A New Home for Finaloo
Content
Once upon a time there was a boy named Bobby who had a puppet named Finaloo. They lived together in a small, yellow house with Bobby’s mother.
1
Finaloo was Bobby’s favorite toy and every night before bed, Bobby would tell Finaloo, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your silly hat and white, fuzzy face.” Bobby would then put Finaloo in a special place next to him on his pillow.
2
Finaloo and Bobby were perfect playmates. Bobby brought Finaloo with him everywhere he went. Together they would go on amazing adventures – from sailing the high seas to climbing the highest mountains. Sometimes when the nights were cold Bobby would use Finaloo to keep his hands warm.
3
Sometimes Bobby would take Finaloo to school with him to show all his classmates how lucky he was to have such a wonderful puppet. Everywhere Bobby brought Finaloo, people would stop and stare and tell Bobby how lucky he was to have Finaloo.
4
And every night before bed, Bobby would tell Finaloo, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your silly hat and white, fuzzy face.” Bobby would then put Finaloo in a special place next to him on his pillow.
5
One day, Bobby’s mother planned a birthday party for Bobby. All of Bobby’s friends came and brought presents. Bobby received so many new toys he couldn’t play with them all in one night.
6
That evening, Bobby was very tired from playing with all his new toys. He fell asleep right after dinner without telling Finaloo that he was his favorite puppet in the whole world and that he loved his silly hat and white, fuzzy face. He even forgot to put Finaloo on the pillow next to him… and he forgot again the next night…and again the night after that.
7
One morning, Bobby’s mother said he needed to clean his room. She told Bobby he had too many toys and that some were not getting the love and attention they deserved. Bobby’s mother gathered all the toys he no longer played with. “Where are all these toys going?” Bobby asked his mother. “We’re going to donate them to the second-hand store so that little boys and girls who need toys can have toys to play with,” answered Bobby’s mother.
8
Bobby’s mother spotted Finaloo in the corner of the room. A thick layer of dust had gathered on his silly hat and white, fuzzy face. Bobby’s mother picked Finaloo up, wiped the dust from his face and added him to the pile of toys Bobby no longer played with.
9
As Bobby’s mother picked up the pile of toys, Bobby begged her to keep Finaloo. “But Finaloo is my favorite puppet! I love his silly hat and white, fuzzy face! Please don’t take him!” Bobby cried. “But you never play with him anymore,” Bobby’s mother answered. “Sometimes, no matter how much a little boy may love his favorite toy, he may not be able to give it enough care or attention… maybe because he has too many toys to care for… or maybe because he’s not feeling well. When that happens, the toy may need a new home.” Bobby understood that a new home was best for Finaloo. He sniffled as his mother carried Finaloo out of the room.
10
Later that day, Finaloo arrived at the second-hand store. He was very confused and wished Bobby was with him to explain what was going on. An old man with a wrinkly face picked Finaloo up and said, “Don’t worry, little buddy. You’ll be safe here while we find you a new home.” The man placed Finaloo on a shelf next to a bunch of other toys and puppets.
11
Many little boys and girls passed by Finaloo that day, many of them picking him up and talking to him. But none of them were Bobby. Finaloo hoped that Bobby would come to the second-hand store to pick him up. One boy looked like Bobby, but as the boy came closer, Finaloo realized it wasn’t.
12
One particular little boy stared at Finaloo for a long time. He walked up to Finaloo and gently picked him up off the shelf. “I love this one!” the boy screamed with excitement. “Can I bring him home, mommy?” “Sure you can, Thomas,” the boy’s mother answered.
13
When Thomas brought Finaloo home, Finaloo noticed that he would be living in a small apartment, much smaller than Bobby’s house. Thomas lived on the third floor and Finaloo rode in an elevator for the first time. Everything was different from Bobby’s house… the view from the window, the sounds of the neighborhood and the softness of the carpet. Before bed, Thomas told Finaloo how much he loved his button nose and floppy ears. This was all very new to Finaloo ...but he still missed Bobby.
14
That night, Finaloo dreamed of Bobby’s house and the times they had together. He dreamed of the adventures they had gone on and the warm bed he had grown so used to. Just before dawn, Finaloo was dreaming of an adventure from long ago, when he and Bobby explored the Wild West!
15
When Finaloo awoke, he realized he had fallen behind the bed. He could hear Thomas in a panic, calling out his name and looking for him. Finaloo covered his eyes with his hands and tried to be as quiet as possible so that Thomas wouldn’t find him…but Thomas found him anyway.
16
Finaloo never thought that he would go on an adventure with anyone besides Bobby. But to his surprise, Thomas also took him on adventures – to the deepest ocean floors and the farthest galaxies in space. Sometimes when the nights were cold, Thomas would put Finaloo on his hands for extra warmth and together they would climb the highest snow-covered peaks.
17
Every night before bed, Thomas would tell Finaloo, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world and I love your button nose and floppy ears.” Thomas would then place Finaloo on the pillow next to him. Finaloo thought his new home was all right… but he still missed Bobby.
18
One night when Thomas was asleep, Finaloo tucked his floppy ears under his silly hat so that Thomas wouldn’t recognize him. But when Thomas woke up, he still knew it was Finaloo and untucked Finaloo’s ears. “You can’t fool me!” laughed Thomas as he gave Finaloo a hug.
19
Later that day, Thomas was finger painting in the kitchen with Finaloo next to him on the table. Thomas was painting a pirate ship when his mother yelled, “Thomas, snacktime!” As Thomas got up to grab the apple his mother was holding, Finaloo rolled over into the brown fingerpaint on the table. He hoped that Thomas would return him to Bobby if he were dirty and covered in paint.
20
But Thomas gave Finaloo to his mom, who put him in the washing machine. When Thomas pulled Finaloo out of the washing machine, he was clean…and a little bit damp. “Good as new!” Thomas exclaimed. “You’re my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your button nose and floppy ears.” Thomas placed Finaloo on the pillow next to him as he lay down to take a nap.
21
The next day, Thomas took Finaloo with him to Sally’s house to play. Sally told Thomas he was so lucky to have such a wonderful puppet. When Thomas’ mother came to pick him up, Finaloo was nowhere in sight. “Where could he be?” Thomas wondered. Thomas and Sally looked all over for Finaloo, but they couldn’t find him. Little did they know, Finaloo was hiding under Sally’s bed.
22
Thomas’ mother said, “We don’t have time to look for Finaloo right now, but we can come back later to look for him.” Finaloo was relieved and thought that maybe if he waited under the bed long enough, he could figure out a way to find Bobby. But time passed, and Finaloo had not come up with any ideas.
23
Finaloo felt cold and lonely as he hid under Sally’s bed. He coughed from all the dirt and lint under the mattress. He wondered what Thomas was doing and whether Thomas would wipe the lint and dirt from his white, fuzzy face. He wondered if Thomas missed him or needed him to keep his hands warm. Finaloo even started to miss hearing Thomas’ words, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your button nose and floppy ears,” and being placed in a special spot on Thomas’ pillow.
24
Finaloo hoped Thomas would come back to look for him. Suddenly, Finaloo heard a familiar voice in the distance. “There he is! Under Sally’s bed!” Thomas yelled. Finaloo felt a familiar hand reach under the bed and grab him by his floppy ear. Thomas wiped the dirt and lint from Finaloo’s white, fuzzy face and gave him a big hug. Finaloo, Thomas and Thomas’ mother made the short trip back to Thomas’ house.
25
As Thomas got ready for bed, Finaloo realized that he and Thomas were perfect playmates. Together they went on amazing adventures - from exploring for ancient treasures to rescuing damsels in distress. Sometimes when the nights were cold, Thomas would use Finaloo to keep his hands warm. Every night before bed, Thomas would say, “You’re my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your button nose and floppy ears,” and place Finaloo on a special place on the pillow next to him.
26
And Finaloo was happy.
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1
Finaloo was Bobby’s favorite toy and every night before bed, Bobby would tell Finaloo, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your silly hat and white, fuzzy face.” Bobby would then put Finaloo in a special place next to him on his pillow.
2
Finaloo and Bobby were perfect playmates. Bobby brought Finaloo with him everywhere he went. Together they would go on amazing adventures – from sailing the high seas to climbing the highest mountains. Sometimes when the nights were cold Bobby would use Finaloo to keep his hands warm.
3
Sometimes Bobby would take Finaloo to school with him to show all his classmates how lucky he was to have such a wonderful puppet. Everywhere Bobby brought Finaloo, people would stop and stare and tell Bobby how lucky he was to have Finaloo.
4
And every night before bed, Bobby would tell Finaloo, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your silly hat and white, fuzzy face.” Bobby would then put Finaloo in a special place next to him on his pillow.
5
One day, Bobby’s mother planned a birthday party for Bobby. All of Bobby’s friends came and brought presents. Bobby received so many new toys he couldn’t play with them all in one night.
6
That evening, Bobby was very tired from playing with all his new toys. He fell asleep right after dinner without telling Finaloo that he was his favorite puppet in the whole world and that he loved his silly hat and white, fuzzy face. He even forgot to put Finaloo on the pillow next to him… and he forgot again the next night…and again the night after that.
7
One morning, Bobby’s mother said he needed to clean his room. She told Bobby he had too many toys and that some were not getting the love and attention they deserved. Bobby’s mother gathered all the toys he no longer played with. “Where are all these toys going?” Bobby asked his mother. “We’re going to donate them to the second-hand store so that little boys and girls who need toys can have toys to play with,” answered Bobby’s mother.
8
Bobby’s mother spotted Finaloo in the corner of the room. A thick layer of dust had gathered on his silly hat and white, fuzzy face. Bobby’s mother picked Finaloo up, wiped the dust from his face and added him to the pile of toys Bobby no longer played with.
9
As Bobby’s mother picked up the pile of toys, Bobby begged her to keep Finaloo. “But Finaloo is my favorite puppet! I love his silly hat and white, fuzzy face! Please don’t take him!” Bobby cried. “But you never play with him anymore,” Bobby’s mother answered. “Sometimes, no matter how much a little boy may love his favorite toy, he may not be able to give it enough care or attention… maybe because he has too many toys to care for… or maybe because he’s not feeling well. When that happens, the toy may need a new home.” Bobby understood that a new home was best for Finaloo. He sniffled as his mother carried Finaloo out of the room.
10
Later that day, Finaloo arrived at the second-hand store. He was very confused and wished Bobby was with him to explain what was going on. An old man with a wrinkly face picked Finaloo up and said, “Don’t worry, little buddy. You’ll be safe here while we find you a new home.” The man placed Finaloo on a shelf next to a bunch of other toys and puppets.
11
Many little boys and girls passed by Finaloo that day, many of them picking him up and talking to him. But none of them were Bobby. Finaloo hoped that Bobby would come to the second-hand store to pick him up. One boy looked like Bobby, but as the boy came closer, Finaloo realized it wasn’t.
12
One particular little boy stared at Finaloo for a long time. He walked up to Finaloo and gently picked him up off the shelf. “I love this one!” the boy screamed with excitement. “Can I bring him home, mommy?” “Sure you can, Thomas,” the boy’s mother answered.
13
When Thomas brought Finaloo home, Finaloo noticed that he would be living in a small apartment, much smaller than Bobby’s house. Thomas lived on the third floor and Finaloo rode in an elevator for the first time. Everything was different from Bobby’s house… the view from the window, the sounds of the neighborhood and the softness of the carpet. Before bed, Thomas told Finaloo how much he loved his button nose and floppy ears. This was all very new to Finaloo ...but he still missed Bobby.
14
That night, Finaloo dreamed of Bobby’s house and the times they had together. He dreamed of the adventures they had gone on and the warm bed he had grown so used to. Just before dawn, Finaloo was dreaming of an adventure from long ago, when he and Bobby explored the Wild West!
15
When Finaloo awoke, he realized he had fallen behind the bed. He could hear Thomas in a panic, calling out his name and looking for him. Finaloo covered his eyes with his hands and tried to be as quiet as possible so that Thomas wouldn’t find him…but Thomas found him anyway.
16
Finaloo never thought that he would go on an adventure with anyone besides Bobby. But to his surprise, Thomas also took him on adventures – to the deepest ocean floors and the farthest galaxies in space. Sometimes when the nights were cold, Thomas would put Finaloo on his hands for extra warmth and together they would climb the highest snow-covered peaks.
17
Every night before bed, Thomas would tell Finaloo, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world and I love your button nose and floppy ears.” Thomas would then place Finaloo on the pillow next to him. Finaloo thought his new home was all right… but he still missed Bobby.
18
One night when Thomas was asleep, Finaloo tucked his floppy ears under his silly hat so that Thomas wouldn’t recognize him. But when Thomas woke up, he still knew it was Finaloo and untucked Finaloo’s ears. “You can’t fool me!” laughed Thomas as he gave Finaloo a hug.
19
Later that day, Thomas was finger painting in the kitchen with Finaloo next to him on the table. Thomas was painting a pirate ship when his mother yelled, “Thomas, snacktime!” As Thomas got up to grab the apple his mother was holding, Finaloo rolled over into the brown fingerpaint on the table. He hoped that Thomas would return him to Bobby if he were dirty and covered in paint.
20
But Thomas gave Finaloo to his mom, who put him in the washing machine. When Thomas pulled Finaloo out of the washing machine, he was clean…and a little bit damp. “Good as new!” Thomas exclaimed. “You’re my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your button nose and floppy ears.” Thomas placed Finaloo on the pillow next to him as he lay down to take a nap.
21
The next day, Thomas took Finaloo with him to Sally’s house to play. Sally told Thomas he was so lucky to have such a wonderful puppet. When Thomas’ mother came to pick him up, Finaloo was nowhere in sight. “Where could he be?” Thomas wondered. Thomas and Sally looked all over for Finaloo, but they couldn’t find him. Little did they know, Finaloo was hiding under Sally’s bed.
22
Thomas’ mother said, “We don’t have time to look for Finaloo right now, but we can come back later to look for him.” Finaloo was relieved and thought that maybe if he waited under the bed long enough, he could figure out a way to find Bobby. But time passed, and Finaloo had not come up with any ideas.
23
Finaloo felt cold and lonely as he hid under Sally’s bed. He coughed from all the dirt and lint under the mattress. He wondered what Thomas was doing and whether Thomas would wipe the lint and dirt from his white, fuzzy face. He wondered if Thomas missed him or needed him to keep his hands warm. Finaloo even started to miss hearing Thomas’ words, “You are my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your button nose and floppy ears,” and being placed in a special spot on Thomas’ pillow.
24
Finaloo hoped Thomas would come back to look for him. Suddenly, Finaloo heard a familiar voice in the distance. “There he is! Under Sally’s bed!” Thomas yelled. Finaloo felt a familiar hand reach under the bed and grab him by his floppy ear. Thomas wiped the dirt and lint from Finaloo’s white, fuzzy face and gave him a big hug. Finaloo, Thomas and Thomas’ mother made the short trip back to Thomas’ house.
25
As Thomas got ready for bed, Finaloo realized that he and Thomas were perfect playmates. Together they went on amazing adventures - from exploring for ancient treasures to rescuing damsels in distress. Sometimes when the nights were cold, Thomas would use Finaloo to keep his hands warm. Every night before bed, Thomas would say, “You’re my favorite puppet in the whole world. I love your button nose and floppy ears,” and place Finaloo on a special place on the pillow next to him.
26
And Finaloo was happy.
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