Well Said

Henry the badger was the youngest member of his family. He often felt ignored and tried to get attention by the things he said.

“You are looking bigger today than you ever have,” said Henry to his sister. His sister left the den crying.

Later in the day, Henry told his brother that the picture he drew in the sand looked ugly. The brother ran into the den crying. Henry sat on a rock and wondered what he should do next. Just then, Henry’s mom came strolling over.

“I need you to put this sock in your mouth,” Mother said.

“A sock in my mouth? Why?” asked Henry.

Just then, Henry’s mother stuffed the sock in Henry’s mouth. He let out a gargled cry.

Later in the afternoon, Henry saw his Aunt Bertie walking up with a loaf of bread. “Oh, yuck,” thought Henry. “Her bread is always so disgusting!” He was about to say that when he choked on the sock that was still in his mouth. Aunt Bertie smiled and walked right on past him.

That night, while Henry’s family was having dinner, Henry was about to tattle on his older brother, but ended up gagging on the sock. Henry’s mother smiled at him. Henry looked into his mother’s eyes and began to understand the lesson she was trying to teach him.

That same night, he wrote a letter to his mom asking for permission to remove the sock, and he promised to watch his words. His mother winked as Henry took out the sock.