阅读理解"Spell ‘champion,'" Scott told his elder sister.
"C-h-a-m-p-i-o-n."
Unsure about it, Scott still cheered, "You'll win the spelling bee (拼写大赛)!"
Lucy thanked, happy but worried, wondering if her dog Senator would be looked after well when she was away for a week.
"Dad and I will keep him perfectly!" said Scott, dreaming of getting his own pet if he could prove himself.
It was time to leave. Dad wished Lucy good luck.
"See you in a w-e-a-k," Scott said.
"W-e-e-k," Lucy corrected him and said, "Bye!"
Each morning Scott woke up early to feed Senator, leaving a note to remind Dad. After that Scott continued to sleep.
A week later, Lucy returned and told the family she failed. Then she found her dog sick. Scott felt sorry but confused, because he'd been a strict direction-follower.
They came to the animal hospital. After the examination, Lucy was angry, "A terrible stomachache! How could Senator put on two pounds in such a short time?"
Dad said, "I only fed him two scoops of dog food every morning."
Scott shouted, "Dad! You fed him again? Didn't you read my note? It says I've fed him!"
It took Lucy a while to understand before asking Scott how to spell "fed".
"F-e-e-d? Scott! ‘Fed' is spelled f-e-d. But your note says f-e-e-d, telling Dad to feed the dog!"
"So Senator was fed twice?" Dad asked.
Scott said sorry, "I just wanted to be responsible so I could get a dog for my next birthday."
"OK. I'll teach you how to spell correctly and train myself for next year's spelling bee," Lucy said.
"You have a few months to practice before you get one for your birthday," Dad added.
Scott burst into laughter.
"Having a little brother isn't so bad," Lucy told Senator, "if he can help f-e-e-d!"