Fran Manushkin - Pedros Big Break

Pedro loved going fast. Winning bike races was fun.

He told Katie, Today I can win my third race in a row. I just need a big break.

Zoom! The race began.

Pedro rode fastvery fast!

Oops! His bike hit a rock, and Pedro went flying. He fell hard on his arm!

The doctor told him, Your arm is . Youll be fine in four weeks.

Pedro groaned. This isnt the big break I wanted.

Pedro told Katie, Now I cant go camping. Ill miss sleeping in a tent and eating and seeing shooting stars.

Ill draw stars on your cast, said Katie. Then you can see them all the time.

But Pedro still felt sad. He wasnt fast anymore. He had to do everything slowly.

Taking a bath was tricky. Getting dressed was tricky too.

In school, Pedro had to write with his wrong hand.

Miss Winkle tried to cheer him up. She said, Your bone will heal in just a few weeks.

Pedro groaned. I want it to happen faster.

JoJo told Pedro, Your arm is broken, but your brain still works. I bet you will think of ways to be happy.

But Pedro kept thinking about the camping trip he was missing.

No shooting stars!

No scary stories!

No smores!

A week later, Pedros brother Paco woke up in the middle of the night. He told Pedro, I had a scary dream!

Paco cried and cried.

Pedro wanted to cheer Paco up. always made him happy, but Pedro couldnt wrestle.

What can I do with one hand? he wondered.

Aha! Pedro smiled. I know!

Pedro made funny shadow puppets. One hand could do a lot!

Paco laughed and laughed and forgot his dream. Soon he hugged his pillow and fell asleep smiling.

Before he fell back to sleep, Pedro had another fun idea. We can camp in the yard!

But when Pedro woke up, it was raining. The ground was all wet.

I know, said Pedro. Lets camp inside. My sheet can be our tent.

Cool idea, said his dad.

His mom made a campfire out of colored paper.

A camp needs ants, said Katie. She made ants on a log by filling celery with peanut butter and raisins.

Yum, said Pedro. Ants are tasty.

JoJo told scary stories, and they each other with flashlights.

Then they ate lots of smores.

Pedro said, All we are missing are shooting stars.

No way, said his dad. Ill get the . We can see shooting stars right here.

Pedros dad placed his telescope near the window.

I see them! Pedro yelled. I see shooting stars. Boy, are they fast!

Boy, was Pedro happy!

Next week, said his dad, your cast is coming off.

Yay! everyone cheered.

Pedro cheered the loudest.

A few weeks later, Pedro was racing againfast, fast, fast!

From now on, he said, I dont want to get any more big breaks.

And so far, he hasnt!