Nib Never Locks Up Jolly Phonics · Step 3, Unit 10: /oi/ mixed
Practice Words
Nib sits on her rug and spins red wool, round and round. She enjoys spinning. And she has a big plan for that wool. A big boy leans in at the window. 'We go up to the hills. Nib, lock up!' 'I am fine,' says Nib. She never looks up. She never locks up.
The boys go up the path. Then a big thing sneaks up by the house and hides. A shaggy thing. A thing with a tall tuft on top and a noisy belly. Boom, boom! It is Ted. Ted spies on the little house. The big boys are not there now.
Ted creeps to the window and peeps in. There she is. A little girl with her back to him. She hums as she spins her wool. Ted licks his lips. 'Oh, joy,' he says, low. 'This is a snap.'
Ted jams his face in the window. Squish! His face jams in tight. Too big. Way too big. He twists. He tugs. He pops free. Ted recoils, rubbing his chin. 'Fine,' he snorts. 'Nib never locks up. I can just creep in.'
Nib never locks up. So Ted just steps right in. A big shaggy arm grabs the back of Nib's top. Nib yells. Ted hoists her up high. The room spins round and round. But even then, Nib hugs her ball of red wool tight to her chest.
Ted puts Nib up in a big tree and rests below. He trusts that Nib will just sit still. But no! Nib's hands are quick. She ties the red wool to a branch and lets it drop down, down the path, all the way home. The wool points the way. 'See my wool, boys,' says Nib, low. 'Trail it here.'
Up on the hill, one boy stops and points down. 'What is that?' A thin red line runs past the trees, past the huts, deep in the wood. 'That is Nib's wool!' yells the other boy. 'It leads to the dark cave. Come on!' They run.
The cave mouth is a wide black gap. Moist air creeps out, and the red wool trails inside, deep in the dark. The big boys look grim. 'Nib is in there,' says one, low. The other boy gulps. They step in.
Inside, Ted slumps down, deep in sleep. He snorts so loud that the little rocks jump. And there on his belt is a big gold key. One boy creeps in, avoiding Ted's big feet. He lifts the key slow, slow, and grins. The other boy taps a hand to his lips. Not a peep. Not yet.
Inside the cage, small kids press their faces to the bars. Not a peep. Not a gasp. One big boy slips the key in the lock. He turns it, slow, slow. Click! The kids rush out, free at last. They jump for joy.
Ted wakes with a snort. He sees the cage. No kids! He sees his belt. No key! 'My food!' yells Ted. 'I will boil them all!' He jumps up. The kids yell. The boys grab as many hands as they can. 'Run, run!'
Ted charges after them, out of the cave and out in the sun. One step. Two steps. Then, boing! His feet are in a loop of red wool. Nib's wool! It coils round his feet, his legs, his belly, round and round. Ted skids. Ted trips. Down he goes with a boom! Nib's ploy foils Ted.
Nib grins a big proud grin, and the kids shout for joy. The boys look at her. Then they crack up. 'Good plan, Nib! That wool did save us all. But lock up, Nib! Lock up!' Nib just grins. 'If I lock up, who will set all the kids free?'
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