The Very Hungry Twelve-Year Old

(In the style of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle)

One Friday afternoon, in eighth period English, an almost-teenaged boy sat slumped in his chair.

When he arrived home almost an hour later, he was very hungry. Very, VERY hungry. He started to look for some food.

He ate through one Honeycrisp apple. But he was still hungry.

He ate through two flour tortillas. But he was still hungry.

He ate through three yellow bananas. But he was still hungry.

He ate through four bags of goldfish crackers. But he was still hungry.

He ate through five slices of cantaloupe. But he was still hungry.

He ate through six juicy strawberries. But he was still hungry.

He ate through seven warm taquitos. But he was still hungry.

So he ate through eight slices of pizza, three bags of mini muffins, one-half a watermelon, two raspberry smoothies, and a pile of pretzel sticks as big as his face.

He did not even get a tummy ache. And, he was still hungry.

So his mother thought and thought and thought. Finally, she had an idea.

On Monday when the very hungry twelve-year old came home from school, he found a surprise waiting for him. It was a giant gumball machine and a pile of quarters.

Now when the very hungry twelve-year old comes home from school, his mouth is so busy chewing that he can't eat up all the food. Instead, he obediently waits for dinner. His siblings are extremely happy that the very hungry twelve-year old is no longer eating all their food. Peace is once again restored....

Until the very hungry twelve-year old brings home some friends.

THE END