Finally, I sat down in the grass real glum.

“I am a flop at this job,” I said.

Only just then, I saw something very wonderful!

And it’s called three ants were walking in the grass! And they were carrying a cheese puff on their heads!

My heart got very thumping.

“NOODLE! HEY, NOODLE! I FOUND FRIENDS! AND THEY’VE BROUGHT A DELICIOUS CHEESE SNACK!”

After that, I picked up the ants and the cheese puff. And I dropped them right inside the jar.

And that is not the only good news!

Because just then, a big, buzzy fly landed right on my sweater sleeve! And I swatted him with the jar lid! And he did not even die that much!

I put him in the jar, too.

Then I danced and danced all over my yard.

Because now Noodle had friends!

And I had pets for Pet Day!

And that is called happily ever after!

⁶/_Sparkle

I runned into the house very thrilled.

“Mother! Mother! I found friends for Noodle! I found Buzzy the Swatted Fly! Plus also I found three ants and a cheese puff!”

Mother looked at the friends.

“Oh my,” she said kind of soft.

“I know it, Mother! I know it is oh my! Noodle will love these guys! I know he will!”

After that, I quick took the jar to my room. And I put it on my bed. And I waited for Noodle to meet his new friends.

I waited the whole entire afternoon.

Only Noodle never came out.

At dinnertime, I walked to the kitchen very slumping.

“Noodle is still hiding,” I said. “Plus the ants are the cheese puff. And Buzzy the Swatted Fly bit the dust.”

Mother lifted me into my chair. She put stew on my plate.

“Yeah, only how can I even eat stew? ’Cause I am depressed, I tell you,” I said.

Just then, someone opened the front door.

It was my Grandma Helen Miller.

She was bringing the ice chest back.

And guess what?

There was a giant fish in that thing!

My eyes popped out of my head!

“Grandma Miller! Grandma Miller! That fish is almost as big as me!” I said real thrilled.

Grandma Miller looked proud of herself.

“It’s called a largemouth bass,” she said. “He’s a beaut, isn’t he?”

“He is, Grandma! He is a beaut! Look at how shiny his skin is! Let’s name him Sparkle! Want to? Huh, Grandma? Want to name him Sparkle?”

Grandma Miller laughed.

“Name him whatever you want, sweetie,” she said. “We’ve got three more in the truck just like him. Come on, everybody.Come see them.”

That’s how come Mother and Daddy went out to the truck.

Only not me.

’Cause I wanted to stay with Sparkle, that’s why!

I waved at that guy in the ice water.

“Hello, Sparkle. How are you today?” I said. “I am fine. Are you fine, too?”

I patted his head.

“Want to swim, Sparkle? Huh? Want to swim in the freezy water?”