very excited He usually received packages when it was his birthday which was in the spring But this was September and his birthday wasn’t going to come around again for months and months The red slicker was just the way Russell imagined it At least that’s the way it looked until he tried it on The coat came down almost to his ankles and the sleeves were so long that his hands were hidden Oh Russell This is much too big said his mother laughing We’ll just have to ask Grandma to return it No no shouted Russell I like it big It will keep me extra dry You won’t be able to move in it said his mother It is really a shame but you look a little like a circus clown No I don’t Russell protested But when he peeked in the bathroom mirror 14
he saw that he did look pretty silly in this too-big slicker I’m growing said Russell hopefully You said I was growing so much I bet it will fit me next week Please can’t I keep it Mrs Michaels sighed I guess we can keep it she said But I’ll still have to get you a new slicker to wear this season Unless of course you inherit something from Teddy Then Mrs Michaels smiled You know she said this red slicker would probably fit Teddy right now I think we should let him wear it until you grow into it Teddy can’t have it Russell protested He wanted to keep the slicker in his closet It’s mine 16
Russell that’s being selfish said his mother Think how many clothes you’ve gotten from Teddy over the years She pointed to the red-and-white-striped shirt that Russell was wearing at that very moment It used to belong to Teddy But I want to be able to look at my red slicker Russell complained You’ll be able to look at it on Teddy said his mother And I promise you before you know it you’ll be wearing it yourself and he’ll be looking at it on you So that was how Teddy Resnick became the temporary owner of a bright new red rain slicker and why Russell Michaels was seen walking to school on rainy days in an old yellow one Russell was wearing a hand-me-down hand-me-down from Teddy and for once Teddy was wearing a hand-me-up from Russell 17
