Brandy Alexander Before I Count to Three

1. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three Written By: Aretha Abrams Illustrated By: Henry Robinson

2. Brandy Alexander Before I count to Three

3. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three I love my little daughter She’s 5 ½ years old. She looks like me and acts the way I used to act so I’ve been told.

4. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three But Brandy is a challenge when she won’t listen to what I say. The things I tell her for her own good, sometimes she just won’t obey.

5. Take last night for instance. Bedtime is when she usually shows out. Whenever I tell her to stop playing with her toys She just turns her head and pouts.

6. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Brandy Alexander, you haven’t done anything I said. I told you to pick up your toys, stop playing and go to bed.”

7. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “I know,” Brandy quickly replied. “But I’m having too much fun. I’ll pick up my toys and go to bed right after I’m done.”

8. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Look, little lady! Don’t you disobey me! I want to see you in that bed before I count to three!

9. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “One!” Her mother shouted, but Brandy continued to play. She didn’t pay her mother any attention. She just wanted her to go away.

10. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Two!” Her mother said, as she held two fingers in the air. Brandy sat with her arms crossed, pretending not to care.

11. "Three!" Her mom said quickly and with a great leap of faith, Brandy jumped into bed and pulled the covers over her face.

12. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three Then there was this morning, she wanted pancakes instead of grits. When I told her to eat her pancakes of course she had a fit.

13. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “I don’t want grits!” She cried. “I want pancakes, sausage and eggs. I don’t want grits.” She said, folding her arms. “I’m going back to bed.”

14. "Brandy, sit down at the table and eat what's on your plate." "I don't want grits," Brandy cried. "I hate them...I hate them...I hate..."

15. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Watch your mouth young lady and do what you are told. Now, sit down and eat that food before your grits get cold.”

16. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “One!” Her mother shouted, but Brandy stood her ground. She crossed her arms and turned her head and rolled her eyes around.

17. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Two!” Her mom said, as she held two fingers in the air. Brandy look at her mother pretending not to care.

18. "Three!" Her mom said. And without any doubt Brandy picked up her fork and quickly stuffed some food in her mouth.

19. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three I took her to the park. Of course, she wanted to run and play. She took off running toward the Jungle Gym without any delay.

20. Then she headed for the swings. "Oh, Brandy! Please sit down." But Brandy stood and started spinning around and around.

21. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Momma, I know how to do this. I’m not gonna hurt myself.” “Brandy! Will you just do what I asked? I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

22. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “I’m just having fun.” Brandy replied. “Don’t talk back to me. I want to see you sitting down before I count to three.”

23. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “One!” Her mother said. Brandy would not sit down. She swung even higher in the air as her mother stomped her foot on the ground.

24. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Two!” Her mother shouted, holding two fingers in the air. Brandy looked at her mother pretending not to care.

25. "Three!" Said, her mother. Brandy scambled to get in the seat but slipped and fell just happening to land on her feet.

26. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “See, you think you know everything but one day you’ll listen to me. You’re going to learn your lesson one day just you wait and see.”

27. I took Brandy with me down to the corner store. I told her not to leave my side or go off to explore.

28. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three But Brandy didn’t listen. The next time I looked around, she went her way and I went mine without making a sound.

29. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Momma, where are you?” “Momma, I know you didn’t leave me!” “I want to see you face to face before I count to three!”

30. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “One!” She said, loudly. She put one little finger in the air. I was standing behind the center display. I guess she couldn’t see me standing there.

31. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Two!” She said, even louder. People stopped to turn around. I stood right there in my place and didn’t make a sound.

32. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Three!” She yelled, even louder. With tears running down her face. “I want my mommy!” She cried. “I’ve been looking for her all over the place.”

33. I couldn't stand to see her crying. Tears came to my eyes. "Here I am my darling. You don't have to cry."

34. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three “Mommy! Mommy! Where were you? I thought you were gone.” “You know I’d never leave you even though what you did was wrong.”

35. That night, when it was time for bed, she took the broom; she put all her toys away and cleaned and swept her room.

36. "I think I learned my lesson. Next time I'll listen to you. I promise from now on I'll do whatever you want me to do!"

37. Brandy AlexanderBefore I Count to Three The End

38. Brandy Alexander Before I count to Three