Franklin Wants a Pet, Franklin's Blanket, and Franklin's School Play: Three Classic Franklin Stories (4 page)

He ran to tell his parents.

“Go back to bed,” they said as soon as they saw him.

“But, but …” said Franklin.

“No buts,” said Franklin's father. “You have had a goodnight story, a goodnight hug, two glasses of water, and I turned on your night light myself.”

“But I can't find my blanket,” said Franklin.

So Franklin and his parents hunted everywhere.

“Try to remember,” said Franklin's mother. “When did you last have it?”

Franklin thought.

In the morning, after a fight with Bear, Franklin had snuggled with the blanket until he felt better.

In the afternoon, when thunder crashed and lightning flashed, Franklin had covered himself with the blanket until all was calm.

He was sure that after the storm he had put the blanket back where it belonged.

When Franklin and his parents looked, the blanket wasn't there.

“We'll find it tomorrow,” said Franklin's mother.

“I can't sleep without my blanket,” said Franklin.

“I have an idea,” said Franklin's father. He left the room and came back with an old, yellow blanket.

“What's that?” asked Franklin.

“It was mine,” said Franklin's father. “Maybe it will make you feel better.”

Franklin tried to snuggle the old, yellow blanket, but it wasn't the same. He missed his own blanket terribly, and it took Franklin a long, long time to fall asleep.

The next morning Franklin began a search for his blanket. He went to Bear's house first. He looked so glum that Bear asked, “What's wrong, Franklin? Did your mother give you brussels sprouts again?”

“Worse,” said Franklin. “I can't find my blanket.”

“It's not here,” said Bear. “Besides, my mother says big bears like me are too old for baby blankets. Maybe you don't need a blanket.”

Franklin knew that Bear always slept with his stuffed bunny. “What about your bunny?” asked Franklin.

“Bunnies are different,” said Bear.

Next he tried Fox's house. The blanket wasn't there either.

“Why don't we play?” asked Fox.

“No,” said Franklin. “I want to find my blanket.”

“My father says worn-out blankets are no good to anybody,” said Fox. “Maybe you should get a new blanket. I did.”

“I like my old blanket,” said Franklin.

Then Franklin went to Beaver's house. The blanket wasn't there. Franklin looked so sad that Beaver said, “You can borrow my Teddy until you find your blanket.”

“Thank you, Beaver,” said Franklin, holding Teddy tightly.

That night when Franklin went to bed, he had his father's yellow blanket and Beaver's Teddy. But it wasn't the same as sleeping with his own blue blanket.