by Laurel T. Sheridan –
Robert loved his green T-shirt. It was his favorite, and he wore it every day. He loved it so much he played in it, he ate in it, and he slept in it. He wore his favorite green T-shirt so much that it began to stretch and stretch. It got bigger and bigger like a rubber band.
One day his mother said, “Robert, that shirt would fit a gorilla. Please, go change it.”
Robert pulled his arms inside the shirt and hugged himself. “But it feels so soft.”
The shirt got bigger and bigger still, like a bubble gum bubble.
His father said, “Robert, that shirt would fit a hippopotamus. Please, go change it.”
Robert buried his nose in the soft fabric. “But it smells so good.”
The shirt got bigger and bigger still, like a circus balloon. In fact the shirt stretched so big Robert’s toes got stuck in the hem, and…thunk, kerplunk…down he went.
His grandpa said, “Robert that shirt would fit an elephant. Please, go change it.”
Robert tied the bottom around his waist. “But it fits just right, Grandpa.”
The next morning Robert woke up. Something felt strange. Something felt odd. Something felt wrong. His throat wasn’t sore. His nose wasn’t stuffy. His ears didn’t ache. So, what was it? Robert looked in the mirror. His favorite green T-shirt was gone!
Robert was mad. Robert was sad. Robert was puzzled. Where could it be? He asked his father, but he didn’t know. He asked his mother, but she didn’t know. He asked his grandpa, but he didn’t know.
“Maybe a gorilla can find my shirt for me.” Robert thumped around the house like a gorilla but could not find his shirt.
“Maybe a hippopotamus can find my shirt for me.” Robert stomped around his closet like a hippopotamus but could not find his shirt.
At last Robert said, “Maybe an elephant can find my shirt for me.” Robert nosed in his chest of drawers like an elephant but still could not find his favorite green T-shirt.
He plopped onto his bed and scratched his head. Where could it be?
First he sat this way, but his bed felt all lumpy.
Next he sat that way, but his bed felt all bumpy.
Then he stretched out, but his bed felt all humpy.
Robert peeled back the covers. Robert was surprised. Robert was happy. Robert was glad. There was his favorite green T-shirt! But now what was wrong? He held it up. It looked too big and baggy. He laid it down. It looked too stretched and saggy. He tried it on, but it looked too long and draggy.
“Oh no,” Robert said, “My family is right. My favorite green T-shirt is way too big. My favorite green T-shirt could fit a whale.” And sooner than you can wink your eye, he folded it up and stashed it under his bed for a whale to find.
the end.
Question Time:
- What was Robert’s favorite thing to wear?
- What was wrong with Robert’s T-shirt?
- What happened when Robert woke up one morning?
- What did Robert do with his favorite green T-shirt?
