The Day Wesley Learned a Lesson

The day started like any other. Every day Wesley would get out of bed, and eat his breakfast. He would go to school and learn everything that he could. After school was over, he would do things with his brother and sister. Maybe they would play Monopoly or baseball, or sometimes they would relax and tell each other funny jokes.
Now, Wesley's family had a rule. Even though Wesley and his brother and sister could go outside to play, they needed to ask their parents if it was OK to go outside. Wesley's mother and father loved him and his brother and sister very much, and his parents wanted them to be safe. That's why they had this rule.
On this day, Wesley and his brother and sister decided to play inside the house. While they were playing they heard a sound. It was a little girl who was playing outside, and she was screaming! Wesley ran to the window to see what was wrong, and when he looked outside, he saw a big dog biting the girl's arm!
Wesley knew the family rule: they need to ask to go outside. He knew that his father was home, and that his father would be able to help the little girl. But Wesley wanted to help the girl, since she was so scared. So he ran outside as fast as he could and hurried to help the little girl.
Once he got to the girl, he yelled very loud at the dog, trying to scare it. He said, “Let go of her arm!” The dog let go, and Wesley and the girl were very thankful. But then the dog looked at Wesley, and Wesley said, “Uh-oh.”
Now, there is one thing that you should never do when you are with an angry dog. Do you know what that is? You should never ------------ run! Wesley knew that he shouldn't run away from the dog, but Wesley thought, “I'm such a fast runner, there is no way the dog can catch me.”
So Wesley ran away, but there was one problem: the dog was faster than him. The angry dog ran up to him, opened its mouth, and bit Wesley right on the butt! OUCH! It hurt SO bad, but the bite made Wesley very angry too, so he quickly turned around and started running at the dog. When the dog saw Wesley running, it got scared and ran home.
When Wesley got back home, he was in pain, because his butt hurt. His father asked him, “What happened? Are you OK?”
Wesley replied, “I'm OK, but a dog bit my butt.”
Wesley's father said, “Wesley, did you forget our family rule? If you would have obeyed the rule, and asked me if you could go outside, then I would know about the problem and I could have helped you! It is always better to obey, even if you are trying to do a good thing, like help a little girl.”
It was a hard lesson to learn, but Wesley understood his father, and from that day he always remembered the importance of obedience.

Text Copyright © 2009 by Wes Dudley. Clip art from Microsoft Clip Art.
Permission granted for reprinting and photocopying.
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Did you understand…?

1. What was Wesley's parent's rule?
a. Do not play with dogs
b. Ask if it’s OK to go outside
c. Be a good boy

2. What did Wesley do when the dog looked at him?
a. He kicked it
b. He pulled its tail
c. He ran away

3. What lesson did Wesley learn?
a. To always eat his breakfast
b. It is always better to obey
c. Do not let dogs bite your butt