Pockets and Biscuit Keep the Park Clean

Every afternoon after school, Pockets walked to the neighborhood park with his puppy, Biscuit. Biscuit had floppy ears, a wagging tail, and a nose that sniffed everything.

One sunny Saturday, they arrived at the park and Pockets stopped. Chip bags were stuck in the bushes. A soda can lay near the swings. A plastic bottle floated in the little pond.

“Oh no, Biscuit,” Pockets said. “Someone left a lot of trash.”

Biscuit trotted over to a candy wrapper and started sniffing it. Pockets gently pulled him back.

“No, Biscuit, that’s not safe to eat. It could make you sick.”

Just then, a squirrel scurried by with a tiny piece of plastic near its nest, and a duck paddled around the bottle in the pond. Pockets watched them quietly.

“This is their home too,” he said. “The trash isn’t safe for them either.”

Pockets thought for a moment. “We can’t leave it like this. Let’s clean it up.”

He ran home and came back with his mom’s help, a pair of gloves, and a big trash bag. His mom stayed close by, and Biscuit sat by Pockets’ side, wagging his tail.

“Here’s the rule, Biscuit,” said Pockets. “We pick up the trash we can see, and we throw it in the bin. If we find something sharp, like broken glass, we don’t touch it. We ask a grown-up.”

They worked together. Pockets picked up wrappers, cans, and bottles. Biscuit carried a small paper cup in his mouth, proud as could be, and dropped it right into Pockets’ hand.

“Good boy, Biscuit!” Pockets laughed.

Soon, an older girl named Sara walked by with her dog. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“We’re cleaning the park for the animals,” said Pockets. “Trash can hurt them. Birds can get tangled, and puppies might eat things they shouldn’t.”

Sara looked around and nodded. “I never thought about that. Can I help?”

“Sure!” said Pockets, handing her an extra bag.

Then a man jogging nearby stopped and joined in. After him, two kids from Pockets’ school came over too. Before long, everyone was picking up trash together, and the park started to look bright and green again.

When they were done, the grass was clear, the bushes were clean, and the pond sparkled in the sun. The duck paddled happily in the clear water, and the squirrel chased its friend up a tree.

Pockets and his mom took the full bags to the big bin. Then they all washed their hands at the water fountain, because clean parks and clean hands go together.

Biscuit rolled over in the soft grass, happy and safe.

“We did it, Biscuit,” Pockets said, scratching his belly. “Now everyone can play here.”

On the walk home, Pockets noticed a boy drop a snack wrapper on the sidewalk. He picked it up and smiled. “Here, I’ll throw it away for you. It helps keep our park safe.”

The boy blushed. “Thanks. I’ll remember next time.”

From that day on, Pockets and Biscuit took a small bag with them to the park, just in case. And little by little, more people in the neighborhood did the same.