Progressive 06
Sleeping With Bubbles
Markus loved his Saturday mornings. The warmth of his blankets and the quiet house made sleeping in a perfect habit. But this Saturday was different. A loud splash and barking woke him up. He rubbed his eyes and went to the window.
The backyard pool was full of sudsy white foam. A large, fluffy white dog was splashing and barking happily in the middle. Markus laughed until he could not breathe. Then he heard his dad yelling.
“Go! Get! Dog, get out of here!”
Markus ran outside in his pajamas. “Dad! Wait! Stop! Can I keep him?”
His dad crossed his arms. “You can’t even clean your own mess. Look at this! Your bubble solution spilled and now the pool is ruined!”
“Please, Dad! He’s friendly! Look at him!”
The dog jumped out of the pool, foam flying everywhere. Markus grabbed him, and the dog licked his face. Markus’ mom came to the door with her coffee, laughing.
“Well, he looks like he belongs here,” she said.
“Mom, can I keep him?” Markus asked.
“Don’t ask me,” she said. “Ask your dad.”
A truck arrived. Two men got out and looked around. One shouted, “There he is! That’s our dog!”
Markus felt scared. “Dad, no! That’s not their dog! He’s mine!”
His dad said, “I’ve seen these men before. They were on the news—dog thieves.”
The men tried to take the dog. “Thanks for finding him,” one said.
Markus’ dad stood in front. “Not a chance. Leave my property.”
The men left. Markus hugged the dog. “Thank you, Dad. I’ll take care of him.”
His dad sighed. “Alright, you can keep him. But you clean every bubble in the pool.”
Markus smiled. “Thanks, Dad! I’ll call him Bubbles!”
Bubbles quickly became part of the family. He followed Markus everywhere and made everyone laugh. Markus cleaned the pool until it sparkled.
One day, Markus threw a tennis ball. Bubbles jumped through the air, caught it, and landed in the pool. Water and foam splashed everywhere. Markus’ mom groaned, “Not again!”
But the family laughed. Bubbles made the house joyful. Neighbors came to see him. Markus shared him happily. The backyard became a place full of laughter, bubbles, and fun.
Comprehension Questions
What woke Markus up on Saturday morning?
What did Markus see in the backyard?
Why did Markus’ dad get angry at first?
Who tried to take the dog away?
What name did Markus give the dog?
Your Thoughts
Would you want a dog like Bubbles? Why or why not?
How does Bubbles change the family’s mornings?
Why is it important that Markus keeps his promise to take care of the dog?
