Get a star

From Create Your Own Story

So they clambered inside. Then the big machine roared

And it klonked. And it bonked. An it jerked. And it berked

And it bopped them about. But the thing really worked!

Then they yelled at the ones who had stars at the start,

"We're exactly like you! You can't tell us apart.

We're all just the same, now you snooty old smarties!

And now we can go to your frankfurter parties."

"Good grief!" groaned the ones who had starts at the first.

"We're still the best Sneetches and they are the worst.

But, now how in the world will we know," they all frowned,

"If which kind is what, or the other way round?"

Then up came McBean with a very sly wink

And he said, "Things are not quite as bad as you think.

So you don't know who's who. That is perfectly true.

But come with me, friends. Do you know what I'll do?

I'll make you, again, the best Sneetches on beaches

And all it will cost you is ten dollars eaches."

And they hopped right on in, those silly Sneetches with stars

Around the machine till they had none upon thars.

Then, of course, those with stars all got frightfully mad.

To be wearing a star now was frightfully bad.

Then of course, old Sylvester McMonkey McBean

Invited them into his Star-Off Machine.

All the rest of the day on those wild screaming beaches,

The fix it up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches.

Off again! On again!

In again! Out again!

Through the machines they raced round and about again,

Changing their stars every minute or two.

They kept paying money. They kept running through.

McBean sat back his pockets now full,

Into the chaos there is a strong pull.

Will you pay this man money to change your star?

To follow the crowd, or is this too far?

To pay this man money to keep up with everyone

Or do you retreat to your happy life in the sun?

keep going through on/off machines fight back against McBean retreat to live with plain bellies