Franklin Wants a Pet, Franklin's Blanket, and Franklin's School Play: Three Classic Franklin Stories (2 page)

Franklin waited until morning before asking his parents if they had finished thinking yet.

“Not quite,” said Franklin's mother. “We need to know that you could care for a pet.”

Franklin nodded his head up and down.

“Could you feed your pet?” asked Franklin's father.

Franklin nodded again. He almost said please one hundred times in a row but he stopped himself.

Franklin visited Beaver and told her all about the pet he wanted.

“If I had a pet it would be a cat,” said Beaver.

“Why?” asked Franklin.

“Because cats make purring sounds,” she answered.

“Cats are nice,” said Franklin. “But you never know where they are.”

Later that day, Franklin asked his parents, “Are you finished thinking?”

“Not yet,” they answered.

“Please hurry,” said Franklin.

His father sighed. “Franklin, this is a big decision. A pet costs money to buy and to keep.”

Franklin offered all the money in his piggy bank and hoped it was enough.

After counting his pennies, Franklin visited with Goose and told her all about the pet he wanted.

“If I had a pet, it would be a bunny,” said Goose.

“Why?” asked Franklin.

“Because bunnies have wiggly whiskers.”

“Bunnies are nice,” said Franklin. “But I think whiskers might make me sneeze.”

After three whole days, Franklin was tired of waiting for his parents to finish thinking. He had a plan!

He brought Sam to the breakfast table. “I have been taking care of Sam for a long, long time,” he said. “I will take good care of a real pet, too. I will feed it. I will clean its house. We can take it to the vet if it gets sick.”

Franklin's parents smiled. “It sounds as if you've been doing a lot of thinking, too,” they said.

“So may I have a pet, please?” he begged.

They whispered to each other. Then they nodded their heads up and down.

“Oh, thank you,” said Franklin. He wanted to go to the pet store right away.

“We'll help you choose a puppy tomorrow,” said his father.

“No thank you,” said Franklin. “I do not want a dog.”

His parents were surprised.

“Dogs are nice,” said Franklin. “But I want a quiet pet.”

Franklin's mother asked if he wanted a kitten.

“No thank you,” said Franklin. “Kittens are nice but I want a pet that stays close by.”

“Is it a hamster that you want?” said Franklin's father.

Franklin shook his head. “No thank you.”

“A rabbit?” asked Franklin's mother.

“No thank you,” said Franklin.

“What kind of pet do you want?” asked his parents.

Franklin smiled and said, “I'll show you tomorrow.”