The Miller family lived in a quiet little town on Lilac Lane.  There were Papa and Mama Miller, their son, Toby, daughter, Zoey, and Chester, their little puppy.  

Chester was cute and friendly, and after a bath he even smelled good.  He loved to be helpful, but sometimes it got him into trouble.  And today was going to be one of those days.

Papa Miller always started off his morning by reading the paper.

“Zoey, will you get me the paper please?” he asked.

“Sure!”  Zoey scampered off to get the newspaper.

But Chester knew that he could get the paper faster than Zoey, so off he ran!

Chester ran toward the door to look for the paper.  He was going so fast that he could not stop, and he slid across the hardwood floor.

“Chester look out!” called Papa Miller.  But it was too late…  

Chester was going so fast he kept on sliding across the floor, right into…

…Mama Miller!  Kersplat!   Pancakes and syrup, chairs and plates, it all went flying everywhere!  On the ceiling, on the fridge, on the floor.

One pancake even landed on Chester’s head!

The Millers looked at the mess.  Then they looked at Chester.  And they said, “Chester, look what you’ve done!  You’ve ruined our breakfast and you’ve ruined our fun!”  

Chester felt terrible.   He only wanted to help, but he’d made a mess of things.  With his tail between his legs and his head drooping, he slowly walked over to the corner to think about what had gone wrong.

Later that morning, Chester woke up from his morning nap.  He felt much better.  In fact, he felt like being helpful!  But what could he help with?  Hmmm….

Ooooo!  Papa Miller was painting the living room, and Toby was helping!  Chester loved to help paint, too!  

Chester knew just what to do!  He ran over to the paint can under the window.

“Chester look out!” Toby yelled.  But it was too late…

Chester hadn’t noticed the paint can on the floor.  Oh no!  There were bright green paint puddles all over the floor!  Chester whirled around to look at what he’d done.  Swish!  

His long tail knocked into the ladder leaning up against the wall, holding the large paint can filled with bright blue paint.  Splat!   The paint fell off the ladder and hit the floor.  Blue paint splattered all over the freshly painted wall, Papa Miller, and even Toby!

The Millers looked at the mess.  Then they looked at Chester.  And they said, “Chester, look what you’ve done!  You’ve ruined our painting and you’ve ruined our fun!”  

Chester put his head down and whimpered.  He was only trying to help!  He slowly walked outside to sit under the oak tree where he wouldn’t ruin anything else.

When Chester woke up from his afternoon nap, he felt better.  In fact, he felt like being helpful!  He looked around to see how he could help.

Mama Miller was busy gardening.  Finally, something Chester was good at!  He loved to dig!  When Mama Miller went inside, Chester ran over to the garden to help.  He made small holes.  He made big holes.  He made sideways and long holes and short holes.  He was proud of himself, and he couldn’t wait for his family to see how helpful he could be.

Mama Miller came back and let out a gasp.  Her garden was all dug up!  The Miller family looked at the mess.  Then they looked at Chester.  And they said, “Chester, look what you’ve done!  You’ve ruined our garden and you’ve ruined our fun!”