by Rebecca Colby
Bruno loved to splash in mud puddles. He loved to roll in the grass. He loved to push his trucks in the sand. He loved to eat berries that dribbled down his chin. He loved being messy–the messier, the better.
The only thing Bruno didn’t love was taking baths. He’d do anything to avoid them.
Some days he hid in the cellar with the spiders. But his sister always found him.
Some days he clutched his stomach and moaned. But his mother always knew he wasn’t sick.
Some days he pounded the floor and cried. But his father always sent him upstairs.
So Bruno would march upstairs like a good bear and draw a bath. With the tip of a paw he would splish and splosh until water went everywhere. Then he’d track muddy paw prints across the floor. Finally, he’d wipe berry stains onto a towel.
Every day Bruno did the same thing. He made a mess while pretending to take a bath. And every day Bruno went to bed a little dirtier.
Soon Bruno’s fur stuck together. His pajamas turned color. Bed bugs bounced on his sheets. Worst of all, he began to smell.
“Something stinks!” said his sister.
“Open the windows!” said his mother.
“Put out the garbage!” said his father.
No one suspected Bruno, so no one really looked at him. He’d just taken a bath. It couldn’t possibly be him.
At school, nobody wanted to sit next to Bruno. Flies buzzed around his head. The janitor tried to put him in the trash can.
Bruno knew what he had to do. He raced home. He marched upstairs to the bathroom. He reached behind the soap and pulled out a bottle when…
Crash! The bottle fell to the floor and broke into pieces.
Bruno’s family came running.
“Something stinks!” said his sister.
“Are you okay?” asked his mother.
“My cologne!” yelled his father.
Everyone looked at Bruno. They took a good, long look.
“I knew something smelled bad!” said his sister.
“What a dirty bear!” said his mother.
“Take a bath!” yelled his father, “And don’t come out until you’re clean!”
Bruno sat in the bathroom and pouted. He watched the water rise in the tub. As the water got higher and higher, Bruno got madder and madder. He did not want to take a bath.
That’s when he spotted the open window.
Bruno stood on the chair. Then he stood on the rim of the tub. Then he stood on the window sill. He had just swung his leg over to jump, when….
Splash! His foot slipped and he landed in the bath. Water went everywhere. Grime washed off Bruno and splattered onto the bathroom tiles. Burrs flew from his fur. Purple juice dripped off his body. Bruno was clean but the bathroom was a mess. This was fun!
From then on, Bruno decided he loved taking baths. After all, he never liked being a dirty bear. He just loved making messes.
The End
Question Time
1. What did Bruno not like to do?
2. What happened to Bruno the more he didn’t bathe?
3. When did his family finally realize that it was Bruno who stank?
4. What do you think Bruno was going to do with the bottle?
5. How did Bruno find out that baths are fun?
