Carlos the Boogerhead was lugging a backpack on his back as he walked down the street to Alfonso Fonzio’s house, who was washing his car, like he does every Friday morning. “Hi Carlos. What’s going on?”
“I have to take a test today and I’m here to study.”
Alfonso looked at the bag Carlos was carrying and asked, “What’s the test?”
Carlos put his bag down and said, “The Three Musketeers.”
Alfonso nodded and put his drying cloth down. “Let’s go inside.”
Carlos and Alfonso walked into the living room and sat at the coffee table. Immediately, Carlos opened the pack. Inside were about a dozen DVDs and around the same number of books. Confused, Alfonso watched Carlos neatly place one DVD after the other on the coffee table.
Molly and the Three Musketeers
Three Musketeer Mice
Three Musketeer Magic
“No candy?” Alfonso joked, but Carlos immediately opened the front pocket and handed him a snack sized bar.
“Carlos, what exactly is this test on?”
Carlos replied, “I told you, The Three Musketeers.”
“Did you actually read all of those?” Alfonso asked, pointing to the pile of books.
Carlos sighed, “Not yet.”
“When’s the test?” Alfonso asked.
“About an hour?” Carlos answered before pointing to a pile of five books. “I read those. But, I haven’t gotten to these yet.”
“Is there a difference?” Alfonso asked as he looked at a pile of seven books.
“Sure, see?” Carlos answered, pointing to the covers. “All different.”
“But, is the story different?” Alfonso asked as Carlos picked up the sixth book.
“Not really. Which doesn’t make sense. But…”
Alfonso laughed and took the book from Carlos. “I think you’re ready for the test.”
Carlos looked at Alfonso confused, “I’m not done.”
Getting up, Carlos grabbed a DVD and put it in the player. “And these are different. All of them. I’m going to fail.”
Alfonso shook his head and replied, “Go by the book, you’ll do fine.”
Carlos shrugged and pressed play. “I mean, Musketeers as mice? I didn’t think they were mice!”
Laughing, Alfonso turned off the TV and asked Carlos some questions about the book. What were the names of the Musketeers? Where did it take place? What was the story? Who wrote it? When was it written? Then he asked how many calories were in a Three Musketeers bar. What was the first ingredient?
Carlos knew them all. He didn’t need to study anymore. He was going to ace the test.
While they waited for the time for Carlos to leave, the two friends pretended they were Musketeers themselves. They got switches and swung them like they imagined the Musketeers did in fights. And when it was all over, Carlos forgot his nerves and knew he would pass the test. Too soon, it was time. Carlos got up and repacked his backpack, minus a free candy bars. “Thanks Alfonso.”
“Any time Carlos,” Alfonso said. “Good Luck!”
Carlos replied, “Thank you. See you next week?”
Nodding, Alfonso walked him to the door, “See you Friday.”
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Carlos and the Baby Squirrel
Carlos the Boogerhead was on his way to Alfonso Fonzio’s house, when all of the sudden he saw something move beside a tree. It was a slight movement, but enough to catch Carlos’ eye. Carlos looked around the trunk of the tree when all of the sudden he saw a tiny animal, barely the length of his palm. Carlos jumped back and ran to Alfonso’s house to see what they should do. When they got there, Carlos saw Alfonso Fonzio washing his car, like he does every Friday morning.
“Alfonso, I saw an animal by the tree. I think it may be hurt,” Carlos said.
“What type of animal, Carlos?” Alfonso asked as he put his towel down.
“I don’t know, but it’s a baby,” Carlos answered. Alfonso walked into the garage and got a box and a pair of gloves.
The two friends walked back to the tree and Carlos pointed it to his friend. “What is it? “
“Could be a mole,” Alfonso answered as he bent down to take a closer look.
“Moles live in the ground, not trees,” Carlos said as he watched Alfonso put on gloves. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to touch it. It could be sick. And some mothers won’t take babies back if they were touched by humans,” Alfonso answered.
“Are you sure?”
“I heard that somewhere,” Alfonso answered as he gently picked up the baby and put it in the box. “Let’s take him to the vet.”
The two friends walked up the block to Ms. Catswallow’s clinic. As they walked inside, the chirps of birds, mews of cats, barks of dogs and even a grunt of a pig echoed the waiting room. Ms. Catswallow’s nurse saw the two friends come in with a box and said, “Hello Alfonso. Hello Carlos. What do we have here?”
Alfonso handed Kate the box as Carlos said, “He fell out of a tree, I think.”
Kate looked in the box and led the two to a waiting room. Soon, Ms. Catswallow entered and took a look in the box. “Do you two know what it is? “
The friends shook their heads in unison and Carlos replied, “Alfonso thought it was a mole.”
Ms. Catswallow carefully lifted the animal out of the box and rubbed it on its head. “It’s not a mole. It’s a baby squirrel.”
Carlos looked at the animal closer. “Doesn’t look like any squirrel I have ever seen.”
“I guess that’s true,” Ms. Catswallow laughed and took out a bottle. “ Poor thing looks like it needs milk. Would you like to feed it?”
Carlos and Alfonso nodded and took turns feeding the squirrel. When they were finished, they watched Ms. Catswallow examine the baby. “I’ll keep him here until he gets big enough to go back into the wild. Did you want to name him?”
The two friends looked at each other until Carlos finally answered, “Climber.”
Ms. Catswallow smiled and nodded. The friends said goodbye to Climber before he went back to his temporary home, and then the two friends walked out of the clinic and back to Alfonso’s house.
“I hope Climber’ll be ok,” Carlos said as they reached Alfonso’s door.
“I’m sure he will, Ms. Catswallow is a good vet.”
“I’m going to check on him tomorrow,” Carlos replied. “Maybe she’ll let me feed him again.”
“I’m sure she will. I better go,” Alfonso replied.
“Ok, see you next week?” Carlos asked.
“See you Friday,” Alfonso replied before closing his front door.
“Alfonso, I saw an animal by the tree. I think it may be hurt,” Carlos said.
“What type of animal, Carlos?” Alfonso asked as he put his towel down.
“I don’t know, but it’s a baby,” Carlos answered. Alfonso walked into the garage and got a box and a pair of gloves.
The two friends walked back to the tree and Carlos pointed it to his friend. “What is it? “
“Could be a mole,” Alfonso answered as he bent down to take a closer look.
“Moles live in the ground, not trees,” Carlos said as he watched Alfonso put on gloves. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to touch it. It could be sick. And some mothers won’t take babies back if they were touched by humans,” Alfonso answered.
“Are you sure?”
“I heard that somewhere,” Alfonso answered as he gently picked up the baby and put it in the box. “Let’s take him to the vet.”
The two friends walked up the block to Ms. Catswallow’s clinic. As they walked inside, the chirps of birds, mews of cats, barks of dogs and even a grunt of a pig echoed the waiting room. Ms. Catswallow’s nurse saw the two friends come in with a box and said, “Hello Alfonso. Hello Carlos. What do we have here?”
Alfonso handed Kate the box as Carlos said, “He fell out of a tree, I think.”
Kate looked in the box and led the two to a waiting room. Soon, Ms. Catswallow entered and took a look in the box. “Do you two know what it is? “
The friends shook their heads in unison and Carlos replied, “Alfonso thought it was a mole.”
Ms. Catswallow carefully lifted the animal out of the box and rubbed it on its head. “It’s not a mole. It’s a baby squirrel.”
Carlos looked at the animal closer. “Doesn’t look like any squirrel I have ever seen.”
“I guess that’s true,” Ms. Catswallow laughed and took out a bottle. “ Poor thing looks like it needs milk. Would you like to feed it?”
Carlos and Alfonso nodded and took turns feeding the squirrel. When they were finished, they watched Ms. Catswallow examine the baby. “I’ll keep him here until he gets big enough to go back into the wild. Did you want to name him?”
The two friends looked at each other until Carlos finally answered, “Climber.”
Ms. Catswallow smiled and nodded. The friends said goodbye to Climber before he went back to his temporary home, and then the two friends walked out of the clinic and back to Alfonso’s house.
“I hope Climber’ll be ok,” Carlos said as they reached Alfonso’s door.
“I’m sure he will, Ms. Catswallow is a good vet.”
“I’m going to check on him tomorrow,” Carlos replied. “Maybe she’ll let me feed him again.”
“I’m sure she will. I better go,” Alfonso replied.
“Ok, see you next week?” Carlos asked.
“See you Friday,” Alfonso replied before closing his front door.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Carlos Goes To the Zoo
Carlos the Boogerhead walked to Alfonso’s house carrying a newspaper. He was so excited to see the llamas and ostriches. He had never seen giraffes and gorillas and tigers and tortoises and snakes and…
“Hi Carlos,” Alfonso called from his driveway. Carlos smiled and waved the newspaper to Alfonso, who had just finished washing his car, like he does every Friday morning.
“I was thinking we could start at lion cage, and then we can see the sharks, and then…” Carlos was so excited he didn’t stop speaking until Alfonso made a “T” with his hand…
“Time out. I don’t think we’ll make it to all of those places in one day,” Alfonso said and he tossed his sponge in the bucket.
“We can try,” Carlos said eagerly as he watched Alfonso leave. “You almost ready?”
“Sure, Carlos,” Alfonso replied as he closed the garage door. “Let’s go.”
The two friends walked down the street and turned to the right. Suddenly, they saw the arched entrance of the zoo. After paying for entry, Carlos and Alfonso grabbed a map and ran to the lion cage. In front of the cage were boards that told them about the lions. Carlos barely glanced at the signs. He was staring at the large cat in front of them, pacing back and forth, back and forth…
ROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!
Carlos jumped at the lion’s cry and turned to Alfonso, “He’s awesome.”
Alfonso nodded and the two friends walked to the shark tank, then the bird house, then the reptile lairs, and finally the petting zoo. Carlos grabbed some pellets and crossed into the pens. He fed goats and sheep and llamas and…
Ouch…
The ostrich pecked at Carlos again. And again. Carlos walked away from the tall bird, but the bird kept following him. Carlos went left and the bird went left. He went right, the bird stepped in front of him before pecking at his shirt.
“Why is it pecking at me?” Carlos asked Alfonso.
“Maybe he likes you,” Alfonso shrugged.
Carlos walked… peck… skipped… peck… jumped… peck… finally ran out of the pen. Alfonso followed Carlos soon after. “Why did he do that?”
Alfonso shrugged until he noticed Carlos’ front pocket appeared full. Alfonso motioned for Carlos to check his pocket, and Carlos found a couple of food pellets that must have landed in there when he leaned to feed the sheep. “Oh.”
“Do you want to go back?” Alfonso asked as he watched Carlos carefully pull every crumb of feed from his pocket.
“No, that’s ok,” Carlos answered. The two friends walked past the flamingos, standing on one leg, as if waving goodbye to the guests. Carlos told Alfonso which animal was his favorite, and Alfonso told Carlos which facts were the most interesting.
“Thanks for going with me, Alfonso. That was really cool,” Carlos said as they got to Alfonso’s walkway.
“Any time, Carlos. I had a great time.”
“Me too. See you next week?”
“See you Friday,” Alfonso replied as he strolled up the walked and went into his house.
“Hi Carlos,” Alfonso called from his driveway. Carlos smiled and waved the newspaper to Alfonso, who had just finished washing his car, like he does every Friday morning.
“I was thinking we could start at lion cage, and then we can see the sharks, and then…” Carlos was so excited he didn’t stop speaking until Alfonso made a “T” with his hand…
“Time out. I don’t think we’ll make it to all of those places in one day,” Alfonso said and he tossed his sponge in the bucket.
“We can try,” Carlos said eagerly as he watched Alfonso leave. “You almost ready?”
“Sure, Carlos,” Alfonso replied as he closed the garage door. “Let’s go.”
The two friends walked down the street and turned to the right. Suddenly, they saw the arched entrance of the zoo. After paying for entry, Carlos and Alfonso grabbed a map and ran to the lion cage. In front of the cage were boards that told them about the lions. Carlos barely glanced at the signs. He was staring at the large cat in front of them, pacing back and forth, back and forth…
ROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!
Carlos jumped at the lion’s cry and turned to Alfonso, “He’s awesome.”
Alfonso nodded and the two friends walked to the shark tank, then the bird house, then the reptile lairs, and finally the petting zoo. Carlos grabbed some pellets and crossed into the pens. He fed goats and sheep and llamas and…
Ouch…
The ostrich pecked at Carlos again. And again. Carlos walked away from the tall bird, but the bird kept following him. Carlos went left and the bird went left. He went right, the bird stepped in front of him before pecking at his shirt.
“Why is it pecking at me?” Carlos asked Alfonso.
“Maybe he likes you,” Alfonso shrugged.
Carlos walked… peck… skipped… peck… jumped… peck… finally ran out of the pen. Alfonso followed Carlos soon after. “Why did he do that?”
Alfonso shrugged until he noticed Carlos’ front pocket appeared full. Alfonso motioned for Carlos to check his pocket, and Carlos found a couple of food pellets that must have landed in there when he leaned to feed the sheep. “Oh.”
“Do you want to go back?” Alfonso asked as he watched Carlos carefully pull every crumb of feed from his pocket.
“No, that’s ok,” Carlos answered. The two friends walked past the flamingos, standing on one leg, as if waving goodbye to the guests. Carlos told Alfonso which animal was his favorite, and Alfonso told Carlos which facts were the most interesting.
“Thanks for going with me, Alfonso. That was really cool,” Carlos said as they got to Alfonso’s walkway.
“Any time, Carlos. I had a great time.”
“Me too. See you next week?”
“See you Friday,” Alfonso replied as he strolled up the walked and went into his house.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Carlos Goes to the Amusement Park
Carlos had his tickets in his back pocket and an umbrella in his hand as he walked to Alfonso’s house. Him mom had given him them as a reward for doing all his chores, and there was no one he would rather go to the Amusement Park with than Alfonso. Even in the rain, he was sure that the park would be a blast.
As he turned the corner, he noticed that Alfonso’s car wasn’t in the driveway. About to leave, he saw a light in the garage, and there was Alfonso Fonzio, washing his car like he does every Friday morning. “Hi Carlos, what’s up?”
“I got tickets to the Amusement Park. Did you want to go?”
“Sure,” Alfonso said as he tossed his drying cloth on the hood of his car. “Let me get changed.”
Alfonso returned with his umbrella and the two friends walked down the street. Lights sparkled ahead of the friends as they got closer and closer to the entrance. Carlos proudly presented the tickets and the friends walked in.
“Not many people here,” Alfonso said as they walked to the first ride.
“Must be the rain, more rides for us,” Carlos said.
The two friends climbed up the ramp of the first ride, the Retcherator. The Retcherator was known for making people ill from how many twists, turns, ups, downs, fasts, slows, roundabout…. The two friends climbed in the first car and got buckled in. No one else got on the ride, and soon they were clicking up the first hill…
Click, click, click, click…
“This isn’t so bad,” Carlos said as he looked around. They could see the whole park from…
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Down they went, faster and faster. Carlos’ hat flew off his head as they zoomed down the hill. His stomach hopped and jumped until finally, they slowed…. Click, click, click, click….
“What do you want to ride NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTTTTTTTTT!!!”
Down they go again, hop, jump, up, down, back forth, until finally, the ride ended and they both walked dizzily out.
“Next ride?” Carlos asked.
Alfonso shook his head and pointed to the snack stand. “Maybe an ice cream.”
Carlos nodded, and the two took their umbrellas, walking to the ice cream stand. “Two vanilla cones, please?”
Suddenly, the ground quaked with a thunderous roar. The sky grew darker and darker when they took their cones and sat down. They eagerly ate the cold cream as they watched the stand close up. Suddenly, an attendant came by. “Sorry fellas, the park’s closed.”
Groaning, the two followed the attendant out the park with rain checks for a sunnier day. Carlos and Alfonso walked back to Alfonso’s house, where Carlos handed him Carlos’ pass. “What’s that for, Carlos?”
“I don’t think Amusement Parks are my thing, Alfonso.”
“Ok,” Alfonso said, taking the ticket. “Thanks.”
Carlos nodded, his stomach still queasy from the Retcherator. “See you next week?”
Alfonso nodded before walking into his house, “See you Friday.”
As he turned the corner, he noticed that Alfonso’s car wasn’t in the driveway. About to leave, he saw a light in the garage, and there was Alfonso Fonzio, washing his car like he does every Friday morning. “Hi Carlos, what’s up?”
“I got tickets to the Amusement Park. Did you want to go?”
“Sure,” Alfonso said as he tossed his drying cloth on the hood of his car. “Let me get changed.”
Alfonso returned with his umbrella and the two friends walked down the street. Lights sparkled ahead of the friends as they got closer and closer to the entrance. Carlos proudly presented the tickets and the friends walked in.
“Not many people here,” Alfonso said as they walked to the first ride.
“Must be the rain, more rides for us,” Carlos said.
The two friends climbed up the ramp of the first ride, the Retcherator. The Retcherator was known for making people ill from how many twists, turns, ups, downs, fasts, slows, roundabout…. The two friends climbed in the first car and got buckled in. No one else got on the ride, and soon they were clicking up the first hill…
Click, click, click, click…
“This isn’t so bad,” Carlos said as he looked around. They could see the whole park from…
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Down they went, faster and faster. Carlos’ hat flew off his head as they zoomed down the hill. His stomach hopped and jumped until finally, they slowed…. Click, click, click, click….
“What do you want to ride NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTTTTTTTTT!!!”
Down they go again, hop, jump, up, down, back forth, until finally, the ride ended and they both walked dizzily out.
“Next ride?” Carlos asked.
Alfonso shook his head and pointed to the snack stand. “Maybe an ice cream.”
Carlos nodded, and the two took their umbrellas, walking to the ice cream stand. “Two vanilla cones, please?”
Suddenly, the ground quaked with a thunderous roar. The sky grew darker and darker when they took their cones and sat down. They eagerly ate the cold cream as they watched the stand close up. Suddenly, an attendant came by. “Sorry fellas, the park’s closed.”
Groaning, the two followed the attendant out the park with rain checks for a sunnier day. Carlos and Alfonso walked back to Alfonso’s house, where Carlos handed him Carlos’ pass. “What’s that for, Carlos?”
“I don’t think Amusement Parks are my thing, Alfonso.”
“Ok,” Alfonso said, taking the ticket. “Thanks.”
Carlos nodded, his stomach still queasy from the Retcherator. “See you next week?”
Alfonso nodded before walking into his house, “See you Friday.”
Friday, April 1, 2011
Carlos Walks a Dog
Carlos the Boogerhead was on his way to Alfonso’s house when Mr. Pedigree yelled out to him, “Carlos, do you have a minute?”
Carlos smiled and walked across the street, “Sure, Mr. Pedigree.”
Mr. Pedigree smiled, “I was wondering if you would mind walking March.”
Carlos agreed, and Mr. Pedigree thanked him and grabbed the leash. Shortly later, he comes back with a dog the size of a horse. “Just around the park and back would be fine, Carlos. Thank you.”
Carlos took the leash and walked March to Alfonso Fonzio’s house, who was washing his car, like he does every Friday morning. “Hey Carlos. What are you doing with March?”
“Mr. Pedigree asked me to walk him,” Carlos explained. “We’re going to the park. Did you want to come?”
“Sure,” Alfonso said, tossing his sponge in the bucket. “Let’s go.”
Carlos and Alfonso turned the corner and walked into the neighborhood park. Children were playing on the monkey bars and the swings, eyes wide open when Carlos walked the horse, er dog, past.
“That sure is a big dog,” a seven year old boy said bravely before running away.
Carlos agreed that March was a big dog. He felt the pull of the leash as March wanted to sprint and play. But, Carlos held on tight as they walked past the see-saws, the flowers, the trees, the…
MEOW! HISS!
March’s ears shot up and bolted, dragging Carlos behind him. Carlos ran and ran faster than he has even run before as March tore into the bushes, through be flowers, around the see saw. Carlos watched as they got closer and closer to the children on the swing set and imagined running into them. “No March, NO!”
March didn’t listen. He kept running. The cat he was chasing saw his chance and jumped over the swing. Carlos closed his eyes as he saw the swing get closer and closer until he heard a loud, piercing whistle.
“March! No! Bad boy!” Alfonso called. Suddenly, March stopped and whimpered as he watched the cat scurry away up in a tree. Carlos collapsed on the ground and watched Alfonso take the leash from his hand. “I guess Mr. Pedigree didn’t tell you March likes to chase cats.”
“N…n…no,” Carlos said breathlessly.
“We better take March home. He’s had enough fun for one day.”
Carlos nodded and got up. As they walked home, Alfonso showed Carlos how to stop March from chasing cats the next time. When they reached Mr. Pedigree’s house, Alfonso handed Carlos the leash and Carlos brought March to the door. Mr. Pedigree opened the door and smiled at his happy dog that walked through the door. “Thank you so much, Carlos. Did you two have fun?”
Carlos didn’t know what to say, so he nodded and handed Mr. Pedigree the leash.
“Maybe you can take March on a walk again sometime,” Mr. Pedigree said.
Carlos nodded slower, “Maybe.”
Mr. Pedigree told Carlos to wait and came back with a crisp five dollar bill. Carlos gladly took it and met Alfonso back on the sidewalk. “Well, I got five dollars. Guess I can get some candy. Want to come?”
“I can’t, Carlos. Maybe next time.”
Carlos pocketed the money. “Ok! See you Friday.”
Carlos smiled and walked across the street, “Sure, Mr. Pedigree.”
Mr. Pedigree smiled, “I was wondering if you would mind walking March.”
Carlos agreed, and Mr. Pedigree thanked him and grabbed the leash. Shortly later, he comes back with a dog the size of a horse. “Just around the park and back would be fine, Carlos. Thank you.”
Carlos took the leash and walked March to Alfonso Fonzio’s house, who was washing his car, like he does every Friday morning. “Hey Carlos. What are you doing with March?”
“Mr. Pedigree asked me to walk him,” Carlos explained. “We’re going to the park. Did you want to come?”
“Sure,” Alfonso said, tossing his sponge in the bucket. “Let’s go.”
Carlos and Alfonso turned the corner and walked into the neighborhood park. Children were playing on the monkey bars and the swings, eyes wide open when Carlos walked the horse, er dog, past.
“That sure is a big dog,” a seven year old boy said bravely before running away.
Carlos agreed that March was a big dog. He felt the pull of the leash as March wanted to sprint and play. But, Carlos held on tight as they walked past the see-saws, the flowers, the trees, the…
MEOW! HISS!
March’s ears shot up and bolted, dragging Carlos behind him. Carlos ran and ran faster than he has even run before as March tore into the bushes, through be flowers, around the see saw. Carlos watched as they got closer and closer to the children on the swing set and imagined running into them. “No March, NO!”
March didn’t listen. He kept running. The cat he was chasing saw his chance and jumped over the swing. Carlos closed his eyes as he saw the swing get closer and closer until he heard a loud, piercing whistle.
“March! No! Bad boy!” Alfonso called. Suddenly, March stopped and whimpered as he watched the cat scurry away up in a tree. Carlos collapsed on the ground and watched Alfonso take the leash from his hand. “I guess Mr. Pedigree didn’t tell you March likes to chase cats.”
“N…n…no,” Carlos said breathlessly.
“We better take March home. He’s had enough fun for one day.”
Carlos nodded and got up. As they walked home, Alfonso showed Carlos how to stop March from chasing cats the next time. When they reached Mr. Pedigree’s house, Alfonso handed Carlos the leash and Carlos brought March to the door. Mr. Pedigree opened the door and smiled at his happy dog that walked through the door. “Thank you so much, Carlos. Did you two have fun?”
Carlos didn’t know what to say, so he nodded and handed Mr. Pedigree the leash.
“Maybe you can take March on a walk again sometime,” Mr. Pedigree said.
Carlos nodded slower, “Maybe.”
Mr. Pedigree told Carlos to wait and came back with a crisp five dollar bill. Carlos gladly took it and met Alfonso back on the sidewalk. “Well, I got five dollars. Guess I can get some candy. Want to come?”
“I can’t, Carlos. Maybe next time.”
Carlos pocketed the money. “Ok! See you Friday.”
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