The Red Jacket

At the Market

Once upon a time as comic book fever grew, so did the interest of the boys in search of their favorite comics. It was a bright sunny day and the boys and their parrot were out at the market looking for bargains.

As the boys walked around in their running shoes, shorts and T-shirts, the six year old boy, Otto, spotted a comic book stand. He hurried towards the stand, pointing. "Wow, I see comic books!" Otto exclaimed.

Ronald and Brian who were ten and eight years old followed Otto to their favorite books.

Brian became distracted when he saw smoke coming from a hot dog grill. He inhaled deeply. "Oh, that sure smells good." He licked his lips and suddenly had a craving for hot dogs.

Brian's stomach growled. He rubbed his tummy. His eyes were on the hot dog stand.

"Hey check out these comic books," Otto said as their parrot, Laura, sat on his shoulder.

Ronald hurried over. "Wow! Comic book galore."

"It's like heaven," Otto replied, his eyes gleaming. "Wow! I found a 1956 Spiderman comic," the boy exclaimed as Brian walked towards the hot dog stand.

The hot dog smelled good and Brian had to have one right away.

"I'll be back in a second," said Brian as he headed for the hot dog stand. He had missed breakfast this morning and his stomach is begging for food.

"Hurry back," said Ronald. "We'll wait right here for you."

Ronald and Otto's full attention were on the comic books at the comic book stand. Brian's full attention was on the smell of the hot dog as he walked over to the hot dog stand.

"I'll have one of those," Brian said to the man cooking hot dogs. "And put some cheese on it."

The vendor who wore wearing an apron and a white cap quickly placed another hot dog on the grill for Brian.

While Brian waited for his hot dog, Ronald and Otto flipped through the pages of the 1956 Spiderman comic. "I must have this," said Ronald. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some change.

The comic book vendor glanced at the boys shaking his head. "That won't do, young man. This is a classic--it's not one of those cheap comic book."

Ronald looked at the price. "Yikes!!!"

Brian was on his way back to meet Ronald and Otto. He was eating his hot dog and holding his favorite red sports jacket in his hand when a small dog came trotting along. His eyes tracked the dog as he dodged in and out and around the shoppers.

"That dog better not bite me," the boy mumbled as he stepped back to get out of the dog's way.

The dog ran around the boy a few times, circling him like crows searching for a meal.

The dog bumped into the boy.

"Hey, get out of my way!" the boy exclaimed

The dog circled the boy a couple more times and again bumped into him.

"Watch it," Brian shouted.

The dog's eyes were on Brian's hot dog. He was as hungry as the boy was.

"Go get your own hot dog," Brian shouted.

The dog bumped into Brian again.

Brian shrieked. "Hey! Leave me alone."

The dog circled the boy and bumped into him again.

Brian reacted by throwing his jacket on the dog. The jacket landed on the dog covering most of his body. Only the lower part of his legs was visible. Brian laughed as the dog ran in circles looking funny covered with the red sports jacket.

The boy laughed even louder as the shoppers pointed at the dog wondering what it was.

Brian continued to laugh. "Silly dog!" he grinned. "That will teach you for bumping into me."

The dog stopped. He turned around and trotted back in the direction he came from.

"Hey! Hey! Hold it!" Brian shouted. "Give me my jacket."

Brian tried to grab his jacket, but the dog kept running

"Stop! Stop! That's my jacket."

The dog continued to run.

Brian ran after the dog holding on to his hot dog.

"Hey! My jacket! My jacket!" The boy shouted. "Give me back my red jacket."

The hot dog fell from Brian's hand.

The dog stopped. He ran around the boy and soon the hot dog was in his mouth.

"Hey, give me my hot dog," the boy wailed.

Brian knew his hot dog was gone. He tried to grab his red jacket but the dog trotted away. Brian chased after the dog as the dog made his way, in and out and around the shoppers.

"Stop that dog!" Brian yelled.

Ronald and Otto came running.

"What's going on?" Ronald asked.

"I though I heard you shouting something about a dog," said Otto. "Where's your hot dog?"

Brian pointed. "In that dog's mouth."

Ronald and Otto looked.

Puzzled, Otto exclaimed, "What dog?"

Brian pointed as the dog disappeared from their sight.