Corky Needs Some Money

One cold day Corky was walking down Main street looking in the stores. Then he came to a stop and looked and looked in old Mister Banister's corner store. There it was, the bright yellow horn. It was still there. "Boy, I would like that horn for my sleek, red bike," he said.

"Were you talking to us?" Three older people walking by startled Corky.

"No! No!" Corky mumbled sheepishly. "Mister Olds! See that bright yellow horn in Mister Banister's store. I have a red bike that that would look slick on."
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I 1. What does Corky want to buy?
**L 2. Is Mister Olds a stranger in town?
**L 3. How do you know?

"Corky, I want you to meet these people. This is my friend, Bell Zorn, and this is my friend, Bill Zorn. Bell Zorn is Bill's sister."

"Do you have any money for that horn, Corky?" said Mr. Olds.

"Some but not.... Can you tell me where I might go to work to make some money?" Corky said glumly to old Mister Olds.

"Some of the merchants in town might need some help," the old man answered.

"What are merchants?" Corky said with a frown.

"Merchants are the storekeepers in town. The three of us were merchants, but now we are retired," Bell Zorn explained to Corky.

"Now what is a `retired'?" said Corky frowning again.

"Mister Olds is a `retired'," Bell said with a smile.

"Retired people don't have to go to work any more," chortled Bill Zorn.

"Gee, that sounds like me...till now," cracked Corky.
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**I 4. What does Corky mean when he says "that sounds like me till now"?

"How can I tell who the mer--merchants are that need help?" said Corky glumly.

"Well, you could start at this end of the street and tell them what you want. Go from door to door right down the street till you come to a merchant who needs your help. But it might be best for you to make a list of things you can do and then go see the storekeepers," said Mister Olds.

"Misty can help me make a list. Gee thanks, Mister Olds. Thanks for your help. And it was good to meet you," Corky said to the Zorns. Then he ran off to see his sister Misty.

"Tell your mom and dad that I send them my best," Mr. Olds yelled as Corky rounded the next corner.

Corky was not in sight but he yelled back, "I will, Mister Olds, I will!"
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I 5. How does Corky want Misty to help him?

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