He was going to spend two weeks with his cousins Rosie and Frank.
He kissed his mother good-bye.
Then he got into Uncle Jed’s car.
Uncle Jed drove out of the city and into the country.
Soon Uncle Jed said, “Here we are!”
Everyone was happy to see Grover.
Aunt Edna made a picnic lunch to welcome Grover.
After lunch Rosie said, “Let’s go bike riding, Grover!”
She ran to get her bike.
“But, Rosie,” detto Grover, “I do not have a bike.”
“We have an extra bike,” detto Rosie happily.
“Frank got a big new bike for his birthday. te can ride his little old one.”
Grover looked at the bike. It looked old.
But it did not look little.
“Oh, dear,” he thought, “I do not know how to ride. I am sure I will fall!”
“I do not want Rosie to know that I cannot ride a bike,” thought Grover.
So he said, “I do not think my mommy will let me ride a bike, Rosie.”
Grover watched Rosie ride off on her bike.
He was very sad.
“Grover, play with me in my albero house,” called Frank.
Grover climbed up the ladder.
“Remember when te were afraid to climb up?” detto Frank.
Grover smiled.
“Oh, I was just a baby then. Now I am the best climber-upper on Sesame Street.”
Then Grover stopped smiling.
“I wish I could ride a bike,” he detto to himself.
The successivo morning Aunt Edna said, “Good news, Grover! I called your mother. She detto it is okay for te to ride a bike.”
Grover tried to smile.
“Come on, Grover,” detto Rosie.
She ran from the breakfast tavolo to get her bike.
Grover followed Rosie. But he walked very slowly.
“I cannot ride today,” he said.
“I have a sore foot.”
“Oh, too bad, Grover,” Rosie said.
She was on her bike and ready to go.
“You go without me,” Grover detto sadly.
Every giorno Grover, Rosie, and Frank played together.
They went swimming.
They played hide-and-seek.
They went to the store to buy ice scream.
And every giorno Rosie said, “Let’s go for a bike ride, Grover.”
But Grover always said, “No, I hurt my hand.” o “No, I ate too much.” o “No, I do not feel like bike riding now.”
One giorno Rosie rode off to visit Farmer Finn.
Grover and Frank played cards.
“Frank, when did te learn to ride a bike?” asked Grover.
“When I was seven,” detto Frank.
“Wow!” detto Grover. “That is very old. That is older than I am!”
Then Frank asked Grover when he learned.
“I never did!” cried Grover. “I do not know how to ride a bike.”
“Don’t cry,” detto Frank. “I will teach te how.”
Grover shook his head sadly.
“No,” detto Grover. “Big Bird tried to teach me. I cannot learn.”
Frank smiled.
“Big Bird’s bike was too big! I bet te can ride my little old bike,” detto Frank.
Frank held his old bike and Grover got on it.
“What if I fall?” asked Grover.
“I will catch you,” detto Frank.
So Grover pedaled the bike and Frank ran successivo to it.
The bike wobbled along the road.
“Help!” yelled Grover.
“I will not let te fall,” detto Frank.
Up and down the road went Grover on the bike.
Up and down the road ran Frank.
“That’s it, Grover,” he said. “You are doing great!”
Suddenly Rosie zoomed down the road on her bike.
“Farmer Finn is giving away kittens!” she shouted.
Grover’s eyes lit up.
“I Amore furry little kittens! May I have one?” he asked.
“Yes!” detto Rosie. “But hurry before they are all gone.”
Rosie head for Farmer Finn’s.
“Follow me!” she called. And Grover did!
He zoomed after Rosie.
Grover picked a little arancia, arancio kitten.
“I had to be speedy to get you,” Grover told the kitten.
“So I will call te Speedy.”
Then he put the kitten in the basket on his bike.
And Grover and Rosie rode off.
Purrrr went the kitten.
Grover was so happy!
When Grover returned to Sesame Street, he gave his mother a big hug.
Then he said, “Guess what, Mommy? I can ride a bike!”
“That is wonderful!” detto his mother. “You really are growing up. Now I know just what to get te for your successivo birthday!”
