The Extra Job on My List

Read the whole story

Every word, start to finish. The pictures come next — painted around your child, from one photo.

1. For Theo, who did the jobs.

   For Amara, who did the jobs.

   For Otto, who did the jobs.

   Dedication

2. Six Saturday jobs, in Dad's handwriting, stuck to the fridge, the same as every Saturday of Theo's entire life. Except this Saturday he was up at five, in the dark, to do all six first.

   Six Saturday jobs, in Dad's handwriting, stuck to the fridge, the same as every Saturday of Amara's entire life. Except this Saturday she was up at five, in the dark, to do all six first.

   Six Saturday jobs, in Dad's handwriting, stuck to the fridge, the same as every Saturday of Otto's entire life. Except this Saturday he was up at five, in the dark, to do all six first.

   1 of 12

3. Job one was the dog. The dog had strong opinions about five in the morning, and expressed all of them from inside its basket, without opening more than one eye.

   Job one was the dog. The dog had strong opinions about five in the morning, and expressed all of them from inside its basket, without opening more than one eye.

   Job one was the dog. The dog had strong opinions about five in the morning, and expressed all of them from inside its basket, without opening more than one eye.

   2 of 12

4. Theo carried the food bowl with both hands and a great deal of care, across the whole kitchen, heel to toe, the way you carry a full thing past a listening house.

   Amara carried the food bowl with both hands and a great deal of care, across the whole kitchen, heel to toe, the way you carry a full thing past a listening house.

   Otto carried the food bowl with both hands and a great deal of care, across the whole kitchen, heel to toe, the way you carry a full thing past a listening house.

   3 of 12

5. The dog got there first. So did the bowl. Breakfast went everywhere a breakfast can go. The dog, to be fair, regarded this as an improvement, and helped with the cleanup.

   The dog got there first. So did the bowl. Breakfast went everywhere a breakfast can go. The dog, to be fair, regarded this as an improvement, and helped with the cleanup.

   The dog got there first. So did the bowl. Breakfast went everywhere a breakfast can go. The dog, to be fair, regarded this as an improvement, and helped with the cleanup.

   4 of 12

6. Job two was the car. There is far more car than there looks from inside one.

   Job two was the car. There is far more car than there looks from inside one.

   Job two was the car. There is far more car than there looks from inside one.

   5 of 12

7. The bucket went over. The driveway turned white with foam, ankle-deep and rising. A shoe floated past, going somewhere. Theo let it go. There are mornings when you save the shoe, and this was not one.

   The bucket went over. The driveway turned white with foam, ankle-deep and rising. A shoe floated past, going somewhere. Amara let it go. There are mornings when you save the shoe, and this was not one.

   The bucket went over. The driveway turned white with foam, ankle-deep and rising. A shoe floated past, going somewhere. Otto let it go. There are mornings when you save the shoe, and this was not one.

   6 of 12

8. Job three was the trash cans. Both cans. On gravel. It was the loudest thing that had ever happened to anybody.

   Job three was the trash cans. Both cans. On gravel. It was the loudest thing that had ever happened to anybody.

   Job three was the trash cans. Both cans. On gravel. It was the loudest thing that had ever happened to anybody.

   7 of 12

9. Nothing. Not a window, not a footstep. Somebody had been one step behind Theo all morning, and was not going to say so.

   Nothing. Not a window, not a footstep. Somebody had been one step behind Amara all morning, and was not going to say so.

   Nothing. Not a window, not a footstep. Somebody had been one step behind Otto all morning, and was not going to say so.

   8 of 12

10. So Theo went back to the list. At the bottom was a seventh job that had not been there at five.

    So Amara went back to the list. At the bottom was a seventh job that had not been there at five.

    So Otto went back to the list. At the bottom was a seventh job that had not been there at five.

    9 of 12

11. The stairs did the loud one, fourth from the top. This time Theo did not care in the least who heard it.

    The stairs did the loud one, fourth from the top. This time Amara did not care in the least who heard it.

    The stairs did the loud one, fourth from the top. This time Otto did not care in the least who heard it.

    10 of 12

12. The bed was made. The room was empty. Downstairs, very faintly, the kettle had just been switched on.

    The bed was made. The room was empty. Downstairs, very faintly, the kettle had just been switched on.

    The bed was made. The room was empty. Downstairs, very faintly, the kettle had just been switched on.

    11 of 12

13. Two plates were already out. On the fridge, seven ticks. Theo never did find out. The dog is still not saying.

    Two plates were already out. On the fridge, seven ticks. Amara never did find out. The dog is still not saying.

    Two plates were already out. On the fridge, seven ticks. Otto never did find out. The dog is still not saying.

    12 of 12