o explore space just yet.
There are creatures down here that I still haven't met.

I can't help but dream about all that's in space.
But for now I'll enjoy what is here in this place.

XII

JERRY'S BOX

Jerry woke up on Monday. He grabbed a box he was keeping under his
bed. When he came downstairs, his parents asked him what was inside.
"Something really fun," he said, but nothing more.

Jerry walked to his bus stop with the box in his hands. Everybody at
the bus stop asked him what was in it. "It's very important," he
said, but nothing more.

When he got to school, the teacher asked him what was in his box.
"It's a secret," he said, but nothing more. At lunch his friends all
crowded around and asked him to open it. "I can't--it's a gift," he
said, but nothing more.

The box sat with him all day, and no one in class could think about
anything else. His teacher didn't let Jerry know, but she was
curious too. She decided to send him to the principal for disturbing
the class, hoping to get an answer. The principal asked Jerry what
he was keeping in the box and if it was dangerous. "It's not for
you," he said, but nothing more.

Jerry went back to class and sat down. The entire class was watching
as he handed the teacher a note from the principal. "Well, if it's a
gift, Jerry, I suggest you deliver it now." Jerry turned around and
faced the class. He walked down the aisle and stopped at the desk of
Oscar.

Oscar's eyes lit up. Nobody paid attention to Oscar. Nobody talked
to Oscar. And nobody had ever stopped at Oscar's desk, until now.
Jerry handed him the box, with a new note tucked inside. Oscar read
the note. "Dear Oscar, This is my box. Enjoy. P.S. It works better
if you don't open it!"

On Tuesday, nobody had more people at his desk than Oscar.

XIII

MARTIN AND THE WAVE

Martin was hot as he sat by the shore.
They'd come for the ocean, but he liked the sand more.
"The water is fine, come on in!" said his dad.
But the waves looked so big, that idea sounded bad.

His mother insisted, "You should go in."
No point in fighting--his mother would win.
She covered his face up with strong suntan lotion,
Then they walked down to the edge of the ocean.

His pinky toe was first to enter,
Then the big toe, front and center.
An hour later he was up to his knee,
And he was turned round, so he didn't see...

A monstrous wave came up from behind,
It knocked off his suit (which was quite hard