Summer had finally arrived and Terry was excited.

Terry jumped out of bed and raced to his parents' room.

"Mom, Dad!" yelled Terry. "Can I come in?"

Terry's mother and father were barely awake and were both frightened when they heard Terry yelling and knocking on their bedroom door.

"What is it, Terry?" said his mother with a surprised voice.

"What's wrong, Terry?" said his father as he jumped out of bed.

"Mom, Dad, today is the day, isn't it?" Terry said, excitedly. 

Terry's mother and father were relieved that nothing was wrong.

"Yes, Terry, today is the day that we take you to spend the summer with your grandmother," said Terry's father.

"Now go get cleaned up, put your suitcase in the car, and get ready for breakfast," said Terry's mother.

"Oh, boy!" said Terry loudly. "I can't wait to see Grandma!"

Terry loved spending the summers at his grandmother's house, and she always enjoyed Terry's company.

Terry's grandmother was 80 years old. She wore glasses and had brown, curly hair, and she was the nicest person anyone could ever meet.

Terry's grandmother always took him skateboarding, swimming, and bowling, and she even played video games with him during his visits.

Terry couldn't wait to see all the fun things his grandmother had planned. And Terry couldn't wait for the smell of freshly baked sugar cookies when he arrived.

Before arriving at his grandmother's house, Terry's mother said, "Terry, I want you to do everything your grandmother tells you to do, and be sure to eat all of your fruits and vegetables during dinner." "Yes, Mom," said Terry.

"And be on your best behavior," said Terry's father.

After arriving at his grandmother's house, Terry's mother and father hugged and kissed him before leaving. When Terry saw his grandmother standing on the front porch smiling and waving at his parents, he ran as fast as he could, yelling, "Grandma!"

Terry hugged his grandmother with cheers while they both waved goodbye to his parents. After entering his grandmother's house, Terry noticed something was different. There was no smell of freshly baked sugar cookies.

When they entered the kitchen, Terry saw a platter of fruits and vegetables sitting on the table.

Terry wasn't upset because he loved eating fruit.

Terry grabbed an apple and strawberry while he and his grandmother talked.

That evening, during dinner, Terry ate a nice, healthy meal, along with the fruits and vegetables his grandmother had prepared.

"Terry," said his grandmother. "A new kid moved next door, and I want you to introduce yourself to him. He is always sad, and he doesn't have any friends. The local kids always make fun of him."

"Okay, Grandma, tomorrow I will go visit him," said Terry. "Thank you," said Terry's grandmother.

The next day, after eating breakfast, Terry went next door to meet the new kid. 

Terry took his favorite baseball and gloves. When he arrived, Terry saw the new kid sitting on the front steps, eating a huge bag of chips. He looked very sad.

"Hello, my name is Terry, and I'm here visiting my grandmother for the summer. Do you want to play catch?" said Terry.

The new kid smiled and jumped off the front steps with excitement. "Sure!" said the new kid. "My name is Junk Food. Nice to meet you."

Junk Food was a rather big kid for his age. He had long, shaggy hair and puffy cheeks, and his clothes didn't fit well.

I've never heard anyone named Junk Food, Terry thought to himself. However, Terry and Junk Food began playing catch, laughing, and talking about their favorite sports and hobbies.

After playing catch, Terry invited Junk Food to his grandmother's house for a snack. "Would you like some fruit?" said Terry.

"No, I don't like fruit," said Junk Food. "I'm just going to eat the candy bars in my back pocket."

"Do you have any soda?" asked Junk Food.

"No, my grandmother doesn't drink soda," said Terry.

"Would you like a glass of water?" asked Terry.

"Nah," said Junk Food. "I drink a lot of soda at my house."

"Do you really eat a lot of fruits and vegetables?" said Junk Food.

"Yes," said Terry. "They're good for you."

"Yuck," said Junk Food. "I'd rather have candy instead."

"Can I ask you a question?" said Terry to Junk Food.

"Sure," said Junk Food.

"Why do they call you Junk Food?" said Terry.

"My real name is Carlos," said Junk Food. "The kids at school and in the neighborhood are always teasing me, and they call me Junk Food because I eat a lot of junk food."

"I am much bigger than the other kids in my 6th-grade class, and I get teased a lot, and this makes me very sad," said Junk Food.

"I love eating lots of cookies, cake, pizza, hamburgers, chips, and drinking a lot of soda," said Junk Food.

"I tried to stop, but I can't," said Junk Food.

"My mother and father took me to the doctor when I got sick, and the doctor told me to stop eating so much junk food because it's not healthy," said Junk Food.

"My mother gets angry with me because I sneak and eat junk food when they are not around," said Junk Food.

"I buy junk food with my allowance and stash it in my room so my parents won't find out," admitted Junk Food.

"I know I should stop eating junk food, but it's tough. Healthy food just doesn't taste as good," lamented Junk Food.

"I'm upset with myself because my favorite pair of pants doesn't fit anymore. Even worse, I had a hard time fitting into a roller coaster at the county fair last year, and everyone laughed at me," said Junk Food sadly.

Uh, come on!

It won't buckle! Uh!

"I want to change," said Junk Food. "But there's no one who can help me."

"My parents are too busy working, and I don't have any friends," said Junk Food.

After listening to Junk Food talk, Terry said, "I don't want to call you Junk Food. Can I call you Carlos?"

"Yes," said Junk Food. 

"Carlos," said Terry. "Can we be friends?  I am staying with my grandmother for three months, and I can help you get in shape."

"Really?" said Junk Food. "I've never had anyone help me get in shape."

"We can start tomorrow morning," said Terry. "I will come over at 10:00."

"Awesome!" yelled Junk Food.

The following day, Terry completely forgot about his grandmother's plans and became more focused on helping Junk Food get into shape.

"Where are you headed, Terry?" questioned his grandmother.

"I'm off to help Carlos with his fitness journey," replied Terry.

"Who is Carlos?" inquired his grandmother.

"He's the new kid living next door. His real name is Carlos, not Junk Food," clarified Terry.

"Oh, I see," said his grandmother. "He never told me his real name."

Terry explained to his grandmother why everyone called Carlos Junk Food.

"Grandma," said Terry. "I know you had a lot of fun things planned for us to do during my visit. Will it be okay if I spend time with Carlos to help him get in shape?"

"Of course it's okay," Terry's grandmother replied. 

"I think it's a very nice thing for you to spend time helping someone."

"Thanks, Grandma," said Terry. 

Terry hurried over to Junk Food's house, and to his surprise, Junk Food was dressed and waiting outside. 

"Are you ready to get in shape?" said Terry to Junk Food.

"I am ready!" yelled Junk Food.

Terry and Junk Food began walking around the neighborhood several times a week. And weeks later, they started jogging. Although Junk Food grew weary, he never quit.

When the neighborhood kids saw Junk Food jogging, they began to laugh and make fun of him.

"Don't pay them any attention, Carlos," said Terry. "Stay focused."

Before you knew it, Junk Food was walking almost every day, running, riding his bike around town, lifting weights, drinking plenty of water, exercising, and eating more fruits and vegetables and less junk food.

Within a few months, Junk Food's parents and the local children were astonished to see that he no longer had puffy cheeks, could wear his favorite pants, had become stronger and healthier, and did not respond to the name Junk Food anymore.

"Terry, I feel great!" said Carlos with excitement. "And it's all because of you."

"No, Carlos," said Terry. "It's because you were willing to change and get in shape. I know it was tough when you started, but you never gave up."

"Terry," said Carlos. "Why did you help me?"

"Carlos," said Terry. "I was just like you several years ago. I wasn't happy with myself. I got teased, and I ate a lot of junk food. All of that changed when a friend of mine back home, along with my parents, helped me get in shape."

"Wow!" yelled Carlos.

"There's nothing wrong with eating junk food sometimes. However, when you eat too much, it can make you sick and unhealthy," said Terry.

"Thank you, Terry," Carlos stated firmly, expressing his sincere gratitude. "You are a real friend."

Terry replied with a smile, "It's my pleasure. I am happy to meet a new friend like you."

The summer was over, and it was time for Terry to leave his grandmother's house and return home. While waiting for his parents to arrive, Terry said, "Grandma, I had so much fun this summer. I made a new friend, and I was able to help someone just like me."

"And that's why I'm so proud of you," said his grandmother.

Terry and Carlos are still friends, and they call each other every week. 

                                           THE END