Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

When Mr. Hatcher suggests that he and his sons attend a movie, Peter objects, noting, “Fudge is very young to go” (97). Nonetheless, his father brings them to see A Bear’s Life, which is rated G. Peter advises that Fudge be “cleaned up,” since he slept in his clothing from the previous day. They walk to the theater since the rainy weather makes it difficult to hail a cab. When Fudge is soaked as a result of jumping and splashing in every puddle, his father “stuffed a bunch of paper towels up each pant leg so Fudge wouldn’t have to sit around wet” (99). When the lights dim, Fudge throws his popcorn at the people in front of them. Peter becomes engrossed in the movie, which documents the lives of bears and their cubs. Subsequently, he becomes aware that Fudge has left his seat. Mr. Hatcher leaves to find the toddler, and the movie is stopped while the lights are turned on and a search is conducted. Peter fantasizes about what happened to Fudge, thinking, “Maybe he’s been kidnapped!” (101). Peter walks the aisles calling for his brother, who pops out from under the first row of seats, explaining that he “wanted to touch the bears” (102).