Where the Red Fern Grows

Last night Max announced that he and his brother were saving all of their money up to buy a coonhound. I asked him what made him decide on a coonhound above all other dogs. Did he see one, hear about one, etc? No, he answered. I just want one. When I told him he already had a dog, he began to cry and cry. He absolutely had to have a coonhound! He said he was going to show me how responsible he could be by starting to take care of the dog, hamster and 3 fish that we already have.

This morning I found out that his 3rd grade class is reading Where the Red Fern Grows. Here is an excerpt: Young Billy works two long, hard years to earn the money to realize his dream-to own a pair of dogs for hunting raccoons. Billy and his precious coonhound pups romp relentlessly through the Ozarks, trying to "tree" the elusive raccoon.

Now I know why he asked me this morning how old you had to be to get a hunting license!