Nappy has a new friend

Nappy saw his friend the Trashman coming down the street.

“Look!” called Nappy, “I have a new airplane--I have lots of airplanes.”

“Are you collecting airplanes?” asked the trashman.

“What’s collecting?” asked Nappy.

“That’s what I’m doing,” said the trashman. “I’m collecting trash.”

“You have a wagon load,” said Nappy. “Are you going to the dump now? I’ve been waiting for you to come along. Mother said I could ride with you if you’ll let me. Will you?”

“Sure,” said the trashman. “Climb up.”

“Mut wants to go, too.”

“Let him come,” said the trashman. “That’s where you and I found that dog, at the town dump, remember?”

“Yes sir,” said Nappy, “I wanted a dog and you helped me find one. He’s a good dog, too. And he likes to go to the dump.”

“Well, here we are,” said the trashman.

Nappy climbed down off the wagon and started looking around while the trashman was dumping the trash. And he saw a boy who was doing the same thing--looking around.

“Hello,” said Nappy. “Have you found anything?”

“I found a brown jug,” said the boy. “It’s cracked, but I can keep things in it.”

“I found a tin box,” said Nappy. “It’s dented, but I can collect things in it.”

“What’s your name?”

“Tommy,” said the boy.

“Well, my name is Nappy. Let’s hunt for things together; it’s more fun that way.”

“Look! there’s a wagon wheel,” said Tommy. “I saw it first so it’s mine.”

“Finders keepers,” said Nappy. “I see a door knob and here’s a marble. I’m collecting marbles. I have lots of them.”

“I bet I have more marbles than you have,” said Tommy.

“I bet you don’t,” said Nappy.

The boys kept on hunting together until....

The trashman called, “Time to go back.”

“Want to ride back?” asked Nappy.

“Sure,” said Tommy.

So Nappy asked the trashman if his new friend could ride.

And the boys sat together on the back of the trash wagon.

“I’ll trade you my door knob for your wagon wheel,” said Nappy, as they bumped along.

“Nothing doing,” said Tommy. “My big brother is building me a wagon and we need another wheel.”

“Gee,” said Nappy, “I wish I had a big brother. I only have a big sister. I’ll trade you.”

“Nothing doing,” said Tommy. “I have two little sisters. They’re twins.”

“What are you boys talking about?” said the trashman. “You can’t trade brothers and sisters like you trade marbles.”

The boys laughed.

“We’re only kidding,” said Nappy.

When the trash wagon came to Nappy’s house the boys got off.

“Thanks for the ride,” said Nappy. “We collected lots of things. Come on, Tommy, I’ll show you my marbles.”

Tommy waited on the front steps while Nappy got his marbles. They were in a little cloth bag with a draw string.

“Gee!” said Tommy. “That’s a neat bag! Where did you get it?”

“My big sister made it for me,” said Nappy.