The same thing was going on at both the Bagel Boys' and the Herring Boys' houses: they were trying to decide which three players to choose for their teams for the great football game between the two sides.

This game would be the most important game ever played by the Bagel Boys. If they won, the Herring Boys promised they would not bother the Bagel Boys anymore. If they lost, then the Herring Boys would continue to make life miserable for the Bagel Boys: jumping out of sewer openings, and slapping with their tails, and calling them nasty names.

The Herring Boys were confident they would easily win the game. However, just to be sure, they chose their best players; Salt Herring, Chopped Herring and Fats Herring.

The Bagel Boys were having a difficult time choosing their team. No one really wanted to face the tail slapping, fast slithering Herring Boys on a wet field. After much discussion and a bit of yelling and shouting, Plain Bagel, Water Bagel and Egg Bagel agreed to be the team. After all, they were the ones who had the idea of having a football game in the first place.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting until there was a good rainfall. The field below the hill next to the school needed to be just wet enough for the Herring Boys, but not too wet for the Bagel Boys. The field had to be just right for both teams.

But the weather was anything but wet. The warm early autumn sun kept the field quite dry. The Bagel Boys were able to practice on the field, but they knew that things would be different on a wet field. It would be harder for them to roll fast and flip over on their sides when the field was not dry.

The Herring Boys could practice in the tubs, sinks and drain pipes right in and around their house. But the field would be different because it wouldn't be as wet as the Herring Boys would really like. It wouldn't be easy to swim on some parts of the field.

The rules permitted each team to have one substitute player.

The Herring Boys had chosen Sliced Herring. He was their "secret weapon." He had the ability to quickly split into several pieces and be in more than one place at the same time. The Bagel Boys did not know that Sliced Herring could do that.

The Bagel Boys picked Air Bagel as their substitute. Not only could he roll and flip very fast, he could shoot up into the air and fly for short distances. The Herring Boys did not know that Air Bagel could fly.

It was said that Air Bagel was the result of a mistake at the Bagel factory: not enough dough and too much air. Water Bagel often thought that the factory must have put too much yeast into Air Bagel to have turned him into such a pest. He was always playing practical jokes and getting into trouble. But somehow he always seemed to rise above it.

One morning, in the middle of September, the clouds began to cover the sun. Soon, the sky was grey and the first drops of rain began to fall. Water Bagel peered out the living room window and said, "This is it! Today is the day for the big game."
         
All the Bagel Boys quietly rolled out of the back door of the house, through the back yard, through the back gate, down the alley and across the wide street to the the field at the bottom of the hill near the school.

And, popping out of nearby sewer openings came the Herring Boys. The gentle rain had started and was already beginning to soak the field and the conditions were becoming perfect for the long awaited game.

But now, it is time for you to go to sleep because tomorrow night, you must make up your own story about the big football game between the Bagel Boys and the Herring Boys. How do you think it was played? And who, if anyone, won? Goodnight!

                                       

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