“Where’s Mommy’s helper?”
“Mommy. Mommy!” Lloyd squealed with excitement!
Today was Wednesday. Lloyd loved Wednesday! Wednesday was chore day.
And Mommy was letting Lloyd help for the first time!
Mommy came into Lloyd’s room, carrying one red bucket and one blue bucket.
She handed Lloyd the red bucket. “We’re starting in here today,” said Mommy
“Wait Mommy, I have to check my special list!” Lloyd loved lists.
He looked inside his red bucket and checked off each item on his list with his favorite crayon color of the day, purple!
- Red bucket √
- Yellow gloves √
- Green sponge √
- Blue feather duster √
There was one item on the list that wasn’t in the red bucket.
The big silver vacuum cleaner.
It lived downstairs in a big dark closet.
It made a LOUD sucking sound.
Toys had been eaten by the vacuum creature!
5. Silver vacuum Cleaner– very shaky √
Lloyd and Mommy cleaned his bedroom.
Mommy made the bed and Lloyd helped.
He placed his teddy bear in the toy box.
Lloyd and Mommy cleaned the kitchen,
Mommy washed the dishes and Lloyd helped.
He put on his yellow gloves, wiped his sippy cup with his green sponge, and handed it to Mommy.
Lloyd and Mommy cleaned the living room.
Mommy dusted the bookshelves and Lloyd helped.
He pulled out his blue feather duster, dusted his favorite storybook, “The Three Little Pigs”, and sneezed.
Finally, it was time to vacuum the floors.
Mommy went to the big dark closet and opened the door.
Lloyd stared at the big silver vacuum creature as Mommy pulled it out.
It had a big, open mouth on the bottom and two bright, shiny, eyes on the top.
The vacuum creature stared back at Lloyd.
Mommy turned it on and Lloyd jumped!
He dropped his green sponge in surprise and the vacuum slurped it up.
It was going to eat him next!
Lloyd put his hands over his ears and ran to his bedroom.
He jumped onto his newly made bed and crawled under the covers.
He heard Mommy come into his room.
“Lloyd? Aren’t you going to help me finish?”
“No. ”
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
Lloyd’s head popped out from under the covers.
“The big ugly one eyed monster is going to eat me, and I’ll disappear for ever and ever.”
Mommy sat on the bed and pulled the covers off of Lloyd’s head.
“Don’t be scared of it, Lloyd.
It’s not going to eat you and as you grow up you’ll get big and strong enough to push the vacuum cleaner all over the house by yourself.”
Lloyd sucked his thumb.
“Are you sure you don’t want to help me finish? ” Mommy tickled his tummy.
Lloyd giggled but thought about the eyes of the big silver vacuum creature and shook his head.
“Okay, here’s Teddy, he’ll stay with you. Mommy has to finish vacuuming.”
Mommy picked up Teddy from the toy box and handed it to Lloyd.
Lloyd hugged Teddy.
---A week passed by---
It was Wednesday again.
“Where’s Mommy’s helper?”
“In my room, Mommy.”
Today was Wednesday.
Wednesday was chore day.
Mommy handed Lloyd his red bucket.
Lloyd set it down.
“Aren't you going to help me today Lloyd?
Lloyd really wanted to help Mommy clean but was scared of the big silver vacuum creature.
He shook his head 'No.'
"Why don’t you check your list Lloyd, okay? I know you love lists."
Lloyd did. Lloyd loved lists.
Checking off the list made Lloyd happier
Lloyd checked off each item with his favorite crayon color of the day, black!
- Red bucket √
- Yellow gloves √
- Green sponge √
- Blue feather duster √
Mommy I don’t want this on my list anymore.
He pointed to the big silver vacuum cleaner
“Cross it off. It's on Mommy’s list.”
5. Silver vacuum cleaner
Lloyd took his black Crayon and scribbled out the big silver vacuum creature.
Lloyd felt a little better.
Lloyd followed Mommy but forgot his red bucket.
Lloyd and Mommy cleaned the bathroom.
Mommy scrubbed the tub.
Lloyd played with his yellow rubber ducky.
Lloyd and Mommy cleaned the dining room
Mommy picked up the breakfast dishes.
Lloyd ate leftover cereal out of his Donald Duck bowl.
Lloyd and Mommy cleaned Daddy’s Office
Mommy dusted the desk.
Lloyd pushed his nose against the window and looked at the birds in the yard.
Finally, it was time to clean the floors.
“Lloyd, it’s time to clean the floors. I’m going to get the vacuum cleaner. Can you help me? Please?”
Lloyd thought about it and shook his head.
"Come with Mommy, Lloyd, let’s go open the closet door together, okay?”
Lloyd crept up to the big dark closet where the big silver vacuum creature lived hoping not to wake it.
His knees were shaking by the time he reached the door.
He slowly turned the doorknob, opened the door, and peeked in.
Lloyd rubbed his eyes in surprise!
Sitting right next to the big silvervacuum creature was a little orange one!
“Lloyd’s vacuum,“ he shouted!
Lloyd easily pulled his vacuum out. It was just the right size for him.
He pushed his new vacuum. He pulled his new vacuum.
He hugged his new vacuum. He hugged his Mommy.
“Thank you Mommy!”
Lloyed turned to the big silver vacuum creature and stuck his tongue out at it.
"Now I have my own little orange vacuum creature!"
Mommy laughed and kissed his head, “I’m glad to get my little helper back!”
Lloyd pushed his new vacuum all around the house right next to Mommy.
The floors had never looked so clean.
Mommy had a happy helper.
And Lloyd had a vacuum creature of his very own.