Poppa Needs Shorts

"Poppa Needs Shorts" by Walt Richmond is a funny story from the 1960s about a boy named Oley who doesn't quite understand grown-up ideas. The story is light-hearted, showing how kids see the world differently. Oley is four years old and often misunderstands what adults say, especially when talking about electrical shorts. He tries to figure out "shorts" by experimenting with things like juice and an ice pick. The story gets exciting when Oley tries to help his dad, but he accidentally causes a real short circuit. His actions, driven by his innocent curiosity turn a regular day into something memorable, surprising everyone around him.