Franklin Goes to School, Franklin Rides a Bike, and Franklin Fibs Page 2

  “There were only six flies flying,” said Franklin. “And I ate them all in the blink of an eye. I could have eaten seventy more.”

  “Let’s see,” said Beaver.

  Franklin frowned. There was no way he could eat seventy-six flies in the blink of an eye. No way at all.

  Franklin had no appetite at dinner.

  “What’s wrong?” asked his mother.

  “I can’t eat seventy-six flies in the blink of an eye.”

  “Neither can I,” said Franklin’s father.

  “Neither can I,” said Franklin’s mother.

  “But you don’t have to,” said Franklin sadly.

  “And I do.” Franklin told them all about the flies.

  His mother nodded and his father hmmmmed.

  “You have quite an imagination,” said Franklin’s father.

  The next morning, Franklin’s friends were waiting. Beaver had a surprise.

  “Eat them,” she dared.

  Franklin wrapped a wooly winter scarf twice around his neck. “Can’t,” he squawked. “I have a sore throat.”

  He friends laughed.

  Franklin felt terrible. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t think of anything but flies and lies.

  “I could practise until I could swallow seventy-six flies in the blink of an eye,” Franklin told his father.

  “You could, but it would take a long time,” he said.

  “I could stop playing with my friends,” Franklin told his mother.

  “You could, but you might be lonely,” she said.

  “I could tell them I fibbed,” said Franklin.

  “You could do that,” said Franklin’s parents. “And then you can show them what you can do.”

  The next day, Franklin’s friends were waiting.

  “I can’t eat seventy-six flies in the blink of an eye,” admitted Franklin.

  “We guessed,” said Bear.

  “But,” said Franklin, “I can eat seventy-six flies.”

  Franklin’s friends sighed.

  “Really,” said Franklin.

  Franklin ran home.

  He got the flies, a bowl, some flour, milk, eggs and honey. He poured and stirred, rolled and baked. Finally, he was ready.

  “Watch me!” Franklin gobbled the entire fly pie.

  “There,” said Franklin licking his lips.

  “Amazing! What else can you do?” asked Beaver.

  Franklin swaggered with success. He was about to say that he could eat two fly pies in a gulp.

  Then he thought twice and said nothing at all. Even a turtle gets tired of eating fly pie.