This is Buster.
Buster is a garter snake. He lives in a park by a creek. He likes to bask in the sun. He likes to slither through the grass. He likes to eat bugs and small fish.
One day some boys were playing in the park. One of the boys built a trap and caught Buster.
"Look!" he said. "I caught a snake!"
"I like that snake," said one of the other boys. "I would like to have it as a pet."
"I will sell you the snake for five dollars," said the first boy.
"Okay," said the second boy, whose name was Thomas. Thomas gave the boy five dollars and took Buster home.
Thomas' mommy was very surprised to see Buster.
"Aaah! A snake!" she said.
"This is a nice snake. His name is Buster. I would like to keep him as a pet," said Thomas.
"Well, okay," said Thomas' mommy. She was a very nice mommy.
Thomas put Buster into an empty fish tank. He put the lid on the tank. It was a nice lid, but it was not made for snakes. The lid had small holes in it. Buster crawled through one of the holes and out of the tank. Thomas caught Buster and put him back in the tank. Buster crawled out of a different hole. Thomas put Buster back again. Thomas put tape over the holes. Thomas was worried that Buster would still get out of the tank.
Thomas did not get very much sleep that night.
In the morning, Thomas told his mommy, "Buster crawled out of the tank many times last night."
Thomas' mommy said, "Please go check that Buster is in the tank right now."
Buster was in the tank.
Thomas' mommy said, "Let us go to the pet store and buy a better lid for the tank." She was a very nice mommy, but she did not want a snake crawling around her house.
The man at the pet store said, "Here is a lid that will keep your snake from crawling out of the tank."
The man at the pet store said, "Here is a special lamp that will keep your snake warm."
The man at the pet store said, "Here is a special light bulb to go in the lamp."
The man at the pet store said, "Here is some sand to put in the bottom of the tank to keep your snake comfortable."
The man at the pet store said, "Here is a bowl to put water in for your snake to drink."
The man at the pet store said, "Here are some feeder fish to feed your snake."
The man at the pet store said, "Here are some crickets to feed your snake."
The man at the pet store said, "You need to buy all these things."
Thomas' mommy said, "Well, okay." She was a very nice mommy.
Thomas and his mommy took the things home. They put the sand in the bottom of the tank. They put the water bowl on the sand. They put water in the bowl. They put the feeder fish in the water. They put the crickets in the tank. They put the new lid on the tank. They put the special light bulb in the special lamp. Thomas accidentally dropped the lamp. The special light bulb broke.
Thomas and his mommy drove to the pet store again to buy a new light bulb. Thomas had a very nice mommy.
They put Buster in the tank. Buster looked at the sand. Buster looked at the water. Buster looked at the fish. Buster looked at the crickets. Buster did not eat any of the fish. He did not eat any of the crickets. He did not drink the water.
Buster did not look happy.
Thomas started to feel bad. He thought that maybe taking Buster away from his home in the park was a mean thing to do. He wondered if he should take Buster back to the park.
Thomas went to his mommy and daddy. He was crying. He said, "I think I should take Buster back to the park and let him go."
Thomas' mommy and daddy were proud of him for being such a kind boy. Thomas' mommy wondered if maybe Thomas could have thought of this before they bought all the things from the man at the pet store, but she did not say that to Thomas. She was a very nice mommy.
Thomas' whole family went to the park with Buster. Thomas was sad. He wanted Buster to be happy, but he knew that he would miss Buster a lot when Buster went back to his home in the park.
Thomas was sad.
Thomas' little sister was sad.
Thomas' little brother was sad.
Thomas' mommy was sad to see her children sad, but that did not stop her from taking pictures of them.
Thomas and his big brother put Buster in a bucket. They walked to the place where the boy had caught Buster.
Thomas took Buster out of the bucket.
Thomas was sad.
Thomas put Buster in the water.
Buster was happy to be in the water.
He swam very fast.
Buster slithered under the grass at the edge of the creek.
He was happy to be home.
Buster looked at Thomas.
"Goodbye, Buster," said Thomas.
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