Saffron and her son Otto sat on a red checkered blanket near the top of Wexler Hill on a warm Sunday afternoon. Saffron unwrapped a turkey sandwich while Otto bit into a green apple with a resounding crunch. Although the sun hung high overhead and the grass radiated warmth, the basket remained half open between them beside an unopened thermos until Otto stopped mid-chew and pointed toward the southeast corner of the blanket. "Ants," he said, his mouth still full of apple. Saffron glanced down and observed a slender black line of ants advancing in steady single file across the seam of the blanket toward the basket. Otto set down his apple and Saffron began to chew her sandwich much more quickly. She eyed Otto as he picked up one of her sandals from the corner of the blanket. "And just what do you think you are doing with my footwear, Otto?" Saffron snapped. Otto reeled back the gold-strapped sandal like a cudgel and responded, "I am saving the day."

I had only been at Greenhill School for three days when Mrs. Porter asked who could take home the class pet. I wanted friends so badly that I would have volunteered for almost anything, chalkboard duty, lunch cleanup, recycling cart, the works, and since nobody else even moved, my hand floated up before my brain could weigh in. "This is Noodles," Mrs. Porter said cheerfully. "Noodles." What a nice name, I thought to myself. I pictured a fluffy gerbil or maybe even a chubby hamster with an exercise wheel. Mrs. Porter unveiled a glass tank as long as my dad's couch with a snake inside it. The snake uncoiled with the slow dignity of a creature who had never been denied anything. Two yellow eyes blinked at me and a black tongue slid out. I dropped my backpack on my own foot. I smiled like everything was fine, but my knees were doing jumping jacks. By the time I wheeled Noodles to my house, I had already promised myself never to volunteer before asking questions again.

Hugh approached the lemonade stand situated at the corner of Oak Street and withdrew a one-dollar bill from his front pocket, where a small chalkboard propped against the front of the table read LEMONADE: $14. A boy named Booker stood behind the table holding a wooden mixing spoon at attention. "Fourteen dollars?" Hugh inquired, to which Booker nodded slowly without breaking eye contact and replied, "Inflation." Hugh examined the small plastic cup before returning his gaze to the boy and asked, "Inflation has reached the lemonade market?" "It has reached everything, sir," Booker responded. Hugh offered Booker the one-dollar bill and declared, "Take it or leave it, kid," prompting Booker to smirk and retort, "For one dollar, sir, you can look at a lemon." Hugh laughed at the remark, but Booker did not.

You begin Level 1 of Lawn Mower Simulator Deluxe in the front yard with a half tank of gas, which should be enough for this mission. Tap A repeatedly to start the mower. Once the engine is revving and has reached operating speed, push the left stick forward and proceed to the end of the first row, but make sure that you are keeping your line straight. You will encounter a series of obstacles that you should avoid at all costs: the flower bed, a garden gnome, and a red sprinkler. When you arrive at the sidewalk, turn left and begin mowing the next row. Continue this pattern until the yard is covered in neat green stripes. Finish all twelve rows to unlock the side yard and an extra waste bag for clippings. You will need this in the next level. Well done! You have mowed a lawn in a video game.

Rowan stood in front of the bench with his hands pressed flat against the seams of his pants. He thought that the courtroom was smaller than the ones on television and that it smelled like old library books and floor polish. Behind the raised desk, Judge Calder adjusted her glasses and opened a blue folder thick with paper clips and colored tabs. Rowan felt his pulse start climbing. He had seen that folder move from the clerk's desk to the bailiff's hands to the judge's bench, but no one had said exactly what would happen next. The bailiff shut the rear door with a click that seemed to erase the hallway behind it. Rowan wished he could see the report that the judge was studying intently.

Leo and June sat on opposite sides of the sandbox, each guarding a small territory of sand, and between them both was one toy dump truck, which was half buried and near a blue plastic shovel. Leo reached for it just as June did, and their eyes met as each tightened their grip. For a few seconds, both hands clenched tighly and the toy trembled between them. Then Leo released the truck and June released it too. The dump truck fell to the sand once again and each of the youngsters stared at it. "You take it," said Leo. June shook her head and smiled, "No, it's your turn." Leo picked up the discarded blue shovel and began loading the truck bed with sand. June pushed it into place. "Fill her up," she giggled. By the time the recess whistle blew, Leo and June had built one road connecting their two separate kingdoms.

Mayor Marshmallow sat behind his black licorice desk and wished that his caramel coffee was much stronger. Snug the Gumdrop pointed at Twist the Peppermint across the aisle and his green sugar finger was shaking with anger. "He nibbled my frosting fence!" Snug shouted. He had been planning this speech all morning and he was determined to make every single word count. Twist the Peppermint stared down at his striped shoes and shifted his weight from one candy cane foot to the other. Twist was hoping that nobody, especially the mayor, would smell the fence-flavored frosting that he could still taste on his breath. The mayor cleared his throat carefully. He saw rainclouds forming overhead and he knew that he had to decide this case quickly, before they all melted in the rain.

I am writing this letter to clear my name once and for all, because the story that has been circulating is missing several important details. People say I am the bad giant from the beanstalk story, but let me tell you, that is not the whole truth. I was sitting down to eat my second brunch of the afternoon, when a small boy named Jack climbed in through my kitchen window without so much as a knock. I would have politely helped him find his way back home, but I guess he didn't notice me and immediately began stuffing my belongings into a sack. He took my golden harp, which had been in our family for two hundred years, and he took my favorite hen, and she has a strong aversion to being kidnapped. I chased this thief, of course, and I think any reasonable creature would have chased such a burglar. I nearly caught him when he reached the beanstalk in my garden, but then he hacked it down with my own axe and I'm pretty sure that he was trying to kill me. Now I don't want to press charges or drag this thing through the courts. I would just like the harp and hen back, and I would also appreciate an apology. That is all I am asking.

Nadine crouched behind the brown couch in the living room gripping a party blower with anticipation. She had been planning this surprise for almost three weeks and she had been hiding in the dark for the last twenty minutes. Andrew was almost home, and she could hear his footsteps slowing as he came up the porch steps. Outside the front door, Andrew fumbled with his keys, trying several before he found the right one. He had been having a terrible day and was pretty upset because it seemed like Nadine had forgotten his birthday. He let out a sigh and then pushed the front door open.

Cordelia the sparrow perched at the end of the fence and tried to enjoy her morning. The sun had just risen over the rooftops, the dew was glittering on the grass blades, and the bird feeder hanging from the eaves was overflowing with sunflower seeds. Two branches over, Tilly the finch was already chirping at top volume. Cordelia rolled her eyes. All that Tilly ever did, in Cordelia's opinion, was gossip. Yesterday Tilly had told the entire hedge that Robyne the robin's nest near the chimney was crooked. The day before that, Tilly had claimed that she had personally witnessed Barry the cardinal stealing somebody else's seeds. Cordelia suspected that maybe Tilly just made all this stuff up for attention and because she liked to hear herself sing. Tilly launched into a fresh burst of news with three sharp chirps and a flutter. Cordelia turned her head pointedly toward the lawn and ruffled her feathers. She had no interest in starting her day with rumors, and even less interest in becoming the kind of sparrow who passed them along.

You are standing at Lab Station 4 when the purple mixture begins to bubble. At first, it only bubbles, but soon it begins hissing, and then it climbs the inside of the beaker like it has somewhere important to be. Your lab partner remains motionless, still holding an empty bottle in one hand, and you are now piecing together that he has mixed the wrong bottle into the solution. Across the room, your teacher is helping another group put out a small fire. You have about five seconds before the foam overfills the beaker. You can try to cork the beaker or you can ask the teacher for help. If you choose the cork, turn to page 16. If you call for help, turn to page 41.

Red stood in front of the long mirror in the dojo dressing room with both hands on his hips. He turned to one side, then the other, then back to the first side. He frowned at his reflection and released a loud sigh. He was absolutely certain that his new red ninja suit made him look chubby, particularly in this lighting. He pinched the bright crimson fabric and sighed loudly enough to be heard from the hallway chamber. Just then Blue walked in sipping on a smoothie. He had been through this conversation with Red more times than he could count, and he already knew, with a certain professional resignation, exactly how it was going to go. "Does this suit make me look fat?" Red asked, tugging hard at the fabric across his stomach. Blue paused for a moment and replied, "You look fine, dude," without looking up from his smoothie. Blue continued, "You look great, bro, really strong. You look like a ninja." Red was not convinced. He turned the other way and frowned at that side too. He felt sure that every enemy ninja in the village would spot him coming from a rooftop away. Tonight was a big mission, the kind a ninja got remembered for, and he was worried that he wouldn't even be able to climb up the rope ladder. Blue took a long, casual pull on the smoothie and tried to back out of the room. Had Blue known before he walked in that Red would be having a crisis of confidence, he would have kept strafing.

I had been riding for many days when I came upon the strangest castle I had ever beheld. It had no walls and no gates, no moat and no banners, but glowing scrolls floated beside the road bearing portraits of meats and breads. As I approached the entrance, a voice spoke to me from a small stone box mounted upon a metal pole. "Welcome to Combo Castle, can I take your order?" the voice inquired. I dismounted my steed at once and removed my helmet, since I judged it discourteous to address a wizard while prepared for combat. "Good evening, great enchanter," I said with what I hoped was a suitable reverence. "I am hungry from my long journey. Have you any roasted turkey legs upon the spit?" The stone box informed me that they had no turkey legs, but they did offer something called nuggets. I considered this carefully. I had never tasted a nugget, nor had any of my fellow knights ever spoken of one in the great hall, but I trusted that no wizard would poison a stranger on so brief an acquaintance. I rode forward to a window of impossibly bright light, where a small person leaned out and handed me a paper sack that smelled faintly of glory.

Wanted: Night shift zookeeper for the Lincoln Park Zoo. You will report to the main gate at sunset and clock out at sunrise, six nights per week, with Sundays off. You will feed the owls at 11:00 PM, and you are NOT required to answer them if they ask WHO you are. Do NOT look the wolves directly in the eye, no matter what they may do to get your attention. If you hear singing from inside the bat cave, you should close the door and walk away. Do not disturb them under any circumstances. You will receive your lunch break at midnight and you will be provided with one bag of trail mix per shift, plus access to the staff coffee machine on the second floor of the visitor center. If hired, you will start training this Monday night. Bring your own flashlight.

The alien stepped out of its small silver ship and into the middle of an ordinary Earth kitchen. A calico cat sat motionless on the linoleum floor beside an empty metal bowl. The alien straightened its antenna and adjusted the translation collar around its neck. "Greetings, leader of Earth," it announced in a deep ceremonial voice. "Take me to your high commander." The cat blinked once, licked one paw twice, and stared at the alien. "Did you hear me?" the alien asked. "I have traveled across seven galaxies for this audience and I bring tidings of peace." The cat stood up and walked at a leisurely pace toward the hallway while the alien followed several steps behind. The cat stopped outside a closed bedroom door and sat down. After a few moments, a woman in a green bathrobe opened the door. "Mittens, did you knock at the door?" the woman asked. The cat looked toward the empty bowl visible from the kitchen doorway. The alien stepped forward and bowed at the waist. "Take me to your high commander," the alien repeated.