When Bad Bugs Came on My Birthday

In the really, really late morning I woke up and my parents were awake already. Surprise! It was my birthday! But then the me-me-me bugs came and I was all grouchy. It was so bad to be grouchy on my birthday. First the bug nudged in my heart and made me think “I don’t want to do my chores! It’s my birthday. I don’t have to work! Oh, man! Why do I have to do this?” My parents started saying that I was being grouchy, but I said, “No, I’m not!” They said that I was contradicting and my dad said that I had to have a spanking, because I was disobeying. So my dad spanked me and said, “Since you weren’t obeying, you have to have a spanking. If you obey, the me-me-me bugs won’t like you. Obeying is like a shield to protect you.” I started to want to obey. My dad said, “Are you happy now?” And I said, “Yes.” My dad told me to do my chores, and I obeyed. And I said sorry to my mom. And after my chores I had a happy birthday! The End

By Emma W., age 5