HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 2-Lesson 15It was a slow day at the police station. Inspector Hound was chasing his tail when
the phone rang. It was a call from the three Bears’ house.
“Come quick!” a voice cried. “It’s a burglary.” It was Mama Bear calling. “An
intruder broke into our home and took things that didn’t belong to her! She ate a
bowl of porridge and broke a chair, and she’s still here sleeping in our baby’s bed!”
“Calm down, Mama Bear,” said Inspector Hound. “I’ll be there in no time.”
“Please hurry!” Mama Bear cried. “Everything was just right before she broke in.”
But “just right” for one person is not always the best fi t for everyone. Why, just
last night Inspector Hound had gone to dinner at the three Bears’ home. His porridge
was much too cold, and his chair was much too hard. But the Bears needed help, so
he rushed out the door, hoping to catch the suspect before she could get away.
When Inspector Hound arrived, he found the Bears huddled together outside the
front door.
“She’s upstairs,” said Papa Bear, in a voice shaking with fear.
“Sound asleep in my bed,” added Baby Bear. “She frightens me!”
Inspector Hound told them to stay put while he checked it out. Then he carefully
walked inside, sniffi ng for clues. In the kitchen were two bowls full of porridge and one
empty bowl. In the living room, next to that awful hard chair, was Baby Bear’s broken
chair. Then he walked upstairs and saw the intruder.
There was a little blonde girl sleeping on Baby Bear’s bed, snoring peacefully.
Inspector Hound carefully shook her awake. He planned to interrogate her back at
the police station. He would ask her questions until he learned why she had broken
into the Bears’ home.
She opened her eyes and smiled sweetly. “Hello, fuzzy puppy,” she cooed.
Inspector Hound replied, “What are you doing here, miss? You know you’re not
supposed to break into someone else’s home. It’s illegal.”
“Ohhh, a talking doggy!” cried Goldilocks happily.
As they walked downstairs, Goldilocks saw the three Bears. She screamed and
fainted. Inspector Hound wondered whether she was really a criminal after all.
COMPREHENSION What words in the story might be used by a police offi cer?
What does Inspector Hound learn about Goldilocks?
58
59
Goldilocks looked nervous as the police dog, Inspector Hound, brought her into the
courthouse. Last week he had caught her sleeping inside the three Bears’ home. Now they
stood in front of the judge, who decided the punishments. This judge was a grumpy skunk.
“Your Honor,” said Inspector Hound, “this is Goldilocks. She was sleeping in Papa
and Mama Bear’s home.”
Grumpy Judge Skunk looked over his glasses. He glared at Goldilocks. “Well, what
do you have to say for yourself, my dear?”
“I am innocent, your Honor. I have done nothing wrong,” Goldilocks replied.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” snapped Judge Skunk. “Inspector Hound, what is your
evidence against this girl? What proof do you have?”
“Well, your Honor, Mama Bear found an intruder sleeping in their house. When
I arrived, I found an empty porridge bowl, a broken chair, and this girl sleeping in
Baby Bear’s bed.”
“Do you have any witnesses?” asked Judge Skunk.
“Yes, I saw the whole thing,” said Mama Bear. “This rude little girl broke into our
house and ruined our things. I demand justice.”
“Well, Goldilocks, do you have an alibi?” asked Judge Skunk. “Can you prove that
you were somewhere else at the time?”
“No, I can’t, your Honor. I was there, but I do have an excuse.”
“Please, tell us your story,” said the judge.
Goldilocks spoke quickly. “I got lost in the forest behind my house. It seemed as if
I walked for hours. Then I saw a pretty little house. I was so tired and hungry that I
knocked on the door to ask for help. There was no one home, so I went inside and ate
the yummy porridge. When I sat down, I was too big, so I broke the nice chair. Then
I was so sleepy from the porridge that I messed up the warm bed. I didn’t mean to
cause trouble. I’m sorry, Papa and Mama Bear.”
Mama Bear started to cry. “It’s OK, dear,” she said.
Judge Skunk paused for a moment. He thought about what to do. Finally, he
spoke. “Goldilocks, I have decided that you are guilty. But I have also decided that
you didn’t mean any harm. You can go free if you promise to help Mr. and Mrs. Bear
fi x their chair and make the beds.”
Goldilocks happily helped the bears, and afterward, Inspector Hound helped her
fi nd her way home.
COMPREHENSION Why does Judge Skunk decide Goldilocks is guilty? Which
words help you understand the law?
60
61