3Ithadbeenrainingfordays,andtheBearsweretiredofbeingstuckinside.Finally,thesuncameout,soMomsuggestedgoingonapicnic.“PleasecanAlvincomealong?”askedBertie,“he’sagoodfriend.”“Yes,”answeredDad.“I’llcallhismomandaskifit’sokay.”4WhenAlvinarrived,theBearsloadedthecarandheadedfortheirfavoritepicnicarea.Ontheway,theystoppedtobuysomejuice.5“Ilikemangojuice,”saidBertie.“Ilikeapplejuice,”saidWendy.“I’llgetboth,”saidMom,andsoontheywereontheirwayagain.BEAR16Afterawhile,theycametoapolicecarandabig“STOP”sign.“Theroadisstillwetandslipperyforthenexteightmiles,”saidthepoliceofficer.“Pleasedriveslowlysoyoudon’thaveanaccident.”STOPBEAR17Daddroveveryslowlytothepicnicarea.Whentheyarrived,BertieandAlvinwenttoplayball.MomandDadgotthepicnicready,andWendyranaftertheboysandaskedwhethershecouldplay,too.8“Youaretoolittle,”saidBertie.“I’mgoodatcatching,”statedWendy,hopingtoplay.“Proveit!”saidAlvinmeanly.9AlvinthrewtheballoverWendy’shead,andBertiecaughtit.“Thatwasn’tnice!”saidWendyangrilytoAlvin.DadsawWendylookingglumandcalledhertocomeandeat.10Wendystillwantedtoplay,butshealreadyknewtheanswer.ShesilentlyatewithMomandDadwhiletheboyscontinuedplaying.Itwashardbeingayoungersister.12“Lookout!”criedBertieasWendyleapedupandcaughttheball.“Yousavedourlunch,Wendy!”saidDad.“Thatwasgreattiming!”“Fantasticcatch!”calledAlvin.13“ItoldyouIwasagoodcatcher,”Wendycalledbackproudly.BertiegrinnedatAlvinandsaid,“Wendyisbetterthanyou!”WordCount:372ThinkCritically1.WhydidthepoliceofficeraskDadtodriveslowly?2.IfyouwereWendy,howwouldyouhavefeltwhenAlvinthrewtheballoveryourhead?3.HowcanyoutellthatDadknewwhatwasgoingonduringtheballgame?4.HowdidWendy’sfeelingsaboutBertieandAlvinchangeduringthestory?Howcanyoutell?5.Whenyou’vebeenstuckinsidebecauseofrain,whatissomethingyouliketodowhenthesuncomesout?LanguageArtsWriteaRecountWriteaparagraphaboutatimeyouwentsomewherespecialwithyourfamily.Drawapicturetomatch.School-HomeConnectionTellsomeoneathomewhathappenedtoWendyinthestory.Makealistofplacesyouwouldliketovisitasafamily.
