It was a fine spring day in

Bale Village. The birds were singing and the air was sparkling clean.

Mama was inside the house fixing Joe and Sisy’s after school snack.

Joe and Sisy got off the school bus and came into the kitchen with hardly a hello. Then they did what they did every day. They took their milk and cookies into living room and switched on the TV. 

“Those kids are watching too much TV!”

Later, when Papa came in from

his shop and joined Joe and Sisy,

Mama became even more convinced

“There’s absolutely no question about it. The whole family is watching too much TV!”

She wasn't quite sure how it had happened.

Maybe it began when the

old fuzzy pictured black

and white set broke and

they got a big new colour

set. 

But however it had happened, one thing was sure , the family was spending more and more time watching television and less and less time with all the other things they might be doing instead. 

The family had always lively

conversations around the

dinner table –

- but not lately . Lately they just sat around and chewed.

The kids had all kinds of

fun playing outdoors.

But not anymore......

They were too busy watching Rocko’s Modern Life and Dexter’s Laboratory.

That evening after dinner, when Joe and Sisy scampered in to turn on the TV,   Mama stopped them and said her piece:

“We’ve been watching altogether too much television around here!”

“But, Mama,” said Joe.

“Rocko’s Modern Life is coming on and we’ll miss it!”

“And the Dexter’s Laboratory!” added Sisy.

“Well, you’ll just have to miss them!” said Mama firmly.

“And furthermore,” she added,

“you may as well get used to the idea because there’s not going to be any television around here for a whole week!”

“No TV for a week!” said the shocked kids.

“But, Mama.”

“Never mind the buts, your mother is absolutely right. There’s a lot more to life than TV, like homework, for instance. And fresh air and sunshine. And exercise. No TV for a week is an excellent idea...."

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a sport show I want to watch.”

“Just a moment, Papa”

“No TV for a week means you, too”

“What?!”

“You can’t be serious!”

But Mama was very serious.

“What are we supposed to do? Just sit around and talk?”

asked Sisy

“That’ll be fine for starters,”

said Mama.

After school the next day, Mama shooed the kids out to play. 

While it seemed strange not watching television, it was fun play together again.

That evening the kids worked on their homework. But it wasn’t easy with that blank TV just sitting there staring.

Then Sisy noticed an ad in Papa’s newspaper.

“Oh, Mama!”

“Look! A special!”

“No TV for a week means no TV for a week."

“And besides, Mother Nature has much bigger special waiting for us. We’re going to outside and watch the stars come out.” 

“I don’t know if I can stand the excitement.” 

“Watch the stars come out?!”