Jesse and the Never-Ending Soda

by Tom

A sunny day, a catchy tune, and a fridge full of fizzy pop.

Grade 2 (Level K): Transitional readers10 pages

Jesse loves fizzy soda more than anything. One lazy afternoon at home he decides today is a soda day: he pops open bottle after bottle, gulps, burps, sings made-up soda songs at the top of his lungs and dances around the living room with a bottle in each hand. His mom Shirley has had enough of the fizz. She tries everything to make him stop: she plugs his nose, she covers his mouth with her hand, she hides the bottles behind the couch, she swaps his soda for a glass of water, she wraps him in a bear hug so he cannot dance. Every time, Jesse wriggles free, grins, and starts a new song. In the end the bubbles win: one giant burp, an empty fridge, and Jesse flops on the couch with a full belly and a big smile while Shirley shakes her head and laughs, and hands him a glass of water.

Characters

Jesse

Shirley

Style

Golden Books Classic

Story

Story Arc

The morning sun poured through the wide windows of the bright family home. Jesse moved with a playful bounce, a soda can already open in his hand. He hummed a lively tune as he stepped down the white staircase, his loafers tapping softly on each step. A wide, content grin touched his lips as the fizzy drink tickled his throat.

Shirley watched from the kitchen doorway, her hands resting near her waist. Jesse began to sway, his voice joining the hum, a little off-key but full of joy. Shirley sighed softly, then stepped forward with a gentle determination. He had been singing and sipping since breakfast.

As Jesse hit a high note, Shirley moved quickly, pinching his nose with a playful twinkle in her eye. Jesse sputtered, his song stopping abruptly with a gurgle. He pulled away with a laugh, shaking his head. The soda can clinked against his teeth.

“Mama, not fair!” Jesse chuckled, taking another sip. Shirley tried again, this time covering his mouth lightly with her hand as he started another round of singing. Jesse’s eyes widened, a muffled “Mmmph!” escaping him, but his shoulders shook with silent laughter.

Jesse skipped into the kitchen, heading for the fridge. Shirley quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his path. With a swift movement, she opened the fridge and began rearranging the cans, trying to hide them behind the milk and vegetables. Jesse peered around her.

Shirley triumphantly handed Jesse a cold glass. “Here, honey,” she offered, a hopeful smile playing on her lips. Jesse took a long swig, then made a face, his shoulders slumping. It was just plain water, tasting flat after all the soda. Shirley’s hopeful expression softened.

Jesse tossed the water glass aside and reached for a new soda, pulling it from behind a bag of carrots. He popped it open with a satisfying hiss, then continued his little dance around the living room. Shirley watched him, her shoulders sagging a little, but a tiny smile still played on her lips.

Jesse laughed, taking a long, joyful gulp. He spun around, humming a new, even livelier tune, then paused. His throat felt dry again. He skipped back to the kitchen, opening the fridge door with anticipation. His eyes scanned the shelves, then narrowed.

The fridge was completely empty of soda. Jesse stood frozen, the silence in the kitchen suddenly loud. He turned slowly, looking at Shirley, a flicker of surprise and then a small, sheepish grin spreading across his face. Shirley met his gaze, a knowing smile on her lips.

Shirley reached out, pulling Jesse into a gentle hug. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, a soft laugh bubbling up from deep inside him. Shirley chuckled too, a warm, resonant sound. They stood together in the bright, quiet kitchen, sharing a moment of pure, easy laughter.

The end

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Words to know

playful: Being fun and wanting to play, like a happy puppy.; Jesse moved with a playful bounce, a soda can already open in his hand.
lively: Full of energy and fun, like a happy dance.; He hummed a lively tune as he stepped down the white staircase, his loafers tapping softly on each step.
content: Feeling happy and satisfied with what you have.; A wide, content grin touched his lips as the fizzy drink tickled his throat.
fizzy: Having lots of small bubbles that make a tingling feeling, like soda.; A wide, content grin touched his lips as the fizzy drink tickled his throat.
determination: A strong feeling that you will do something, even if it's a little hard.; Shirley sighed softly, then stepped forward with a gentle determination.
sputtered: Made a series of short, explosive sounds when trying to speak or breathe, like when water gets in your mouth.; Jesse sputtered, his song stopping abruptly with a gurgle.
abruptly: Suddenly and without warning.; Jesse sputtered, his song stopping abruptly with a gurgle.
muffled: Quieted or softened, like when you try to talk with your hand over your mouth.; Jesse’s eyes widened, a muffled “Mmmph!” escaping him, but his shoulders shook with silent laughter.
anticipation: A feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen.; His eyes scanned the shelves, then narrowed.
flicker: A quick, unsteady movement of light or feeling.; He turned slowly, looking at Shirley, a flicker of surprise and then a small, sheepish grin spreading across his face.
sheepish: Looking embarrassed or shy, often when you know you've done something a little wrong.; He turned slowly, looking at Shirley, a flicker of surprise and then a small, sheepish grin spreading across his face.
resonant: A sound that is deep, clear, and seems to echo.; Shirley chuckled too, a warm, resonant sound.