Sofia’s Puppy Love

One Big Mess

After hanging up the video chat, Sofia goes to talk to her parents. If she asks, maybe they can tell her how she can prove how responsible she can be. She finds her mom coming out of the spare room clutching her stomach. Her dad tells her Mom isn’t feeling well. Mom hasn’t been feeling well lately at all. Dad mentions that Sofia can help out by putting the lid back on the paint can.

Sofia watches them leave, and then looks in the spare room. It’s empty except for some buckets of paint and brushes. Perhaps Sofia can do the painting for them! Not only would she be showing how helpful she can be, but she’d be showing them she can handle a big job by herself! Although Sofia had never painted a room before, Keiko had painted sets for a school play once. How hard could it be?

Sofia dips a brush into the can of light green paint and slathers it on the wall. She continues to paint, covering one wall. It’s not so hard. She twirls across the room in a victory dance. But, then she stumbles, and kicks the pail over. Thick green liquid pours across the hardwood floor.

Sofia rights the bucket and begins scooping up paint, trying to put it back in the can. But it continues to ooze across the floor. Sofia runs to the bathroom to get some paper towels. On her way back, she sees something that stops her short. She forgot to put the paintbrush down when she left the spare room. Now, it’s dripped green paint all along the hallway, trailed by light green footprints.

Rolling her eyes, berating herself, Sofia hurries back to the spare room. She tries to wipe up the paint, but instead, it just spreads around. Even worse, bits of paper towel have ripped off and are getting stuck in the paint.

Suddenly, a voice booms from behind her. Sofia whirls around to find her father standing in the doorway, his mouth hanging open. There’s paint everywhere except the walls. Sofia can tell he wants to yell, but he seems too exhausted to do either. Instead, he suggests Sofia takes off her sneakers and gets herself cleaned up, while he tries to fix the spilled paint.

Sofia does as she’s told, and removes her sneakers to make her way to the bathroom. She tried to be responsible, but all she’d done was make things worse. After she finished putting her clothes to soak, she texted her friends the bad news.