4a5 HERBIE JONES AND HAMBURGER HEAD

CHARACTERS:

Herbie= a boy in the 4th grade who desperately likes to have a dog despite of his dad’s refusal
Ray= Herbie’s best friend who has sense of humor; he has a dog named Dr. Shadow
Mr. And Mrs. Jones= Herbie’s parents
Olivia= Herbie’s sister who dreamed to marry a man who’s rich like Mr. Lo Preato
Annabelle= Herbie’s classmate who has a cat named Sukey; she’s bossy with the kids during the wag sale
Margie= Annabelle’s friend; her cat’s name is Tiger
Lo Preato= the President of the bank
Joe Barona=the robber


Mr. Jones, Herbie’s father never liked dogs in the house. Herbie felt very unlucky for not having one. His best friend, Ray, has a dog named Dr. Shadow. One day, in Herbie’s house, Ray told Herbie that his dog can give financial advice. To prove, he asked how much money Herbie has. He had 568 pennies. The dog would bark to things that Herbie should spend his money on. When asked that he should spend it with cheeseburgers, the dog barked. Ray also said that his dog can spot thieves and murderers. Just then, Annabelle and Margie were walking down the street. The dog started to growl. When the two boys looked up, they saw the two girls. They both laughed. The girls were going to the pet show with their cats. Herbie couldn’t go since he doesn’t have one. He wanted to spy the kids in the pet show instead. They climbed the tallest branch while Dr. Shadow guarded Herbie’s money on the grass. After the two boys enjoyed watching Annabelle and her pet, they went down. They dropped off Shadow to Ray’s house and proceeded to the Burger Paradise. They ordered cheeseburgers, fries and sodas amounting to four hundred fifty seven cents. Herbie set his baseball bank on the counter and started counting his pennies. The manager saw this and told him to change his pennies for bills in the bank. Just then a party of 1st –graders came into the restaurant. Ray got an idea. They’re going to party with them and have free burgers and drinks, though not invited. When John and Philip, their classmates on the 4th grade saw them, they hurriedly left the restaurant.
It was already 3:00pm and the bank wasn’t closed yet. As they strolled down Main Street, they noticed an old car parked in front of the bank. Herbie saw a dog inside the car. The dog’s head is bloody. He went near the dog and gave him hamburger that it gulped down. Then it turned. Herbie enjoyed playing tricks with it. Suddenly, the dog spotted someone inside the bank and ran through the door. Herbie quickly followed it. There was a man disguised as a woman. Suddenly, the dog knocked the water pistol out of the lady’s hand. The boys looked and the bank teller shouted bank robbery. Then Herbie threw his baseball bank up in the air and so his pennies were scattered around. The lady tried to escape but got slipped on the pennies and slid across the floor. The lady’s wig came off and the stack of bills she had stashed in her pocket were scattered. Police were able to apprehend him in time. It was Joe Barona from Wyoming who’s wanted for robbery. The dog barked when the police dragged him away. A news reporter came running into the bank with a camera. The writer wrote that the dog and Herbie are heroes. They thought the dog was Herbie’s but it was the robber’s. Herbie named the dog Hamburger Head because its bloody head looks like patties. Herbie’s pennies were changed for bills. The bank’s President, Lo Preato was very grateful for saving the bank a lot of money.
Now, Herbie wanted to keep the dog or at least find him a home if his father wouldn’t allow him to have it. First, they need to treat the dog’s head that was terribly infected by fleas. Herbie and Ray met Annabelle and Margie. They are going to raise fund for Hamburger Head‘s treatment by selling used stuffs. They were able to raise $40.60. Then Herbie went home with the dog. He was all in the news and the family was very proud. Herbie’s father even fed the dog with spaghetti and they watched The Yankees together. Herbie was hopeful his dad would love the dog. Then they took Hamburger Head to the vet for treatment. When they went home, his dad asked the dog’s condition. Mr. Jones and the dog continued watching The Yankees together. While watching, Mr. Jones dozed off. At that time, the dog pooed. When Herbie’s dad woke up, he stepped on it and was furious. He wanted the dog out. Just then, the phone rang. It was Lo Preato, the president of the bank, inviting the whole family for dinner in an Italian restaurant. Mr. Jones then said that they will have one more night with the dog then send it away. Herbie was still hopeful that this dinner will change his dad’s mind. So, the family prepared and dressed well for the dinner. The limousine fetched them at their house. Everyone was excited and so is Ray who can speak Italian. The President of the bank gave Herbie five -hundred –dollar bond as a token of appreciation while his best friend Ray was given a hundred dollar bond savings.” They had delicious Italian meal in a magnificent restaurant. It was an evening they will never forget.
That night when they went home, Herbie ran to the dog’s house. But he can’t see the dog. Then he went inside shouting that they don’t care about his dog. But when his dad spoke, he saw his dog sitting at his dad’s feet. He was eating spaghetti. His dad decided that he can have the dog at home. It was also hard for him to let go of Hamburger Head. At that moment, Herbie hugged his dad tightly. He was very happy. In the end, Herbie invited Ray and Dr. Shadow, Annabelle and Sukey, Margie and Tiger for a pet party. They sang happily.
Herbie's reward, for tripping a robber and foiling the crime is the robber's dog, Hamburger Head. That’s the best part of it all.

By: T. Regina