Here Comes Charlie

           ThesetwoveryoldpeoplearethefatherandmotherofMrBucket. TheirnamesareGrandpaJoeandGrandmaJosephine. 

           AndthesetwoveryoldpeoplearethefatherandmotherofMrsBucket. TheirnamesareGrandpaGeorgeandGrandmaGeorgina. 

           ThisisMrBucket. 

           ThisisMrsBucket. MrandMrsBuckethaveasmallboy whosenameisCharlie. 

           ThisisCharlie. 

           Howd’youdo? Andhowd’youdo? Andhowd’youdoagain? Heispleasedtomeetyou. 

           Thewholeofthisfamily —thesixgrown-upsandlittleCharlieBucket —livetogetherinasmallwoodenhouse ontheedgeofagreattown. 

           Thehousewasn’tnearlylargeenough forsomanypeople,andlifewasextremelyuncomfortable forthemall. Therewereonlytworoomsintheplacealtogether, andtherewasonlyonebed. Thebedwasgiventothefouroldgrandparents becausetheyweresooldandtired. Theyweresotired, theynevergotoutofit. 

           GrandpaJoeandGrandmaJosephineonthisside, GrandpaGeorgeandGrandmaGeorginaonthisside. 

           MrandMrsBucketandlittleCharlieBucketsleptintheotherroom, uponmattressesonthefloor. 

           Inthesummertime,thiswasn’ttoobad, butinthewinter, freezingcolddraughtsblewacrossthefloorallnightlong, anditwasawful.