"Can I help you deliver newspapers today?" Joel asked his brother Ricky.

"No," Ricky said to his brother Joel. "I am thirteen. You are seven. I don't need your help. Not today. Not ever. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Joel said. "I understand."

Ricky walked away with the newspapers to deliver. Every day, Ricky delivered newspapers to forty houses. He got paid one dime for each house. That meant he made four dollars every day for delivering newspapers.

Joel watched Ricky walk away to deliver newspapers.

Joel followed. But Joel stayed hidden from his older brother Ricky.

Soon Joel saw Ricky pull out a water pistol from his pocket.

Joel wanted to ask why Ricky needed a water pistol to deliver newspapers. But Joel stayed hidden from his older brother Ricky.

Then Joel saw why Ricky needed a water pistol.

When Ricky passed by a house with two big dogs behind a fence, Ricky squirted the dogs with water.

It made the dogs mad. The dogs barked and barked.

Ricky laughed at the dogs.

Ricky did not see Joel come up from behind. Joel tapped Ricky on the shoulder.

It scared Ricky.

Ricky jumped.

When Ricky landed, Joel asked him a question.

"Why are you mean to the dogs?" Joel asked.

"The dogs always bark at me," Ricky said. "So I squirt them with water."

"They bark at you because you squirt them first," Joel said.

"What do you know?" Ricky asked. "You are only seven. And I told you I did not need your help to deliver the newspapers. Please go away and do not scare me anymore. Understand?"

"Yes," Joel said. "I understand."

Ricky walked away with the newspapers to deliver. Every day, Ricky delivered newspapers to forty houses. He got paid one dime for each house. That meant he made four dollars every day for delivering newspapers.

Joel watched Ricky walk away to deliver newspapers.

Joel followed. But Joel stayed hidden from his older brother Ricky.