1 Michael is three years old. He is a big boy. He can say his ABCs. He can count to ten. Sometimes he can even count to fifty-fourteen! He can put on his own shoes. He can put on his shirt. He needs a little bit of help with his socks, but not much.
2 Today, something bad happened. Michael wanted to take a bath.
3 "I can take a bath all by myself!" Michael told his mother. "I am a big boy now!"
4 "I know you are a big boy," his mother said. "I think you still need a little bit of help."
5 "No, I don't!" Michael said. "I can do it all by myself!"
6 "Well, okay," his mother said. "At least let me turn the water on."
7 "That is okay," Michael said. "But that is all you can do. I can take a bath all by myself!"
8 Michael and his mother went into the bathroom. His mother turned on the water. She made sure it was just nice and warm for him.
9 "Be sure to turn the water off when there is enough for your bath."
10 "I will," Michael said. "I can do it all by myself!"
11 Michael's mother smiled at him. She closed the door and went to the kitchen.
12 "Now," Michael thought, "I will do it all by myself."
13 He took off his shoes and socks. He put his socks in the hamper. He looked for a place to put his shoes. He put them on the back of the toilet.
14 He took off his pants and put them in the hamper. He put his shirt in the hamper, too.
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