Once upon a time, you could find prizes in cereal boxes. Ask your mom, dad, grandma, or another adult.  They’ll tell you all about it.  This story takes place when prizes in cereal boxes still existed.

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Paulina didn’t usually hurry for breakfast. But this morning, she had a mission. She was determined to claim the prize before her sister, Ruthie, had a chance.

Running down the stairs, Paulina flew into the kitchen. She almost fell over a chair trying to get to the cereal box first.

“What in the world is going on down there?” Mom yelled to her from upstairs.

“Everything’s fine, Mom!” answered Paulina.  She hoped her sister didn’t hear the clatter and remember the prize.

Paulina didn’t even like the cereal in the brand new box. It was shaped like pebbles and tasted like sugary rocks. Even worse, milk made it soggy and slimy.

What Paulina REALLY wanted was the pen inside the box. It wasn’t just any kind of pen. This one had invisible ink. She imagined herself drawing mysterious pictures and writing secret messages in her notebook. Maybe she’d draw on a wall and no one would know!

Paulina was frustrated that Ruthie wanted the pen with invisible ink, too. She’d argued with Ruthie over the prize when they saw a picture of it on the box at the grocery store. Mom said the first one to find it could keep it, so Paulina knew she needed to act fast.

Paulina heard Ruthie’s footsteps coming down the stairs! She tore the box of cereal and ripped the bag open with all her might. She peeked in, hoping the pen would be right on top. No such luck. Why were prizes always at the bottom? Paulina shook the box. Still nothing.

She wanted to stick her hand inside, but Mom had always said not to. She looked again, when suddenly, Paulina tumbled INTO the box of cereal with a loud WOOSH!

She felt sugary bits of the pebble cereal floating all around her as she landed with a CRUNCH next to the pen. Paulina didn’t care about the prize anymore. She had more important worries, like why she was stuck in a box!

Before she could scream for help, Paulina heard Ruthie’s voice.

“HA!” she heard Ruthie exclaim.  “I’m the first one to eat breakfast.  That pen is MINE!”

Paulina panicked as Ruthie’s wiggling fingers came toward her. She couldn’t believe Ruthie was breaking the rules and sticking her hand inside the box! Paulina scrambled to get out of the way when suddenly, she saw Ruthie tumble INTO the box with a loud WOOSH and land with a CRUNCH next to Paulina.

Paulina stared at Ruthie in amazement. It’s not every day she fell into a box of cereal with her sister!

“Girls!  Come and eat breakfast!” Mom’s voice called out.

Paulina clung to Ruthie as the box began to shake, shake, SHAKE and tilt over on its side. Mom was pouring herself some cereal!

PLOP! Paulina landed RIGHT into Mom’s bowl. Paulina was dripping with milk and covered in cereal. She looked at Ruthie in the bowl with her.  Paulina thought their breakfast bath was funny!

Mom laughed and said,”Looks like I got the best prizes of all!”

What’s your favorite kind of cereal?

What (or who) would YOU like to find inside a box of cereal?

Think of your own funny ending to this story!

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Make your own invisible ink without falling into a cereal box!

Learn about cool prizes in cereal boxes from the old days!

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Source: Cereal Box and Milk from ClipartLogo.com (by johnny_automatic)