Chapter details | The Pet War

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Ultimately the FAMILY should be reading the text aloud together!

Chapter 1 Otto needs a replacement for Alfalfa because the neighbors are moving to Montana. He will need his sister’s support for this mission. But when he asks her, she has her own ideas.	Chapter 2 Now both Otto and Lexi are trying to get mom to choose their animal. Mom doesn’t really seem interested in either one and proves (quite easily) that they are both lacking in following through with responsibilities around the house.	Chapter 3 Otto has some good reasons to get a dog, but it’s nothing compared to Lexi’s poster display. Mom listens, but isn’t convinced. She has questions… Is this a good sign?
Chapter 4 Otto thinks he is winning, but Lexi has other plans. Her point about earning money gives mom an idea. Whoever can raise $500 by the end of the month can choose the house pet. They both have to help with it and there are other rules, but they all agree! The war begins.	Chapter 6 Otto considers becoming a magician, but Malcolm shuts that down - plus about forty other ideas. He finds extra apples in the kitchen and sells them only to find out Mom needed them for a donation and now he has to repay her. He needs to find an idea that doesn’t cost a lot of money.	Chapter 5 Otto and Malcolm consider running a soccer camp, cutting lawns (but it’s March), collecting recycled bottles (people are so GREEN lately), washing cars, and even asking grandma for an advance on his birthday money - no luck. The keyword here is RESPONSIBILITY
Chapter 7 Otto tries for some homemade products. Cookies - Everyone loves cookies! He could make a ton of them to sell. If only he set the oven appropriately they may not have set off the smoke detector, and mom!	Chapter 8 Otto is still trying to find a way to make money. Malcolm talks about supply and demand. Lexi seems to have figured out a good plan for herself, so it seems the cat is in the lead!	Chapter 9 While begging to work at the grocery store, Otto realizes that people there need help. Maybe there is a demand and he can supply something. It is going well for a few days until… he makes a mistake, a big mistake. Lexi’s tutoring signs are taunting him all over the school.
Chapter 10 Lexi continues to be successful but Otto just can’t seem to find the right job for himself. He finds someone who can understand, but it doesn’t help his situation.	Chapter 11 Time to convince Dad that the kids can have a pet. He sure does enjoy all of the chores getting done around the house. Eventually he agrees that a pet can join the family since Mom has already worked out a detailed plan.	Chapter 12 Otto thinks of a way that he can earn money AND prove that he is responsible enough to take care of a dog. He makes some signs and gets his first customer - Buttercup. Let’s see how this goes.
Chapter 13 Well Otto needs some practice to be more focused while he is working. His first day as a dog walker ended okay and he is getting more customers lined up for the rest of the week so that’s a great start!	Chapter 14 Day 2 of dog walking was a success! Otto is learning from his mistakes and getting better and better with every customer. He discovers something interesting about Lexi. Is she really helping other students or just doing their work for them?	Chapter 15 Otto’s bonus work backfires and he has to return some money. He is still doing okay though. Tomorrow he needs to be on time and stay awake!
Chapter 16 It seems clear that Otto is making too many mistakes and could really use Malcolm’s skills to help him with appointments and organizing money. It will cost him though. Hopefully it’s worth it. As Otto is getting better, Lexi’s situation worsens.	Chapter 17 Mom checks in about how the competition is going and both kids stretch the truth about how great they’re doing. Lexi seems to have a new idea brewing which leaves Otto thinking he has to up his game if he is going to have $500 in another two weeks.	Chapter 18 A dream gives Otto an idea and he gets planning for a dog party that afternoon. Some water bowls, dog food, dog treats, 5 toys, and 12 dogs… what could go wrong? Well I hope Otto doesn’t lose customers after this.
Chapter 19 Things are slipping: Otto’s history grade, his soccer skills, his friendships, his customers. He is so tired. How long can he keep this up?	Chapter 20 Working the business without Malcolm isn’t easy but he is making the best of it. Otto even picked up a new (pig) customer. He sees Lexi’s signs all over the town - she seems to have a new business.	Chapter 21 Otto loses another customer, but he gets his best friend back! “Dogs are a man’s best friend, but everyone needs a human best friend too. Having both is best of all” Woodrow, p. 196
Chapter 22 If Lexi and Otto keep fighting so much the contest will be over soon. They have one week left. Malcolm says they need to have five walks a day to make their goal so multi-tasking… multi dog walks it is.	Chapter 23 While Lexi is out at the store buying supplies, Otto sneaks into her room to count how much money she has so far. It seems harmless, but he leaves the room in a rush with more than he started with. Uh oh!	Chapter 24 Otto’s first multiple dog walk with Jim Jam, Amber, Mrs. Merryweather, and Max doesn’t go well and he won’t be trying that again. Otto realizes his soccer skills are lacking, but luckily Malcolm is there to cheer him up AND offer another idea - - - subscription walks!
Chapter 25 A few dog owners buy into Otto’s subscription (making their own amounts) but he’ll take it. The war with Lexi is growing as the due date is getting closer. Otto thought he was vicious, but when it comes down to sabotaging Lexi’s business he just can’t do it.	Chapter 26 Just when things are going well - Otto makes a poor choice. He goes frantic then gets saved by Lexi! Oh and his karma pays an extra $10 so maybe it was worth it.	Chapter 27 “Being responsible means accepting what happens even when things don’t go right.” (p. 249). Otto faces a very difficult situation and handles it perfectly. He even has some positive karma on his side now. He really is growing more responsible.
Chapter 28 Over heaps of homework, the night before the big family pet meeting, Lexi and Otto talk about their struggles and how much they have saved. Otto realized it would be better to have a cat than to have no pet at all so he gives Lexi enough money to get to $500 and tells her about the $20 that he took.	Chapter 29 The family gets a pet! Otto never tells mom the truth about the money. He actually kind of likes Fluffy and she likes him too. There’s one more surprise though… Make sure you read the last three pages to find out!

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***The blog is here to support your experience.***

Ultimately the FAMILY should be reading the text aloud together!

Chapter 1

Otto needs a replacement for Alfalfa because the neighbors are moving to Montana. He will need his sister’s support for this mission. But when he asks her, she has her own ideas.

Chapter 2

Now both Otto and Lexi are trying to get mom to choose their animal. Mom doesn’t really seem interested in either one and proves (quite easily) that they are both lacking in following through with responsibilities around the house.

Chapter 3

Otto has some good reasons to get a dog, but it’s nothing compared to Lexi’s poster display. Mom listens, but isn’t convinced. She has questions… Is this a good sign?

Chapter 4

Otto thinks he is winning, but Lexi has other plans. Her point about earning money gives mom an idea. Whoever can raise $500 by the end of the month can choose the house pet. They both have to help with it and there are other rules, but they all agree! The war begins.

Chapter 6

Otto considers becoming a magician, but Malcolm shuts that down - plus about forty other ideas. He finds extra apples in the kitchen and sells them only to find out Mom needed them for a donation and now he has to repay her. He needs to find an idea that doesn’t cost a lot of money.

Chapter 5

Otto and Malcolm consider running a soccer camp, cutting lawns (but it’s March), collecting recycled bottles (people are so GREEN lately), washing cars, and even asking grandma for an advance on his birthday money - no luck. The keyword here is RESPONSIBILITY

Chapter 7

Otto tries for some homemade products. Cookies - Everyone loves cookies! He could make a ton of them to sell. If only he set the oven appropriately they may not have set off the smoke detector, and mom!

Chapter 8

Otto is still trying to find a way to make money. Malcolm talks about supply and demand. Lexi seems to have figured out a good plan for herself, so it seems the cat is in the lead!

Chapter 9

While begging to work at the grocery store, Otto realizes that people there need help. Maybe there is a demand and he can supply something. It is going well for a few days until… he makes a mistake, a big mistake. Lexi’s tutoring signs are taunting him all over the school.

Chapter 10

Lexi continues to be successful but Otto just can’t seem to find the right job for himself. He finds someone who can understand, but it doesn’t help his situation.

Chapter 11

Time to convince Dad that the kids can have a pet. He sure does enjoy all of the chores getting done around the house. Eventually he agrees that a pet can join the family since Mom has already worked out a detailed plan.

Chapter 12

Otto thinks of a way that he can earn money AND prove that he is responsible enough to take care of a dog. He makes some signs and gets his first customer - Buttercup. Let’s see how this goes.

Chapter 13

Well Otto needs some practice to be more focused while he is working. His first day as a dog walker ended okay and he is getting more customers lined up for the rest of the week so that’s a great start!

Chapter 14

Day 2 of dog walking was a success! Otto is learning from his mistakes and getting better and better with every customer. He discovers something interesting about Lexi. Is she really helping other students or just doing their work for them?

Chapter 15

Otto’s bonus work backfires and he has to return some money. He is still doing okay though. Tomorrow he needs to be on time and stay awake!

Chapter 16

It seems clear that Otto is making too many mistakes and could really use Malcolm’s skills to help him with appointments and organizing money. It will cost him though. Hopefully it’s worth it. As Otto is getting better, Lexi’s situation worsens.

Chapter 17

Mom checks in about how the competition is going and both kids stretch the truth about how great they’re doing. Lexi seems to have a new idea brewing which leaves Otto thinking he has to up his game if he is going to have $500 in another two weeks.

Chapter 18

A dream gives Otto an idea and he gets planning for a dog party that afternoon. Some water bowls, dog food, dog treats, 5 toys, and 12 dogs… what could go wrong? Well I hope Otto doesn’t lose customers after this.

Chapter 19

Things are slipping: Otto’s history grade, his soccer skills, his friendships, his customers. He is so tired. How long can he keep this up?

Chapter 20

Working the business without Malcolm isn’t easy but he is making the best of it. Otto even picked up a new (pig) customer. He sees Lexi’s signs all over the town - she seems to have a new business.

Chapter 21

Otto loses another customer, but he gets his best friend back! “Dogs are a man’s best friend, but everyone needs a human best friend too. Having both is best of all” Woodrow, p. 196

Chapter 22

If Lexi and Otto keep fighting so much the contest will be over soon. They have one week left. Malcolm says they need to have five walks a day to make their goal so multi-tasking… multi dog walks it is.

Chapter 23

While Lexi is out at the store buying supplies, Otto sneaks into her room to count how much money she has so far. It seems harmless, but he leaves the room in a rush with more than he started with. Uh oh!

Chapter 24

Otto’s first multiple dog walk with Jim Jam, Amber, Mrs. Merryweather, and Max doesn’t go well and he won’t be trying that again. Otto realizes his soccer skills are lacking, but luckily Malcolm is there to cheer him up AND offer another idea - - - subscription walks!

Chapter 25

A few dog owners buy into Otto’s subscription (making their own amounts) but he’ll take it. The war with Lexi is growing as the due date is getting closer. Otto thought he was vicious, but when it comes down to sabotaging Lexi’s business he just can’t do it.

Chapter 26

Just when things are going well - Otto makes a poor choice. He goes frantic then gets saved by Lexi! Oh and his karma pays an extra $10 so maybe it was worth it.

Chapter 27

“Being responsible means accepting what happens even when things don’t go right.” (p. 249). Otto faces a very difficult situation and handles it perfectly. He even has some positive karma on his side now. He really is growing more responsible.

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

The family gets a pet! Otto never tells mom the truth about the money. He actually kind of likes Fluffy and she likes him too. There’s one more surprise though… Make sure you read the last three pages to find out!

The blog is here to support your experience.