One day Dad brought home a box.
"What's in there?" asked Oliver.
"It's a surprise for Emmy," said Dad.
“Maybe Emmy would like a pet."
"Emmy loves snakes," said Oliver.
"I bet it's a snake!"
"I think it's a snake too," said Harry.
"Snakes, snakes, snakes!
Emmy talks about them all the time."
"You're right, boys," said Dad.
He took the lid off the box.
"Cool!" said Oliver.
The snake had black-and-white stripes.
Its tongue was shaped like a fork.
"It looks like Emmy's toy snake," said Harry.
Oliver and Harry took the snake outside.
They touched the scales on its head.
They watched it move across the grass.
The snake's tongue flicked in and out.
"Wow," said Oliver.
"This is the best snake ever."
"I know," Harry agreed.
"Wait till Emmy sees this snake."
Finally Emmy came home from soccer practice.
"Guess what, Emmy!" said Harry.
"Dad got you a cool surprise!" said Oliver.
Harry took the lid off the box.
"Agh!" screamed Emmy.
"It's a snake!"
"What?" said Dad.
Everyone was confused.
"But you love snakes," said Harry.
"Not real ones!" said Emmy.