Decodable Passage 9

Get Set, Run

Ted pats his dog, Jem. There is a big web with bugs on it and a lot of wet logs, but no sun. Ten minutes pass. The rain has not let up yet, but Ted and his dog set off for home.

Ted’s wet hat and wet bag sag. The path is wet, too; it is much like a mud pit. “Do not sit in the mud, Jem!” Ted tells Jem, but Jem sits and gets wet. She is a big wet mess. “Stop it, Jem!” yells Ted. Jem rubs mud on Ted. Ted has gobs of mud on him. It will be a big job to get the mud off his legs.

Suddenly, his hair stands up in the chill air. Jem sits up, too. Ted and Jem can hear a hiss on the hill. I bet it is a fox cub! “Jem,” Ted begs, “we must get out of here. Get set, run!”

Jem runs and runs. “Jem!” yells Ted. “Get Mom!” Ted runs as fast as his legs can go, but his bag pops open. His bug net is in the bag. “Yes,” thinks Ted. “I can catch it with this.” Ted runs behind a big tree and gets the net set. Something runs by, and Ted runs at it with his net.

It is a chipmunk, and Ted did not catch it! “I am such a silly kid!” says Ted. “Well, I am glad Jem can not see my red face.”