Hi! My name is Benji, and yesterday was the funniest day of my life.
It all started when my mom said, “Let’s go to the pet shop!” I shouted, “Yes! I want a lion!”
She laughed. “No lions. Maybe a fish.”
I didn’t want a fish. Fish don’t bark, meow, or do funny tricks. But I said okay. I wore my lucky hat (the one with a banana on it) and we left.
At the pet shop, the fun began.
First, I saw a parrot. I said, “Hello!”
The parrot said, “Your hair is messy!”
What?! Even the bird made jokes!
Then I saw a cat sitting like a king on a pillow. I tried to pet him. He looked at me and said “meow-no.” He jumped and ran away like I was a vacuum cleaner.
Next, I met a turtle. I asked, “Do you like to race?”
The turtle blinked slowly and moved one step in ten seconds. I think he was still thinking about it.
Then, I saw it… A dog with crazy hair! It looked like a mop with legs.
I asked the shop man, “What’s his name?”
He said, “Noodle.”
I laughed so hard I snorted.
I bent down and said, “Hi, Noodle!”
Noodle jumped on me and licked my face like I was made of ice cream.
Suddenly—oops!—I stepped on a squeaky toy. SQUEAK!
All the animals looked at me. Even the lizard blinked twice.
Then a rabbit jumped out of a box and ran in circles. A bird flew out of its cage and sat on my head. The parrot shouted, “TOO LOUD!”
It was a pet party!
The shop man ran around, yelling, “Catch the bunny! Catch the bird!”
I stood still, with a bird on my head, a dog on my feet, and a turtle walking on my shoe.
Mom said, “Benji, we are NOT getting a fish. We’re going home.”
But guess what?
We left with Noodle!
Now, every morning, he jumps on my bed and licks my ear.
He’s loud. He’s silly. He smells like socks.
And he’s my best friend.
