Chapter 1
Joel walked into the kitchen with a large jar that was filled with flies.
Joel's older brother Ricky stood at the kitchen table. He was mixing a big pan with cake mix.
Their big dog stood there in the kitchen too, waiting to lick some cake mix. Their dog's name was Boo-Boo.
"I am making a cake for Mom's birthday tomorrow," Ricky said to Joel. "And I already bought her a present. What are you going to do for her birthday?"
"Yes, tomorrow is mom's birthday," Joel said. "I will give her a present too."
Joel showed Ricky the glass jar filled with flies. Joel had caught twenty flies and put them in the jar. There was a lid on the jar. The flies inside were big. They buzzed loud.
Ricky looked at the glass jar with flies.
"You are going to give her a jar of flies for her present?" Ricky asked.
"No," Joel said. "Just wait and see."
Joel walked to the fridge. He put the flies in the freezer.
"You are going to give her a jar of frozen flies?" Ricky laughed at his younger brother. "Is that what you give for presents
when you are only seven years old?"
Joel smiled.
"Just wait and see," Joel said.
