Burglar Bill

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_2 (0:31)

This is Believe. One network, every topic, everywhere.

Lisa Bueno (0:37)

Okay, our friends. So yesterday, we read a story about a boy who was a ghost. And he lived with a little girl who saw him, right? And something happened.

Do you remember? He stopped a burglar. He stopped a burglar. And I said, that's probably one of the scariest things for grownups, somebody like a burglar.

And so today, we're going to do a story about a burglar. And the cover of this book makes it look pretty scary, right?

Philip (1:11)

It's nighttime.

Lisa Bueno (1:13)

And peeping in the window is a scary-looking face. He's got a mask on. But I would like to tell you a story here that, to me, says another lesson.

And that lesson is this. Never judge a book by its cover.

SPEAKER_1 (1:33)

Are you ready?

Lisa Bueno (1:34)

Today's story, Burglar Bill, is written by Janet and Alan Alberg. And it's read today by Mommy. And meow?

Oh, are you a cat?

SPEAKER_1 (1:47)

I love it when you're a cat.

Lisa Bueno (1:49)

Okay, let's see. Um, are you a cat with a name? Are you Fluth or Fluff? No. Are you, you're not Captain Meow Meow, are you? No. Are you Beans? No. Are you Junior Meow Meow? No. Who are you today? Do I get a hint?

Are you, are you a cat named Tortilla?

He's a rolling guy named Dorothea. I might eat you later on, is that okay? If I put some beans in you and then...

Beans and cheese? I might. Oh my goodness. What if beans, what if beans and tortilla get together, and then you have a bean burrito? We would roll them together, they both like to roll!

Oh boy. It might be fun. Okay. I have to look for that. Let's read our story. When we open this book, we see our main character, and we can call that the titular character because he's in the title of the book. Burglar Bill lives by himself in a tall house full of stolen property.

Every night, he has stolen fish and chips and a cup of stolen tea for supper. Then he swings a big stolen sack over his shoulder and goes off to work stealing things. Every morning, Burglar Bill comes home from work and has stolen toast and marmalade and a cup of stolen coffee for breakfast. Then he goes upstairs and sleeps all day in a comfortable stolen bed.

One night, Burglar Bill is working in a little street behind the police station. When he comes to the first house, he climbs in through the bedroom window and shines his torch around. Now, this book was written for an English audience, I think. Someone in Britain. Yeah, Great Britain. Because, right, in America, we call a torch a flashlight. But we know what that means, right? Yeah, okay.

Philip (4:13)

That's a nice toothbrush, says Burglar Bill.

Lisa Bueno (4:17)

I'll have that. And he puts it in his sack.

Then he comes to the second house. He climbs in through the kitchen window and shines his torch around.

Philip (4:30)

That's a nice tin of beans, says Burglar Bill. I'll have that.

Lisa Bueno (4:36)

And he puts it into his sack. When he comes to the third house, he climbs in through the bedroom window and shines his torch around.

Philip (4:44)

That's a nice hat and coat and pair of trousers and socks and shoes, says Burglar Bill. All of them.

Lisa Bueno (4:55)

And he puts them into his sack. He's just stealing stuff.

When he comes to the sixteenth house, he stops. There, on the front step, is a big brown box with little holes in it.

Philip (5:10)

That's a nice big brown box with little holes in it, says Burglar Bill. I'll have that.

Lisa Bueno (5:17)

And in the distance, the town hall clock strikes five.

Philip (5:23)

Time to stop work, says Burglar Bill.

Lisa Bueno (5:27)

He swings his sack over his shoulder, picks up the box and goes home to have breakfast. After breakfast, Burglar Bill plays with his cat by the fire, and suddenly he hears a noise.

Sounds like a police car, says Burglar Bill, but the noise is coming from the big brown box, and it's getting louder.