It was the first hot day of spring.
Bobby was sweating as he walked to Kids Central.
Nina and Izzie had paper fans.
They waved them in front of each other.
"What are we doing today?" Bobby asked Miss Shelly.
"Please, can we go outside?"
"I wouldn't keep you inside on such a hot day."
Miss Shelly smiled.
"Grab a water bottle, and follow me!"
The kids followed Miss Shelly out to the soccer field.
"Today we're going to play squirt freeze tag," she said.
"Squirt freeze tag?" Izzie repeated. "What's that?"
"One person will be 'it,'" Miss Shelly began.
"Whoever is 'it' must tag everyone else.
You tag someone by squirting them with water.
If you are tagged, you cannot move!
You must freeze!
After everyone is tagged, we'll choose another 'it.'"
Miss Shelly looked at everyone. "Understand?"
The kids nodded.
"Who gets to be 'it' first?" Ethan asked.
Miss Shelly grinned.
"I'm thinking of a number between one and twenty," she said.
"Guess what number it is."
"Eleven!" Bobby called out.
"Six," said Jason.
"Fifteen," guessed Izzie.
"Nineteen," Ethan said.
"Ten," guessed Nina.
"It was eleven," Miss Shelly said.
"Bobby, you're 'it!'"
"Woo-hoo!" Bobby cheered.
Everyone else put down their water bottles.
"We'll start by standing in a circle.
Bobby, you stand in the middle."
Miss Shelly stood outside the circle.
"On your mark, get set, go!"
Miss Shelly blew her whistle.
Bobby chased after Ethan.
But Ethan was fast!
Bobby decided to try to catch him later.
He turned around and spotted Nina.
He sprinted toward her.
"Eek!" Nina squealed as she got squirted with water.
"You have to freeze!" Izzie reminded her, running by.
Now Bobby was after Izzie.
He raised his water bottle . . .
Squirt! Izzie was frozen.
Water dripped down her forehead.
Bobby ran after Jason.
Jason looked hot and tired.
"Here's some water to cool you off!" Bobby shouted.
He squirted his friend in the back.
"Ha-ha! That's cold water!" Jason giggled and then froze.
"Bet you can't catch me!" Ethan cried.
He ran across the soccer field.
Bobby raced after him.
Ethan ran one way and then the other.
Once, Bobby got close enough to squirt.
But Ethan ducked out of the way!
"Ahhh!" Bobby got a burst of energy.
He ran as fast as he could.
Ethan stumbled! Squirt!
Water dripped down Ethan's back.
"You're all frozen!" Bobby shouted happily.
"Game over!" Miss Shelly called.
Bobby was hot and breathing hard.
"That was fun!" Nina said.
"Let's play again!" Ethan looked at Miss Shelly.
"Sure," Miss Shelly said.
"Bobby, please pick our next 'it.'"
"Okay. I'm thinking of a number between one and twenty," Bobby said.
He smiled. Usually he didn't like getting caught in a game of tag.
But it would feel great to get squirted with water now!
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