BAMBOOBERSPACE Chapter 3 | Page 5

Edison knew

How to use bamboo,

To light the world

For me and you!”

“Do you want to jump?” a little girl asked Clarence.

“Not right now, thanks,” Clarence said. “I need to find a dog. Did you see a black dog with white and brown markings run past here?”

“I think he went that way,” she said, as she pointed down the street. Clarence looked, but he seemed to be looking at everything except a dog. There were people moving around near “Zip’s Barber Shop” with a red and white striped barber pole swirling around. There was a loud siren and an engine burst out of the doors at “Bamboo River Fire Station #4”. Just beyond the barber shop and the fire station was Bamboo River Kayak Tours with bright yellow and red kayaks lined up in a rack. All along the river, he saw busy shops with cheerful people greeting each other.

“You can change your mind,” said the little girl.

“What? Okay,” Clarence answered. “Maybe later I’ll give it a try, after I find the dog. Where am I? I mean, where are we?”

“This is Edison,” the little girl said pointing to a sign on a lamp post.

“So we aren’t in Greenwich?” Clarence asked.

“Dottie! Who’s your new friend?” a little boy asked.

“What’s your name?” Dottie asked.

“Clarence.”

“I’m Dot and this is my brother, Dave. Double Dutch!” She jumped into the swinging rope and began to recite the rhyme again.

“Henry’s turn!” Dottie shouted. “Put a smile, on your face. What’s this place? Bambooberspace!”

Several children sat on the ground calling the rhyme while they kept their fingers busy with pieces of bamboo. Some were twisting the narrow stems and making spiral designs. Others had pieces in their mouths and they were chewing on them.

“Henry missed! Mari! You’re next!” Dave called.

Clarence watched a woman loading a big gingerbread house into a small car. He read the sign in front of the store, “Gingerbread Bakery”.

“…9 – 10, Say it again!

“Ba-am-boo,

strong and true,

helps reduce the CO2.

What can you do

With bamboo?

Put a smile,

On your face.

What’s this place?

Bambooberspace!”