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Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Dog Days Full Audiobook

Story & poetry・2 minutes read

The narrator reveals a summer filled with family tensions, personal revelations, and humorous mishaps, from avoiding outdoor activities to navigating relationships with friends and family. Despite challenges such as a disappointing birthday and a struggle to impress a crush, the summer ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of family dynamics and personal growth.

Insights

  • The narrator prefers indoor summer activities like video games and TV, leading to tension with their mother, who wants them to engage in outdoor fun, such as pool outings.
  • A negative experience at a country club pool with a girl named Trista taught the narrator that some friendships can be superficial and based on social gain, highlighting the complexities of social interactions.
  • The family's financial situation prevents them from going on a beach vacation, which adds to the narrator's disappointment as they were eager to ride the Cranium Shaker, a popular amusement ride.
  • Conflicts arise between the narrator and their dad over summer schedules, with the narrator's late sleep patterns clashing with their dad's work routine, illustrating generational differences in summer lifestyles.
  • The narrator's mother starts a reading club to encourage classic literature, but the narrator finds the selections unappealing, revealing his struggle to engage with traditional forms of entertainment.
  • After a series of humorous mishaps while trying to start a lawn care business with Rowley, the narrator learns valuable lessons about responsibility and the challenges of entrepreneurship, despite their initial excitement.
  • The summer culminates in a reflective photo album that captures the narrator's ups and downs, emphasizing that, despite challenges and disagreements, there were meaningful moments with family and friends throughout the season.

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Summary

00:00

Summer Reflections and Family Dynamics

  • The narrator expresses a preference for indoor activities during summer, such as playing video games and watching TV, contrasting with their mother's desire for outdoor activities, like going to the pool, which leads to family tension.
  • The narrator recounts a negative experience at a country club pool with a girl named Trista, who quickly became infatuated with a lifeguard, teaching them that some people may take advantage of friendships for social gain.
  • After being banned from Rowley's pool, the narrator reflects on the discomfort of the town pool's locker room, particularly the unpleasant experience of walking through the men's shower area, which they found traumatic.
  • The narrator's family is unable to afford a beach vacation this summer, leading to disappointment, as they were looking forward to riding the Cranium Shaker, a popular amusement ride, for the first time.
  • The narrator and their dad share a mutual dislike for the comic "Lil Cutie," which has been running for 30 years, and they plan to celebrate its final issue in August, counting down the days until it is published.
  • The narrator's summer sleep schedule conflicts with their dad's work routine, leading to phone calls at noon to check if they are awake, highlighting the generational differences in summer activities.
  • The narrator's mom has been taking many photos lately, trying to catch up on family albums, which have gaps since the narrator's birth, leading to reflections on the accuracy of family memories.
  • A visit to Bombshell's beauty salon for a haircut introduces the narrator to soap operas, which they become hooked on, enjoying the gossip and drama while waiting for their turn.
  • The narrator discovers a keychain with a picture of Roderick and an unknown girl, raising questions about Roderick's past, and they also find a horror movie in Roderick's drawer, which excites them.
  • During a sleepover with Rowley, the narrator recalls a frightening incident from the previous summer involving a supposed haunting in their basement, which culminated in a humorous resolution when their dad finds a toy instead of a ghost.

17:31

Fearful Nights and Lawn Care Adventures

  • The narrator describes watching a horror movie about a muddy hand that kills its last viewer, leading to a sense of fear and confusion when the film ends with the hand crawling towards the screen, implying the next victim is the viewer.
  • After watching the movie, the narrator recounts the plot to Rowley, who becomes even more frightened, prompting them to spend the night in the bathroom with the lights on instead of facing their parents, fearing punishment for watching a horror film.
  • The next morning, their father finds them in the bathroom, leading to the narrator's concern about being grounded, but he is more anxious about the muddy hand than the punishment.
  • The narrator's mother expresses her disapproval of boys watching violent movies and decides to start a reading club to introduce them to classic literature, which the narrator dreads.
  • During the first meeting of the reading club, the boys bring books that their mother deems inappropriate, leading her to present classic titles like "Little Women" and "Charlotte's Web," which the narrator finds unappealing.
  • The narrator recalls a past incident where he incurred significant late fees at the library, making him anxious about returning, and he expresses relief when the reading club's membership dwindles to just him and Rowley.
  • Rowley brings two books to the next meeting, while the narrator chooses "Shadow Doom," but his mother disapproves of its cover, leading her to select "Charlotte's Web" instead.
  • The narrator struggles to complete his reading assignment for "Charlotte's Web" and devises a plan to avoid the muddy hand by creating a trail of clothes to navigate the house without touching the ground.
  • The narrator and Rowley face a financial dilemma when they receive an $83 bill for smoothies they ordered, leading them to brainstorm ways to earn money, including starting a lawn care service called VIP Lawn Service.
  • After creating a flyer for their lawn service, they attempt to promote it door-to-door but initially receive no calls, until they finally get a job offer from Mrs. Canfield, which they secure by impersonating the narrator's grandmother for a reference.

36:32

Mowing Mishaps and Business Dreams Unfold

  • Mrs. Canfield agreed to hire the narrator and asked them to be ready for pickup at noon, despite their lack of transportation. She arrived at 12:00 PM in her son's pickup truck.
  • The narrator and their friend Rowley did not own a lawnmower, so they planned to borrow the narrator's grandma's mower, which required sneaking in through an unlocked side door.
  • After successfully retrieving the mower, they realized they had never operated one before, leading to a mishap where they spilled fuel while trying to start it.
  • The narrator attempted to read the mower's owner's manual, which was in Spanish, and noted that it contained warnings about the dangers of operating the mower, including a skull and crossbones symbol.
  • Rowley insisted on a 50/50 partnership for their lawn service, which led to a disagreement and Rowley walking off the job, leaving the narrator to handle the mowing alone.
  • The narrator figured out how to start the self-propelled mower and began mowing, but encountered numerous piles of dog poop, prompting them to mow around it in a 10-foot circle to avoid it.
  • After completing the job, the narrator presented a bill of $30 to Mrs. Canfield, which included $20 for mowing and $10 for designing a flyer, but she refused to pay, claiming the service was inadequate.
  • The narrator's father intervened by cutting the remaining grass at Mrs. Canfield's house without asking for payment, and the narrator planted a sign in her yard for free advertising.
  • Following the disappointing experience, the narrator considered rebranding their service for winter as "VIP Snow Removal" but needed immediate cash and brainstormed ideas to earn money.
  • The narrator expressed a desire for a dog for their birthday, but their mother insisted they wait until their younger brother Manny was fully potty trained, while also wishing for a deluxe leather recliner for comfort.

54:30

Navigating Family Life and Birthday Disappointments

  • The narrator describes a tense moment while on a boat in Rappahannock Creek, where he had to warn his friend, referred to as "doc," to duck to avoid being hit by a branch.
  • The narrator's mother desires more affection between the narrator, his brother, and their father, leading to awkward situations, such as their father being instructed to hug them on a Friday.
  • On a day when the narrator is watching TV, he is surprised by a visit from a friend named Fragley, whom he initially mistakes for another friend, Rowley, and reacts by slamming the door.
  • The narrator's mother explains that she invited Fragley over to help the narrator cope with loneliness after a fight with Rowley, which the narrator regrets sharing with her.
  • The narrator's birthday party occurs with relatives arriving around 1 PM, and he expresses a desire for maximum gifts, leading to a good turnout but disappointing gifts, including a ladybug cellular phone.
  • The narrator's mother confiscates his birthday money to pay off a debt, and he is left with mostly clothes and a ruined birthday cake due to Uncle Joe's dog, Killer, eating it.
  • The narrator goes to the mall with his family after his birthday, where they each receive $5 to spend; he buys an angelfish, while his brother Roderick chooses an aggressive fish, and Manny buys fish food.
  • The narrator enjoys caring for his new pet fish, feeding it three times a day and keeping a journal, but he wishes for a larger aquarium, which his father says he can ask for at Christmas.
  • The narrator reflects on his aspirations for fame and considers a future career as a nanny, inspired by a TV show, while also planning to create a personal museum of his life experiences.
  • The family takes a trip to the Slip Slide Water Park, where the narrator recalls past negative experiences, and they encounter large crowds due to a half-price promotion, leading to a long and exhausting day.

01:13:35

Family Trip Chaos and New Dog Drama

  • The family trip to the slip slide water park ended abruptly due to lightning, leading to an announcement that the park was closed, prompting everyone to leave simultaneously, resulting in a traffic jam.
  • Manny attempted to entertain the family with jokes during the traffic jam, but his humor quickly became nonsensical, leading to frustration among the family members.
  • After an hour of waiting in traffic, the family finally got onto the highway, where they stopped for petrol, only to discover that Mom was missing; she had gone to the bathroom at the petrol station without anyone noticing.
  • Upon returning home, the narrator discovered that his fish had died, which he attributed to neglect from his brother Roderick, who had not fed his fish while they were away.
  • The family attended a Father's Day brunch at Grandpa's house, where Dad shared a story about his childhood dog, Nutty, which Grandpa later revealed was a lie to spare Dad's feelings about the dog's death.
  • After the brunch, Dad unexpectedly returned home with a dog in a cardboard box, which caused tension with Mom, who was unhappy about the surprise addition to the family.
  • The family debated names for the new dog, with suggestions ranging from violent names like "Shredder" to silly ones like "Turtle Turd," but ultimately settled on "Sweetie," despite the narrator's objections.
  • The narrator expressed growing frustration with Sweetie, the dog, who disrupted his sleep and constantly barked at the TV, particularly during a commercial featuring gophers.
  • The narrator's summer was further complicated by Sweetie's antics, including a morning incident where Sweetie ran away, forcing the narrator to chase him while only wearing his underwear.
  • The Fourth of July was marked by a trip to the town pool, where the narrator faced awkward encounters in the locker room and struggled with his fear of watermelon, ultimately leading to a disappointing fireworks display that never occurred.

01:32:57

Summer Disappointments and Awkward Adventures

  • The fireworks show was canceled due to rain-soaked fireworks, leading to disappointed children and adults attempting to create their own display, which was overshadowed by a nearby Country Club fireworks show that started around the same time.
  • A back-to-school ad in the comics caught the narrator's attention, promoting a sale at Morty's with all items, including slacks, v-neck sweaters, and pleated skirts, at 50% off, prompting frustration over the early advertisement.
  • The narrator expressed a desire to avoid clothes shopping with his mom, who tends to take a long time, and instead asked his dad to shop for him, which resulted in a disappointing selection of pharmacy shirts and t-shirts.
  • The narrator's day worsened when his dog, Sweetie, crawled under the covers with him, causing a humorous yet uncomfortable situation of being trapped with a wet dog while wearing only underwear.
  • A photo of a lifeguard from the pool sparked the narrator's interest in Heather Hills, the sister of a crush, leading him to rethink his summer plans and aim for a more positive attitude to potentially attract a high school girlfriend.
  • The narrator's mom encouraged him to go to the pool with her and his brother Manny, and he prepared by applying suntan oil and doing push-ups to impress Heather, but ended up embarrassed when his mom called for him in the bathroom.
  • At the pool, the narrator attempted to impress Heather by being helpful and witty, but felt awkward with his mom nearby, fantasizing about being her go-to guy for tasks like applying suntan lotion.
  • After a week of hanging out with Heather, the narrator wanted a picture to prove their time together, but his mom struggled with her phone, resulting in a photo of a stranger instead of a memorable moment with Heather.
  • The narrator's reliance on his mom for rides to the pool became problematic, leading him to take a free bike he found, which he preferred for its comfort and utility, but it quickly broke down, forcing him to ask for a ride again.
  • During a trip to the supermarket, the narrator learned about the Jeffersons' beach trip, which he initially resisted but later saw as an opportunity for fun, despite the uncomfortable accommodations and activities at their cabin, including a lack of modern entertainment and unusual games.

01:51:55

Cabin Adventures and Boardwalk Pranks

  • Rowley hesitated to sleep on the Crusty shag carpet, leading the narrator to join him in bed, trying to keep distance while Rowley snored and later screamed about a nightmare involving a chicken, prompting his parents to comfort him for 20 minutes without checking on the narrator after he fell off the bed.
  • After three days stuck in a cabin without entertainment, the narrator felt desperate and attempted to sneak a look at Mr. Jefferson's laptop, but was denied access; he eventually sent an SOS email to his mom from Mr. Jefferson's work account, which led to an awkward breakfast encounter.
  • Mrs. Jefferson suggested a trip to the boardwalk later that day, which the narrator eagerly anticipated, hoping to ride the Cranium Shaker, a ride he had been looking forward to experiencing.
  • At the boardwalk, the narrator and Rowley initially faced a long line for the Cranium Shaker, so they opted to get food; however, Mrs. Jefferson only ordered one ice cream cone for all four of them to share.
  • The narrator spent $20 on a carnival game trying to win a giant stuffed caterpillar, only to see Rowley’s dad buy the same caterpillar for Rowley for just $10, making Rowley feel like a winner despite the narrator's frustration.
  • The narrator recalled a past experience at a swim meet where everyone received first place ribbons, realizing it was a scheme to make kids feel good, which he believed could lead to issues later in life.
  • After finally getting on the Cranium Shaker, the narrator experienced extreme nausea from the ride's intense flips and drops, regretting not observing it more closely before boarding.
  • Following the ride, the narrator felt unwell and sat down to recover while Rowley enjoyed gentler rides, and Mr. Jefferson later offered only $1 for arcade games, despite the narrator wanting to spend $20.
  • The narrator and Rowley devised a prank involving a dollar bill to lure unsuspecting kids, which led to a chase when teenagers they pranked pursued them, but they eventually escaped and targeted younger children under the boardwalk.
  • After a confrontation with a child who refused to return their dollar, Mr. Jefferson arrived furious, having been searching for them, and subsequently sent them to their room early, leading to a series of pranks between the narrator and Rowley that resulted in the narrator being sent home early after an incident involving a rubber band.

02:10:28

Father Son Bonds Through Comics and Games

  • Tyler Post, the son of original cartoonist Bob Post, will continue the beloved comic "Lil Cutie," taking over the one-panel comic at the age of 32, as he had no job or big plans at the time.
  • The narrative reveals a tense relationship between the narrator and his father, who had not spoken for three days, leading to the narrator's suspicion that his father was planning something secretive for Sunday, August 22nd, which he later discovers was a surprise baseball game.
  • The father-son outing to the baseball game was intended as a bonding experience, but the narrator mistakenly called the police, thinking he was being kidnapped, after discovering the destination was the baseball stadium parking lot.
  • The narrator learns that his father had been discussing giving their dog, Sweetie, to Grandma, which leads to further tension between them, as they have not spoken since the dog was dropped off.
  • The narrator plans to attend a video game competition at the Game Hut on Saturday, where the winner can advance to a national playoff for a chance to win $1,000,000, and decides to camp out overnight to secure a good spot in line.
  • The narrator and his friend Rowley camp out in front of the Game Hut, bringing camping gear, a flashlight, and energy bars, while the narrator stays awake all night to guard their place in line.
  • During the competition, the narrator injures his thumb while trying to prank Rowley, which affects his ability to play the video game "Twisted Wizard," resulting in Rowley winning the match 15-0 and choosing a box of chocolate-covered raisins over advancing in the tournament.
  • The narrator reflects on his relationship with his father, realizing that despite their differences, they share a mutual dislike for the new "Lil Cutie" comic, which helps to mend their relationship.
  • The summer is recapped through a photo album, highlighting various events and moments, including time spent with friends and family, ultimately portraying a summer filled with ups and downs, despite the narrator's initial grievances.
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