Authors: Eileen Brennan
Bad Astrid (3 page)
Then one day the ground
rumbled,
and I heard branches snap.
Through our hedge she came
crashing,
but she didn’t come alone—
she brought a stop sign, our mailbox,
and our neighbor’s lawn gnome.
But still her bike rolled,
and my heart sank a trifle
as there came crashing down
my Popsicle stick Eiffel!
Astrid lay tangled
like a set of jumbled keys.
As I slowly crept close, I heard,
I felt sad. I felt angry.
I was just about to cry,
but I stiffened my lip bravely,
and instead I asked,
“Why?
”
“Why
are you mean to me?
And look at this mess!”
Astrid stuttered,
“I … I’m
sorry
.…
I just wanted attention, I guess.”
I began counting all the damage
but realized before the end
that my abominable new neighbor
could really use a friend.
So I pulled her from the wreckage,
got a bandage for her knee.
Astrid gathered Popsicle sticks
and handed them to me.
Then Astrid surprised me—
she hugged me like a vise!
I realized, yes, Astrid’s bad,
but she can also be
quite nice!
Eileen Brennan
studied music and art at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and painting at the Tyler School of Art study-abroad program in Rome. After college she began exploring new mediums, including writing, animation, and film. Eileen has written for the Nick Jr. television show
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
and continues to write stories for children and adults. She lives in Brooklyn, New York
Regan Dunnick
has illustrated numerous books for children, and some of his works can be found in the permanent collection of the Library of Congress. He teaches at Ringling College of Art + Design in Sarasota, Florida. Regan lives in North Sarasota with his wife, Debbie, and his parrot, Mr. Pickles.