Hi there! My name is Chip, and I take care of a special store called a bodega. Do you know what a bodega is? It’s a small neighborhood store where you can find almost anything you need, like sodas, candy, cookies, chips, cereal, soap, and even toothbrushes! The word “bodega” comes from Spanish, and it means grocery store. You can find bodegas in many places, and they are open all day and night.
Running a bodega is a lot of work! Early in the morning, we get deliveries of all the things we sell. My family helps me a lot. My dad brings in the boxes, my mom organizes newspapers, my friend Wilson sorts things in the basement, and my brother Damien helps before he goes to school.
After the deliveries, lots of people come in for breakfast. I know all the regulars! There’s a man with a beard, a lady with glasses who likes eggs on a roll, and a woman in a blue shirt who loves bagels. There’s also a cool guy who likes his coffee sweet and a little girl with colorful sneakers who shares a muffin with her sister.
Once breakfast is over, we count everything in the store to see what we need to order. I’m really good at counting, so they call me “the Calculator.” If you can’t find something, I’m here to help you!
Working at the register is fun because I get to press buttons and smile at customers. When it’s time for a break, I find a comfy spot to rest. An empty box or a bag of chips makes a great pillow!
At lunchtime, the bodega gets busy again because everyone loves our food. My dad learned to cook special dishes from his family in the Dominican Republic. If people can’t come to the store, we deliver the food to them. I love going on deliveries because I get to ride my bike and see the neighborhood.
After school, kids come to the bodega to buy snacks. They like spicy chips, sweet candies, and drinks. Sometimes, I play games with them, like hide-and-seek. My brother Damien comes back from school, and we play fun games like superheroes or tag.
In the evening, my dad cooks dinner, and we invite friends like Jae Young, who manages the store across the street. Her store has different snacks, and we like to share our favorites. At night, I stay at the bodega to make sure everything is okay because the store never closes.
Next time you visit a bodega, look around—you might see a cat like me making sure everything is running smoothly!
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Neighborhood Bodega Hunt: With the help of a grown-up, take a walk around your neighborhood to find a local bodega or small store. Make a list of the different items you see there. Can you find something that was mentioned in the story, like candy or cereal? Draw a picture of your favorite item from the bodega and share it with your class.
Role Play: Bodega Helpers: Set up a pretend bodega in your classroom or at home using empty boxes and pretend money. Take turns being the bodega cat, the cashier, and the customers. Practice counting items and making change. How many different roles can you think of that help run a bodega?
Counting Challenge: Just like Chip, become “the Calculator” by counting items at home. Count how many cans are in your pantry or how many toys are in your toy box. Write down your numbers and compare them with a friend. Who counted more? What did you learn about counting and organizing?
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language and ensuring clarity:
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[Music]
Hello! My name is Chip, and I manage this bodega.
What is a bodega, you ask? Well, it’s a neighborhood store that sells a little bit of everything you might need: sodas, candy, cookies, chips, cereal, soap, toothbrushes, tortillas, pens, aluminum foil, cinnamon, and so much more.
“Bodega” is a Spanish word for grocery store. Here in America, bodegas were traditionally found in Hispanic neighborhoods, but now you can find them all over. We are open all day and night, so you won’t need to go far to get something whenever you want. However, we are not just your average shop; there is much more to it than that.
Being the manager of a bodega is hard work. Early in the morning, we receive deliveries. Thankfully, I have my friends and family to help me out. My father unloads the truck and brings the boxes inside, while my mother organizes the newspapers, which are written in many different languages. My friend Wilson sorts the boxes in the basement, and my brother Damien helps out before school.
After the morning deliveries, we experience the breakfast rush. I know all the regular customers. For example, the gentleman with the beard, the lady with glasses who likes two eggs on a roll, and the woman in the blue shirt who always orders an everything bagel with cream cheese. There’s also the cool guy in the back who prefers his coffee light and sweet, and the little girl with colorful sneakers who always gets a muffin to share with her sister.
I know them well; they are always in a rush, just like me. After the breakfast crowd heads off to work, we check the inventory, which means counting everything we sell to see what we need to order to keep the store fully stocked.
Not to brag, but my nickname is “the Calculator” because I can count very quickly. There are 10 bottles of laundry detergent—or is it nine? I’m also great at customer service. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, I can help you locate it.
I enjoy working the register; it’s as simple as pressing buttons, smiling, and receiving payment. As you can see, there is a lot to be done around here. Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate taking well-deserved breaks sometimes.
Let me show you the best places to rest in a bodega. A case of soda cans is too hard, and while bread is soft, it can be lumpy. An empty box works well, and potato chip bags make for a nice pillow.
Lunchtime also brings in a large crowd because everyone loves the food here. My father learned how to cook our specialties from his family in the Dominican Republic. However, not everyone can come to the bodega to pick up their orders, so we offer delivery. Sometimes, I go out on deliveries. Cats make great navigators—at least I do! I enjoy these bike rides because I get to see more of the neighborhood.
I see people playing soccer at the park, and I can smell delicious food from various restaurants. My brother Damien likes snow cones from the cart on the corner. After school, many kids come into the store. They pool their money to buy various snacks and drinks, including spicy potato chips, sweet and sour chips, and candies of all kinds. They always want me to hang out and play, but I have a store to run—well, maybe just one round of hide-and-seek.
I can’t disappoint my fans! Around three o’clock, Damien returns from school, and I keep a lookout for him. He is always happy to see me, and we think of fun games to play or things to do in the store, like drawing, staring contests, secret handshakes, tag, or just lounging.
Our favorite game is pretending to be superheroes, protecting our bodega and neighbors from aliens, monsters, and pigeons. Our friend Jae Young likes to join in; I think it’s mostly because she enjoys chasing pigeons. Jae Young is the manager of the grocery store across the street.
Our bodegas are similar but also different. Her store has many tasty snacks we don’t offer, and we have some treats her store doesn’t carry. They serve bibimbap, while we have rice and beans. I especially like the red bean ice cream, and the candy and cookies come in cute packaging with funny characters.
Every night, my father cooks dinner for our family, guests, or friends who stop by. Tonight, we invited Jae Young and her family to join us.
It’s getting late, and my parents and Damien are going home to get some rest. They ask me to come along, but I decide to stay because the bodega never closes, and I need to supervise.
The next time you visit a bodega, take a look around—you might find a cat like me ensuring everything is running smoothly.
[Music]
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
