5. Catching Friends

5/Catching Friends I watched the little worm very careful. He wiggled himself into the dirt. I tapped on the glass. "Yeah, only here's the problem. Now I can't see you anymore. And so what fun is that?" I asked. I took off the lid and put my lips in the jar. "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" I said real loud. Then I waited very patient. But the worm did not come out. "Hey, in there! Don't you even know I'm talking to you?" Then—all of a sudden—my brain thought of something very important!

Of course he didn't know I was talking to him! How could he know I was talking to him if he didn't even have a name! I quick closed my eyes real tight. And I tried to think of a worm name. Pretty soon, my eyes springed wide open. "NOODLE!" I said real thrilled. "I will name you Noodle! 'Cause noodles and worms are twins, practically!" I yelled in the jar again. "HERE, NOODLE! HERE, NOODLEY LITTLE NOODLE!" Just then, Mother peeked her head in the kitchen door. "What's all the shouting about in here?" she asked. "Who's Noodle?" I pointed to my dirt jar. "Noodle is my worm," I said. "Only he

crawled way into the dirt. And now he won't come out. Not even when I call his name." Mother looked in the jar. "Hmm… maybe he's taking a nap," she said. "Or maybe he's just exploring his new home." I tapped on my chin. "Maybe," I said. "Or maybe he might be looking for some friends to play with." Just then, I did a gasp. "Mother! Mother! I bet that's it! I bet little Noodle is lonely in there! I bet he's looking for friends!" I zoomed to the closet speedy fast. And I put on my sweater. "HOLD ON, LITTLE NOODLE! HOLD ON! HOLD ON! 'CAUSE I CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS PROBLEM, I THINK!" After that, I grabbed Noodle's jar.

And me and him zoomed outside to the garden again. Friends do not come easy. First, I tried to catch a butterfly. But it quick flied away. Then I tried to catch a grasshopper. But it wouldn't stand still. Also I tried to catch a cricket and a gnat and a lizard. But those guys would not cooperate, either. 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!