Keep Your Old Hat

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We were playing house in my backyard. 
Mandy was the mother again.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“Sarah, take off that hat,” Mandy said, 
“That is the mother’s hat.” 
“But I want to be the mother now,” I said.
“You can’t,” said Mandy.  “I have to be 
the mother because I’m the oldest.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“They’re my dress-up clothes,” I said.
“So?  You have to share,” said Mandy.
”No I don’t!  I want my hat!” I said.  “I’m 
going to be the mother.  Ben will be my baby. 
Won’t you, Ben?”

 
 
 
 
 

“No,” Ben said.  “I’m going home.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“Me, too,” said Mandy.  “Keep your old hat!”
“I don’t care!” I said.  “Abigail will be my baby.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Abigail was a very good baby.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

She knew I was old enough to be the mother.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mandy and Ben played wild animals. 
Mandy was a lion and Ben was a tiger.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I built a house for Abigail and me. 
“Now we’ll be safe, Abigail,” I said. 
“No wild animals can get us in here.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mandy and Ben built a rocket ship to 
the moon.  Mandy was the pilot.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Abigail and I went shopping.  We got 
pillows and dishes and stuff for our house, 
and a new purse for me.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mandy and Ben played princess in the tower. 
Mandy was the princess.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I made our house cozy on the inside. 
Abigail and I read stories in there. 
It was nice and comfy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mandy and Ben played prisoner in the tower. 
Ben was the prisoner.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Miss Mousie and Hopkins came to visit us.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We had a real tea party with lemonade 
and animal crackers.  It was a nice party 
but kind of quiet.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Until Ben escaped from the tower. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“Do you want to come to my tea party?” I asked. 
“I have real lemonade.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“Goodie!” said Ben.  “I’m thirsty.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“Can I be the mother?” asked Mandy. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“We can both be mothers,” I said. 
“You can use my new purse.”
“All right,” said Mandy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“You’re a good mother,” Mandy said. 
She said it for real.
“You’re a good mother, too,” I said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The End