On Saturday morning, every boy in town is happy, except Tom Sawyer. He has to paint the fence because he (punish) for the mistakes he made yesterday. The fence is at least nine (foot) high and runs nearly half the block long. After only a few strokes, he sits down and begins to think of all the fun he has planned for the day. He knows that the painting (take) up all afternoon. Even (bad), other boys will come by soon and see him (do) his chores. Just then, Ben Rogers comes along the road with an apple in his hand. Tom has an idea. He picks up his brush and goes back to work.
"Got to work, hey?" says Ben. "Work? What work are you talking about? It's not every day a boy gets to paint a whole fence by (he)." Then Tom goes on (paint). Ben watches Tom in (silent). He becomes more and more (interest). After a while, he says, "Say, Tom, let me try."
"No, I'm sorry. Aunt Polly says there isn't one boy in a thousand that's fit to paint the fence."
"Come on, Tom. Let me just try, please...I'll give you my apple!"
Tom considers moment longer. Then very slowly he hands the brush over to Ben. Sitting under a shady tree, Tom eats the apple and watches Ben paint the fence in the hot sun. He thinks he (discover) something wonderful since then: To make a boy want something, all you have to do is make that something hard to get!
