Dan the Basketball

Dan the Basketball

“Good morning, Mr. Ness,” said Dan as he walked into the classroom before school.
“Oh, good morning,” said Mr. Ness who was sitting at his teacher’s desk. “How can I help you?”
“I want to be a basketball,” said Dan.
“Why do you want to be a basketball?” asked Mr. Ness.
“I think it would be fun to fly in the air and then go swish through the net,” replied Dan.
“O.K.,” said Mr. Ness. He reached inside his desk and pulled out his magic stick. “Please come over here.”
Dan walked over to Mr. Ness. The teacher held the magic stick above Dan’s head and said, “Basketball, basketball, basketball.”
There was a loud poof, followed by some white smoke, and Dan was a basketball. He sat on the floor looking up at Mr. Ness.
Bill walked into the classroom just at that time. “Bill, do you want to go out and play basketball?” asked Dan the basketball.
Bill stopped right in his tracks and looked at the talking basketball. “How can a basketball talk?” he asked.
“Bill, it’s me, Dan,” said Dan. “Mr. Ness used his magic stick and turned me into a basketball.”
“Boy, you must have done something really bad for Mr. Ness to turn you into a basketball,” said Bill.
“No, I didn’t. I asked him to turn me into a basketball. I wanted to be a basketball,” said Dan.
“You boys can outside and play,” said
Mr. Ness. “You have about five minutes before school will start. Bill, just remember to bring Dan back inside.”
Bill grabbed Dan the basketball and ran outside with him.
“Cool basketball,” said the other kids on the playground.
“It is just me, your friend, Dan,” said the basketball.
“Neat,” said the kids.
The other kids and Bill played basketball with Dan the basketball.
“Does it hurt being a basketball?” asked Bill.
“Not a bit,” said Dan. “Shoot me through the hoop again.”
Bill picked up Dan and took a shot. Swish went Dan.
“That sure is fun,” said Dan. “Thanks, Bill.”
The bell for school to begin rang. Bill went back into the classroom with Dan and walked over to Mr. Ness. Mr. Ness held up the magic stick and said, “Dan, Dan, Dan.” There was a poof, then some white smoke, and Dan was Dan the boy again.
“Thanks, Mr. Ness. It was a lot of fun being a basketball. Maybe tomorrow I can be a baseball,” said Dan.
“I am glad you had fun. We can see about you being a baseball tomorrow. Now time for school,” said Mr. Ness.


Text Copyright © 2008 by Clark Ness. Clip art from Microsoft Clip Art.
Permission granted for reprinting and photocopying.
http://163.24.40.22/englishvillage2009/upload/行政公告/98_11_24_DantheBasketball.doc


Did you understand…?

1. Why did Dan want to be a basketball?
a. Because he wanted to fly through the air
b. Dan wanted to go swish through the net
c. All of the above

2. What did Mr. Ness use to turn Dan into a basketball?
a. A magic toy
b. A lucky stick
c. A magic stick

3. What did Dan want to be the next day?
a. A basketball
b. A hamburger
c. A baseball