00:00You
00:02You
00:04You
00:27The plant sitter by Jean Zion pictures by Margaret Bloy Graham
00:35I
00:37Am a plant sitter said Tommy
00:41That's nice dear said his mother tell me about it later. I'm going shopping and I'll be back soon
00:51When Tommy's mother came home
00:54She got the surprise of her life the whole house was full of plants and Tommy was still bringing in more
01:01What's going on here she gasped I
01:05Told you answered Tommy. I'm a plant sitter
01:09I take care of plants for people who are away on vacation. All the neighbors are my customers. Oh
01:17My groaned his mother how terrible
01:23When Tommy's father came home he tripped over a plant
01:28What's this nonsense he roared
01:31Remember said Tommy you said I could do whatever I like this summer because we weren't going away on vacation
01:39Tommy's father nodded he remembered
01:42Well said Tommy. I'm a plant sitter and I get two cents a day for every plant. I take care of
01:50Tommy took good care of the plants
01:53He put those plants that needed shade on the shady side and those that needed Sun on the sunny side
02:04He watered them carefully some a lot and others just a little
02:13He was such a good plant sitter that in just a few days he was able to
02:20Water them and they grew well
02:25In just a few weeks the plants grew into a tangled jungle
02:30each night his father said this can't go on but it did and Tommy thought it was wonderful
02:42In the morning when the family had breakfast they were surrounded by plants in the kitchen
02:48it at all. Watching television in the living room was like being at an outdoor
02:57movie deep in the heart of the jungle. Tommy thought it was the greatest fun
03:03he'd ever had but his father grumbled more than ever. Even the bathroom was
03:12full of plants. Having a bath was like swimming in a little lake in the middle
03:18of a beautiful forest. But one night Tommy almost fell asleep in the tub.
03:24Plant-sitting was hard work and he was tired. You'd better go to bed dear, said
03:30his mother. You've got to get up early and water those plants.
03:37Tommy went to bed and fell asleep wondering when his customers were coming
03:43home. He began to dream. He dreamed the plants grew so thick and wild that he
03:50couldn't get into the house anymore. He had to water them through the chimney.
03:55All night he dreamed that they grew and grew.
04:01They grew so big and strong that the house came apart and the sides fell down.
04:09All the neighbors ran around shouting, where are my plants? Where are my plants?
04:19Tommy awoke with a jump. It was morning. His father was late for work and
04:25shouting, where are my pants? Where are my pants? Oh what a awful dream, thought
04:32Tommy. He didn't even finish his breakfast that morning. See you later, he
04:42called to his mother as he rushed out of the house.
04:48Tommy ran all the way to the library and looked at every book they had about
04:54plants. Finally he found just the right book.
05:02Then he ran to the plant supply store, bought some things and hurried home. When
05:12he got home he did what the book said to do. He cut and trimmed all the plants. It
05:18was just like giving them a haircut.
05:24Then he planted the cuttings in the little flower pots he bought. The book
05:29said they would grow. When the neighbors came home from vacation they paid Tommy
05:38and took their plants back. How nice they look, everyone said. How healthy they are.
05:45Tommy gave baby plants to all the children and everyone went home feeling
05:50very happy. There wasn't a single plant left in the house. Tommy thought his
05:56father would be very happy too. But after supper Tommy got a surprise. Do you know,
06:07said his father, I miss those plants. It was like being in the country when they
06:12were here. I'm not so busy now. How about a vacation after all? We all need one.
06:19Especially me, shouted Tommy. And the very next day they went to the country.
06:32I hope you enjoyed that story. If you would like to see these books uploaded
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06:41stories that are already uploaded. Thank you so much for watching.
