04 My Favorite Pet

My Favorite Pet It was Labor Day, a no-school day. Judy looked up from her Me collage on the dining-room table. "We need a new pet," Judy announced to her family. "A new pet? What's wrong with Mouse?" asked Mom. Mouse opened one eye. "I have to pick MY FAVORITE PET. How can I pick my favorite when I only have one?" "Pick Mouse," said Mom. "Mouse is so old, and she's afraid of everything. Mouse is a lump that purrs."

"You're NOT thinking of a dog, I hope," said Dad. Mouse jumped off the chair and stretched. "Mouse would definitely not like that," said Judy. "How about a goldfish?" asked Stink. Mouse rubbed up against Judy's leg. "Mouse would like that too much," Judy said. "I was thinking of a two-toed sloth." "Right," said Stink. "They're neat," said Judy. She showed Stink its picture in her rain forest magazine. "See? They hang upside down all day. They even sleep upside down."

"You're upside down," said Stink. "What do they eat?" asked Dad. "It says here they eat leaf-cutter ants and fire-bellied toads," Judy read. "That should be easy," said Stink.

"Tell you what, Judy," said Dad. "Let's take a ride over to the pet store. I'm not saying we'll get a sloth, but it's always fun to look around. Maybe it'll even help me think of a five-letter word for fish that starts with M for my crossword puzzle." "Let's all go," said Mom. When they arrived at Fur & Fangs, Judy saw snakes and parrots, hermit crabs and guppies. She even saw a five-letter fish word beginning with M — a black molly. "Do you have any two-toed sloths?" she asked the pet store lady. "Sorry. Fresh out," said the lady. "How about a newt or a turtle?" asked Dad. "Did you see the hamsters?" asked Mom. "Never mind," said Judy. "There's nothing from the rain forest here."

"Maybe they have a stinkbug," Stink said. "One's enough," said Judy, narrowing her eyes at Stink. They picked out a squeaky toy mouse for Mouse. When they went to pay for it, Judy noticed a green plant with teeth sitting on the counter. "What's that?" she asked the pet store lady.

"A Venus flytrap," the lady said. "It's not an