by Betsy Byars
“But it’s not going to be in the book,” Anna said.
“Not in this book maybe,” said Mr. Bean. “I don’t care about this book.”
“You don’t?”
“No, for if you keep on writing poems, Anna, one day you will be in a book. That’s the book I care about.”
“Oh, Papa.”
Anna ran around the table. She threw her arms around her father’s neck.
“I never want to be in a book,” Jenny said.
“So what do you want to be?” Mr. Bean said. He was still hugging Anna, but he smiled at Jenny.
“I want to be on the stage.”
“And you, George?”
“Well, I don’t want to be in a book either. Maybe I’ll …” George stopped to think. “Maybe I’ll build bridges.”
“George, I didn’t know you were going to build bridges,” Jenny said.
“Well, I didn’t know you were going on the stage.”
“Ah, three famous children,” Mr. Bean said. “A poet, an actress, a bridge builder.”
He reached out and gathered them into his arms. “What more could any man ask for?”
He breathed deeply.
“Ah, only one thing. Your mother’s chicken pie for supper. Get in your seats, Beans,” he said.
Jenny, George, and Anna ran to their seats. Mrs. Bean set the chicken pie on the table. Mr. Bean tucked his napkin under his chin.
“Yes,” he said, looking around the table, “I am a very happy Bean.”
George looked around the table too. Everyone was smiling. And these were Bean smiles!
“We are the luckiest Beans in the world,” he said.
And not one single Bean disagreed.
Published by
Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers
a division of
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
1540 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
Text copyright © 1988 by Betsy Byars
Illustrations copyright © 1988 by Melodye Rosales
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. For information address Delacorte Press, New York, New York 10036.
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eISBN: 978-0-307-56718-5
v3.0