Author: Camilla Given

Season 1, episode 35

Arthur the monster lives alone in the mountains. He is tired of being alone in his cave and decides to go to the city to make some animal friends. Some animals look down on him because of his size, looks, and smell, but one animal steals his heart.

This story is in the third person and the past tense with some present tense dialogue. Important vocabulary in the story includes: stank (smelt bad), hurt, monkey, and pig.

The Monster

Once upon a time, in the high mountains, there was a monster. The monster was small and ugly, but fierce. It had a lot of green hair, big eyes, and sharp teeth.

The monster lived in a cave. The cave was primitive. There wasn’t a bed or a bathroom. The monster didn’t need a bed because he preferred the hard rocks. The monster didn’t need a bathroom because he lived in the mountains, far from civilization.

The monster never bathed and so he stank. He never washed his hair and he never brushed his teeth. His hair stank. His breath stank. The monster stank like the socks and shoes of a football player. The monster didn’t care that he stank because he was a monster.

The monster’s name was Arthur. Arthur felt very alone in his cave in the mountains. There were other monsters, but monsters are very bad friends. Monsters are bad friends because they are fierce and monstrous.

One day Arthur decided that he didn’t want to be alone in the mountains. He wanted friends. He didn’t want to be friends with the other bad monsters and so he decided to go to the city. In the city there was more diversity. There were a lot of people and animals of all kinds, not just fierce monsters.

Arthur went to the city and saw the big buildings. He saw people and animals. Arthur found an animal club. He entered the club and saw a lot of animals. He saw giraffes, monkeys, dogs, cats, and more. The animals danced like crazy in the club. They seemed very happy.

Arthur wanted to be happy like the animals in the club. Arthur saw a giraffe. The giraffe danced gracefully. Arthur wanted to dance with the giraffe.

“Hello, beautiful giraffe. Do you want to dance?” Arthur asked.

“Who is talking? Oh, there you are. I don’t want to dance with you. You are very short. I only dance with tall animals like me. Goodbye, little monster,” the giraffe said.

Arthur felt a little hurt, but there were other animals in the club. Arthur saw a monkey. The monkey wasn’t tall like the giraffe. Also, the monkey was pretty. Arthur wanted to dance with the monkey.

“Hello, pretty monkey. Do you want to dance?” Arthur asked.

“Ah, a monster! I don’t want to dance with you. You are ugly. I only dance with pretty animals like me. Goodbye, scary monster,” the monkey said.

Arthur felt a little hurt, but there were other animals in the club. Arthur saw a dog. The dog wasn’t tall like the giraffe or very pretty like the monkey. Plus, the dog had a lot of friends. Arthur wanted to dance with the dog.

“Hello, dog friend. Do you want to dance?” Arthur asked.

“Yuck! What smells? Pew! I am not going to dance with you. You smell terrible. I only dance with animals that smell good. Goodbye, stinky monster,” the dog said.

Arthur felt a little hurt, but there were other animals in the club. Arthur saw a cat. The cat had a lot of pretty hair. Arthur wanted to dance with the cat.

“Hello, precious cat. Do you want to dance?” Arthur asked.

The cat didn’t respond; she simply ignored Arthur. Evidently, she didn’t want to dance with him.

After the four rejections, Arthur was sad. He sat at the bar and looked at all the happy animals. Everyone was dancing in groups. Everyone, except one. There was an animal sitting alone at a table full of food, and Arthur loved food. The animal was small and pink. It was dirty, with mud stains on its body. It was a pig.

The giraffe didn’t dance with the pig because it was short. The monkey didn’t dance with the pig because it was ugly. The dog didn’t dance with the pig because it was stinky. The cat didn’t dance with the pig because the cat ignored it. Arthur wanted to dance with the pig.

“Hello, magnificent pig. Do you want to dance?” Arthur asked.

“Are you talking to me?” The pig responded.

“Yes. I am talking to the most impressive animal in the whole club,” Arthur said.

“Yes, I do want to dance with you!” The pig shouted

The pig did not think that Arthur was short. She didn’t think that Arthur was ugly. She didn’t think that Arthur was stinky. She didn’t ignore Arthur. The pig thought that Arthur was perfect, a green-haired prince charming.

Arthur and the pig danced and talked all night. Arthur was very happy. At last he was not alone.

Arthur wanted to see the pig again. He couldn’t wait. So, the next day, Arthur invited the pig to eat. Arthur was a good chef and wanted to prepare an excellent meal.

The pig was nervous because she didn’t know Arthur very well and she had heard stories about fierce monsters, but Arthur seemed different from other monsters and lots of times appearances can be deceiving. So, the pig accepted the invitation from her new friend.

Arthur was very excited. He was going to eat like a king! He cleaned his cave and went to the supermarket to buy ingredients for the meal.

The pig arrived at Arthur’s house and preparations began. Arthur prepared an incredible meal of sausage, bacon, ham, and ribs.

Then, Arthur ate like a king. He ate the sausage, bacon, ham, and ribs with a lot of barbecue sauce. Arthur ate the whole pig. After eating so much pork, he let out a lot of stinky farts.

That’s why monsters are bad friends. They are monstrous, they eat everything, and they stink. Sometimes appearances do not deceive.

The End.

You can also watch a video of this story on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story.

Season 1, episode 37

Jack is a little cat. He thought today would be like any other day exploring with his family, but instead he woke up to discover that is home became a construction site! Will he be able to make his way through the heavy equipment and find his family?

This simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words beam, dirt, edge, crane, dump truck, and looks for.

The Brave Little Kitten

Jack is a cat. He is a little cat. He is a kitten. Jack has 6 brothers and 5 sisters. All his brothers and sisters are big. Jack is the smallest in the family.

Jack’s siblings explore a lot, but Jack is more shy. Jack prefers being close to his mother and father. He likes the protection of his father and the love of his mother. Jack’s siblings are brave and explore everything, but Jack is afraid of the world. The world is big and Jack is only a little kitten.

At night, Jack and his siblings sleep. They sleep in a box. There is not a lot of space and it is not an elegant house, but Jack is with his family and nothing else matters. Jack moves close to his siblings and parents and sleeps contentedly.

One day, Jack gets up with a strange sensation. He is cold. He is not close to his siblings. Jack opens his eyes and sees that everything is different. Jack is not in the box with his family, he is in the air! He is not just in the air, he is moving in the air. Jack is in the bucket of a front loader. The front loader is big – much bigger than Jack. It is yellow and very loud.

Jack is scared, but he is also curious. Where is he? Where is he going? Where is his family? Jack moves carefully to the edge of the bucket. He looks down and is very scared. He is very high up in the air! From the air, Jack can see a lot more. He sees a lot of heavy equipment. The heavy equipment are construction trucks. There are a lot of huge vehicles. Jack sees an excavator that puts dirt in a dump truck. He sees a forklift that transports beams. He sees a crane that lifts a metal beam. He sees a tractor that pushes dirt and several other trucks..

There are also a lot of men and women. The men and women wear yellow hats. The hats are special. They are helmets. The helmet protects the head. Construction is very dangerous and helmets are necessary.

There is a lot of activity and sounds. Jack is scared, but he is also curious. Jack sees that there is a man driving the front loader. The man has a yellow helmet. The man looks at Jack and is surprised. There is a kitten in his front loader!

The man stops the front loader and lowers the bucket. Jack sees his opportunity. Jack jumps from the front loader bucket and runs. He runs far from the noisy front loader bucket. Jack wants to find his family, but first he wants to escape from the front loader.

“Come here kitten!” The man in the front loader yells. But Jack ignores him. He wants to find his family.

Jack sees a mountain of dirt. He decides to climb the dirt to look for his family. Jack climbs the mountain of dirt. He looks for his family, but he doesn’t see them. Suddenly, an excavator lifts the dirt. Once again, Jack is in the air. The excavator moves the dirt to a dump truck. When the excavator is close to the dump truck, drops the dirt. Jack falls with the dirt into the dump truck. The woman driving the excavator sees Jack when he falls. She is surprised. There is a kitten at the construction site!

“Come here kitten!” The woman on the excavator yells. But it is too late. The dump truck moves. The woman calls the man in the dump truck on the radio. There is a kitten in the dump truck! The dump truck stops.

Jack is scared. Where is the dump truck going? Jack doesn’t want to leave the construction site – his family is in the construction site! Jack runs to the edge of the dump truck. The dump truck stops close to a beam. Jack is typically shy, but now he is brave. Jack jumps from the dump truck to the beam.

“Come here kitty!” The man driving the dump truck yells, but Jack ignores him. Jack is looking for his family.

Jack runs on the beam, but the beam is not on the ground. The beam is in the air. The beam is on a forklift. The forklift is not very big, but it is very useful. It moves heavy objects in small spaces. The forklift moves some beams near the construction site. Jack uses the time to watch and look for his family. He looks for his brothers and sisters. He looks for his mother and father. Where are they?

The forklift stops and lowers its cargo. The woman driving the forklift looks at Jack and is surprised.

“Come here kitty!” The woman yells, but Jack ignores her. He is looking for his family.

Jack sees a tube. He enters the tube and thinks. What is he going to do? Where is his family? Suddenly, the tube moves. The tube moves upwards. Jack goes higher and higher in the sky. The tupe is connected to a crane. The crane lifts the tube and Jack. Jack is scared, but he is also curious. He walks to the edge of the tube. He is higher in the sky now than the forklift. He is higher than the dump truck. He is higher than the front loader. He is higher than the excavator. Jack decides to use this opportunity to look for his family.

The crane lifts the tube higher and higher. Finally it stops. The crane passes the tube to some workers in yellow helmets. The workers grab the tube and are surprised. There is a kitten in the tube!

“Come here kitty!” One of the workers grabs at John. John Is scared, but the man is good. The man walks with Jack to the dirt. The man passes the front loader, excavator, dump truck and forklift. The man walks to an office. He opens the door and Jack sees a box. It is a very familiar box. The man puts Jack in the box with his family.

Jack tells the whole story about his adventure with his brothers and sisters. They are all very impressed with the brave little kitten.

The End.

You can also watch a video of this story on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story.

Season 1, episode 34

Isabel wishes she were home for Christmas instead of all alone in a big city. She knows that other people in her apartment building are also alone, so when the electricity goes out, she decides to spread light and joy through candles and song.

This story is in the third person and the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: feels, neighbors, candles, box, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Nativity, and carols.

Merry Christmas

Isabel is a kind young woman. She lives very far from her family. She likes spending time with them and typically she goes home to celebrate Christmas. However, this year she doesn’t have the time or money to travel home for Christmas.

On December 24, Isabel walks through the city where she lives. She thinks of the things she would be doing at home with her parents, siblings, and extended family. They would spend a lot of time outside playing in the snow, building snowmen, throwing snowballs, sledding, and ice-skating.

They would also do a lot of things in the house. They would cook a big dinner for Christmas Eve. They would make Christmas cookies and sing carols while they took the cookies to their neighbors. They would listen to their grandparents’ stories about past Christmases. They would go to church for a special Christmas Eve service. They would open gifts and they would be very happy.

Isabel passes a church. There is a big Nativity with figures of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. A big banner says: “Merry Christmas”. Isabel pauses to observe the scene. She hears the sound of a choir practicing carols for Christmas Eve. The music and the scene make her feel a little better, and she continues on to her apartment.

When she arrives at her apartment there is a box in front of her door. It is from her mom. Isabel opens the package and finds a letter inside.

Dear Isabel, I am sorry you are not with us for Christmas this year. I hope that with the things in this box help you feel closer to us. Merry Christmas! Love, Mom

Isabel feels sad and alone. She misses her family a lot and she doesn’t feel like it is a merry Christmas. She looks at the things in the box. There is a bag of gingerbread cookies, her favorite. There are homemade marshmallows and a variety of chocolates. There are small gifts and a lot of candles.

Isabel takes the gifts and opens one. It is a donkey, like the one that took Mary to Bethlehem. Isabel puts the donkey on her table and opens another gift. This one contains a young shepherd. Isabel thinks about the shepherds that listened to the angels’ song and then looked for the Christ child.

The next gift has a figurine of Mary. Isabel thinks about Mary’s absolute faith and in the responsibility of being the mother of Jesus Christ. Isabel feels a great admiration for Mary. The next gift is Joseph. Isabel thinks about the trust that Joseph put in God.

Isabel keeps opening the gifts. There is an angel, a cow, the three wise men, another shepherd and a lamb. She puts the figures on the table to form the Nativity scene, but the most important figure is missing: where is the Christ child?

Isabel looks in the box again, but she only finds the candles. It is a tradition in Isabel’s house to eat Christmas Eve dinner only with the light of candles, without any electric light. It is a tradition that she likes a lot, but there are too many candles in the box for a dinner for only one person. Under the candles there is a note from her mom that says: “Light the world”.

Suddenly, the electricity goes out. Isabel looks out the window and sees that the whole city is dark. Isabel feels very sad and alone. It is not a perfect Christmas Eve like when she is at home.

Isabel is sad and alone, but she knows that there are other people that also feel sad and alone during Christmas. She looks at the box of candles and she has an idea.

She lights a candle and walks with the box to the hallway. She knocks on her neighbor’s door. When her neighbor, an older man, opens the door, Isabel sings.

The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel! Born is the King of Israel!

Isabel lights a candle and passes the candle to the man. He goes with Isabel to the next apartment. They knock on the door. A woman and her daughter open the door and Isabel and her neighbor sing.

Oh, come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, Born the King of angels; Oh, come, let us adore him; Oh, come, let us adore him; Oh, come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

The woman and her daughter take candles from the box. They light their candles and walk with Isabel and her neighbor to the next apartment. A family of six opens the door. Isabel and her group of neighbors sing.

Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and Child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace.

The group goes up a floor and knocks on the door of another apartment. An older woman with a cane opens the door. Isabel and her group of neighbors sing.

Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.

The woman with the cane can’t walk with the group, but Isabel gives her a candle to light her apartment. The group of neighbors goes to the next door and sings.

Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King!

The group continues through the hallways of the apartment building singing carols and passing candles to the neighbors. Some neighbors decide to join the group while others, like the woman with the cane, stay home. Some neighbors have their own candles, while others take candles from Isabel’s box.

After singing at the last apartment, Isabel has a pretty big group. They don’t want to simply return to their lonely apartments, so they decide to get together in a big room on the main floor of the building. They go to their apartments to get food to share in their improvised Christmas party.

Isabel sits in the room lit by candles from her box and eats with her neighbors. Now she doesn’t feel alone or sad, but she feels like something is missing. She thinks about the woman with the cane. She is not in the room because she can’t go down the stairs and the elevator isn’t working due to the lack of electricity. Isabel fills a plate of food and walks to the woman’s apartment.

When she knocks on the door, the woman invites her to enter. Isabel sits and talks with her. She learns that the woman’s kids couldn’t come home this year due to work and that it is her first Christmas without family. She was feeling very sad and lonely until she heard the music of her neighbors. Now her Christmas is much happier.

Later, Isabel returns to her apartment with her empty box. When she enters, she throws the bow to the side, but she hears something. The box is not completely empty. Inside the box there is one more small present. Isabel opens the packet and finds the figure of the baby Jesus. She puts the figurine with the rest of the Nativity and she sings her favorite carol.

What Child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping— Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard, and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Merry Christmas!

You can also watch a video of this story on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story.

Season 1, episode 33

Tom Turkey is a lazy turkey. He lives in the woods and just wants to eat all day. The other woodland animals are worried about Tom. They know hunting season is coming and Tom needs to learn how to avoid humans. Each animal gives Tom advice on how to stay safe. But, will Tom listen?

This story is in the third person and the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: turkey, advice, avoid, ignore, and legs.

The Lazy Turkey

There is a turkey. The turkey lives in the woods. It is a wild turkey. The turkey’s name is Tom. Tom Turkey is a big, lazy turkey. He is a big turkey because he eats a lot and he is lazy because he never exercises.

The other woodland animals are worried about Tom Turkey. They know that many people come to the woods to hunt animals. They don’t want to be food for humans and they don’t want their friends to be food for humans either. It is important that the animals know to avoid humans.

The animals fear that Tom will be trapped by a human. They don’t think that Tom can take care of himself alone. They decide to talk to Tom Turkey to give him advice on how to avoid humans and their guns. Each animal shares a strategy they use to avoid humans.

The animals look for Tom Turkey. Tom is eating bugs under a tree. Rick Rabbit talks first. Rick is small. In the summer he is gray and in the winter his hair changes to white. His hair changes to give him camouflage. 

Rick Rabbit recommends that Tom Turkey change the color of his feathers. If Tom changes the color of his feathers, he can have better camouflage in the woods. But Tom is not a rabbit, he is a turkey. He can’t change the color of his feathers. So Tom ignores the advice of Rick Rabbit and he doesn’t change the color of his feathers.

Sally Squirrel is very small. She doesn’t change color, but she has another recommendation to avoid humans. Sally Squirrel collects food all summer. In the winter, she doesn’t have to leave her house because she has enough food.

Sally advises Tom Turkey to collect food and store it in his house to avoid humans. But Tom is not a squirrel, he is a turkey. He can’t store food because he doesn’t have a house. He sleeps in different trees each night. So Tom ignores the advice of Sally Squirrel and he doesn’t collect food to store for the winter.

Fanny Fox notices that Tom sleeps in the trees. She doesn’t think that it is very safe. Fanny lives in a den. Fanny dug the den. Fanny advises Tom to build a den to serve as his house. When humans come, Tom can hide in his den.

But Tom is not a fox, he is a turkey. He doesn’t want to dig a den. He prefers sleeping in the trees, not under the ground. So Tom ignores the advice of Fanny Fox and he doesn’t dig a den.

Rebecca Raccoon has a different suggestion. She is very social. When she steals food from human houses, she goes with her friends. She thinks there is safety in numbers. Rebecca Raccoon has a lot of friends in the woods and she notices that Tom Turkey is alone a lot of the time. Rebecca Raccoon insistes that Tom Turkey spend time with other turkeys because there is safety in numbers.

But Tom is not a raccoon, he is a turkey. He prefers being alone, not in the company of other animals. So, Tom ignores the advice of Rebecca Raccoon and he doesn’t spend time with other turkeys.

Dennis Deer has another idea for Tom. Dennis is big and athletic. He has four long, strong legs. He jumps through the forest and runs quickly when he sees danger. Dennis Deer encourages Tom Turkey to run and jump through the forest.

But Tom is not a deer, he is a turkey. He doesn’t have four long legs, he has two short legs. He doesn’t want to run and jump. So Tom ignores the advice of Dennis Deer and he doesn’t run or jump through the woods.

Micheal Moose is similar to Dennis Deer, but he is taller and prefers the water. When Micheal is in danger, he swims to the center of a lake. When he is in the lake, Micheal sees ducks and other birds that swim. So, Micheal suggests that Tom Turkey swim in the lakes like him and the ducks.

But Tom is not a moose nor a duck, he is a turkey. Tom has different legs, he can’t swim in the lake. So, Tom ignores the advice of Micheal Moose and he doesn’t swim in the lake.

Betty Bird thinks she has a good solution for Tom. When she sees humans, Betty flies to the trees. She flies very high and very fast. Betty Bird suggests that Tom Turkey fly high and fast to avoid humans.

Tom is a bird and he has wings like Betty, but Tom is not a small bird, he is a very fat turkey and his wings are not very strong. Tom can fly to sleep in trees at night, but he can’t fly high or far. So Tom ignores the advice of Betty Bird. He doesn’t fly high or fast.

Beatrice Beaver thinks that Tom’s problem is his activity. Tom is very fat and he is not very active. Beatrice Beaver is very active. She moves trees to build houses and block rivers. Beatrice advises Tom to be more active. She recommends that he do exercises like lifting trees. If he is active and exercises his muscles, he can fly and run to avoid humans.

But Tom is not a beaver, he is a turkey. He can’t move trees or swim. He doesn’t want to exercise, he wants to be lazy. So Tom ignores the advice of Beatrice Beaver and he doesn’t exercise. He doesn’t do anything.

Holly Hedgehog sees that Tom refuses to exercise. She has another idea. When Holly sees a human, she curves her body in a ball. Holly is covered in spikes. When she forms a ball, the spikes protect her. Holly recommends that Tom protect himself.

But Tom is not a hedgehog, he is a turkey. Tom is not covered in spikes, he is covered in feathers. Tom can’t protect himself with feathers. So Tom ignores the advice of Holly Hedgehog. He doesn’t protect himself.

Brutus Bear thinks that all the suggestions of the other animals are unnecessary. Brutus avoids humans by sleeping in a cave all winter. Brutus proposes that Tom also sleep in a cave all winter.

But Tom is not a bear, he is a turkey. He can’t sleep all winter. So Tom ignores the advice of Brutus Bear. He doesn’t sleep in a cave.

The animals don’t have any more advice for Tom. They regret that Tom doesn’t follow their suggestions. But they can’t force change. It is necessary that Tom decide to change.

One day, Tom is in the woods. He sees a pile of corn. Tom loves corn. He wants to eat the corn. But something seems strange. Where did the corn come from? Typically there is no corn in the woods. Could it be a trap?

Tom looks at the woods. He doesn’t see any humans. It is very probable that the corn is a trap. Tom’s instincts demand that he avoid the area and that he doesn’t eat the corn. Tom’s instincts say that it is a trap.

But Tom is not a smart animal, he is a turkey. He can’t think about anything but eating the corn. So he ignores his instincts and eats the corn.

It’s regrettable that Tom ignores everyone, especially his own instincts. If Tom listened to the advice of his friends, it is possible that he would still be in the woods with them, instead of on the table of an American family on Thanksgiving Day.

The end.

You can also watch a video of this story on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story.

Season 1, episode 32

Latriz has a very important job. She is a receptionist in a clinic. The people who come to the clinic talk to her before they talk to the nurse or doctor. The people who call the clinic talk to her for guidance. Latriz needs to help them stay calm and get the help they need. Latriz’s job is very important.

This story includes a lot of dialogue and is told in the present tense. Important vocabulary in the story includes: appointment, card, fever, help, and I ask.

The Receptionist

Hello, my name is Latriz and I am a receptionist in a clinic. I like my job. I have the opportunity to help people in my community. I have conversations with many different people. Typically when people come to the clinic or call the clinic they are very stressed. It is my job to help.

On a typical day, I interact with people who come into the clinic. I also interact with people on the phone.

A man enters the clinic with his son.

“Hello, welcome to the clinic. Do you have an appointment?” I say.

“Yes,” the man responds. “My son has an appointment with doctor Krauss.” 

“What is the patient’s name?” I say.

“Jaime Lopez Flores.”

“Here it is. I only need a little information. Please fill out this paper,” I say and I give him a paper. “Can you show me your insurance or Medicaid card?”

The man takes the paper and gives me his insurance card. I check the information on the card with the information in the computer. I make a copy of the card. I return the card and the man gives me the paper.

“Thank you, sir. Now please wait in the waiting room.”

The man and his son go to the waiting room and I continue with my work. A woman calls on the phone.

“Hello, Grand River Clinic,” I say answering the phone.

“My daughter has been throwing up all night,” the woman on the phone says.

“Has she been able to drink anything?” I ask.

“No. Every time she drinks water, she vomits,” the woman says.

“Does your daughter have a fever?” I ask.

“Yes. She has a fever of 102 degrees,” the woman responds.

“Have you given her any medicine for the fever?” I ask.

“No, we don’t have anything at home,” the woman responds.

“Would you like to make an appointment with the doctor? We have an availability at three this afternoon,” I explain.

“Yes, please.” The woman gives me her information and her daughter’s information and I make an appointment for them at three in the afternoon.

“Okay, ma’am. I have an appointment made for three. Try to give your daughter water in small portions. See you at three.”

Immediately the phone rings. There is a panicking man on the phone.

“I need help. It’s my wife.”

“Calm down, sir. What is wrong with your wife?” I ask.

“She’s having contractions. She’s going to have a baby!” The man exclaims.

“How many minutes are there between her contractions?” I ask.

“Twelve minutes,” the man responds.

“Good, you have time. When there are only five minutes between contractions, you should come to the hospital.”

“Five minutes,” the man responds.

“Yes, five minutes. For now, you can prepare your things for the hospital. You will need a change of clothing for your wife and the baby.”

“Yes, my wife already has everything prepared.”

“Perfect. Then try to calm down. You can take a little walk because movement helps the process. If there are only five minutes between contractions or her contractions last more than a minute at a time, you should leave for the hospital,” I explain.

“Okay, ma’am. Thanks for your help,” the man comments. He is calmer now.

“You’re welcome. Everything will be okay,” I finish.

When I finish on the phone a woman enters with her older son. Her son is crying.

“Help!” The mother yells.

“Ma’am, how can I help you?” I say.

“My son was riding his bike when he fell. He cut his forehead and hurt his arm,” the mother explained. I see the cut on his head. It is bleeding a lot.

“This cut looks deep. When he fell, did he lose consciousness?” I ask.

“No, he never lost consciousness. But there was a lot of blood.”

“Head wounds bleed a lot, but he most likely needs stitches,” I explain.

“And his arm? Is it broken?” The woman asks.

“We’d have to take an x-ray to determine if it is broken,” I explain.

“Can you do that now?”

“No, not here, ma’am. We are a clinic. You need to go to the emergency room, but don’t worry because it is next to the clinic.”

“I have to admit my son to the hospital?” The woman asks with a little bit of panic.

“It is very probably that your son won’t need to spend the night in the hospital, but he needs to go to the emergency room for the stitches and x-ray. I am going to call the receptionist there and explain your situation,” I say.

The woman is calmer now. I give her directions to the emergency room and then I call the receptionist in the emergency room. I explain that a woman is coming with her child who possibly has a broken arm and a cut on his head.

I spend the rest of my day helping patients in person and over the phone. I like my work. I like helping people in my community. I need to know a lot of medical information to help people that call the clinic. The work of the doctors and nurses is important, but patients talk to me, the receptionist, first.

The End.

You can also watch a video of this story on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story.

Season 1, episode 31

Silvia loves sweets a bit too much. Her love of sugar catches up with her in the form of a toothache. Now she must visit the dentist. First, the hygienist takes x-rays and cleans up her teeth. Then the dentist comes in for a visit. One thing is for sure, Sylvia needs to take better care of her teeth!

This simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words “candy”, “teeth”, “gums”, “plaque”, “tartar” and “cavity”.

A Visit to the Dentist

There is a woman named Silvia. Silvia has a problem. Silvia likes to eat a lot of candy. She loves all sweet things. She likes milk chocolate and dark chocolate and white chocolate candy bars. She likes marshmallows. She likes gummy candy. She likes sweet desserts. She likes pastries and donuts. She likes cinnamon rolls and cake with cream and fruit.

Silvia has problems with control. When she wants something sweet, she goes to the candy store and buys a bag of candy. Then she eats the whole bag in less than an hour! Silvia needs to control herself because her addiction to sweets is causing health problems.

One day, Silvia eats a chocolate when her tooth hurts. The pain is intense. Silvia drinks a little water and tries to eat her chocolate again. When she bites the chocolate, her tooth hurts terribly. Silvia has a toothache and she needs to call the dentist.

Silvia doesn’t go to the dentist much. She knows that she needs to go every six months, but sometimes she doesn’t go to the dentist for a whole year. Silvia dials the dentist’s number and talks with the receptionist, Mark.

“Anderson Dental Office. This is Mark,” Mark says when he answers the phone.

“Hi, Mark, this is Silvia. I need to make an appointment with the dentist. I have a toothache,” Silvia says.

“You are lucky, Silvia. There was a cancellation and there is an appointment available for today at three,” Mark comments.

“Thanks, Mark. I will see you at three,” Silvia responds. Silvia is a little nervous. She believes that she has a cavity because her tooth hurts a lot.

Silvia goes to the dentist office. When she enters, she sees Mark.

“Hi Mark, I’m Silvia. I have an appointment for three o’clock.”

“Hi Silvia. Could you fill out this information sheet?” Mark says and he passes a paper and pen to Silvia.

Silvia takes the pen and paper and sits in the waiting room. The paper has basic information like her name, address, emergency names and numbers and her dental insurance information. Silvia fills in all the information and returns the paper to Mark. A little later, a woman enters the waiting room. 

“Silvia?” The woman asks.

“That’s me,” Silvia responds and stands.

“I’m Emma. I am your dental hygienist. Come with me, please,” the woman says. Silvia goes with Emma to a small room. In the room there is a special chair, a computer, and multiple dental instruments.

Silvia sits in the chair. Emma puts a heavy apron on Silvia. She moves a special machine close to Silvia’s cheek. 

“I’m going to take an x-ray,” Emma explains. “We need to see your teeth well to determine if you have a cavity.”

Emma takes x-rays of Silvia’s teeth. Then, she puts a paper dental bib on Silvia and she explains that she is going to clean her teeth well.

“Open your mouth, please,” Emma says. Silvia opens her mouth and Emma uses a small mirror to examine Silvia’s teeth and gums.

“Your gums look good. They are not inflamed. There is no evidence of gingivitis. But your teeth have problems. There is a lot of plaque and tartar on your teeth. I am going to take off the tartar,” Emma explains.

Silvia closes her eyes and thinks about her grocery shopping list while Emma takes the tartar off her teeth. It takes a long time to remove the tartar because Silvia has a lot of tartar buildup on her teeth due to all the sweets she eats.

Finally, Emma finishes removing the tartar from Silvia’s teeth. Then she uses an electric brush to clean the teeth and take off the rest of the tartar. Then she takes dental floss. Emma uses the dental floss to clean the space between the teeth. When Emma is satisfied with the teeth, she calls the dentist.

“Hi, Silvia. I am doctor Anderson,” the dentist introduces herself. “I understand that you have a toothache.”

“Yes. The pain is here,” Silvia says while she indicates the hurt tooth.

The dentist projects Silvia’s x-rays. There is a black mark in the tooth that hurts. There are other marks in other teeth too.

“You have some cavities, Silvia,” the dentist explains while pointing at the black marks. “There are five cavities. The have to make another appointment to fix the cavities. I need time to clean the cavities and fill them.”

Silvia is not happy she has five cavities, but she isn’t surprised either.

“I recommend that you eat fewer sweets and that you clean your teeth with toothpaste and dental floss every morning and night,” the dentist continues. “You need to take care of your teeth or you will have more serious dental problems.”

Silvia doesn’t want to have more serious problems. Her grandmother had dental problems. Now, her grandmother doesn’t have teeth. Silvia doesn’t want to be like her grandmother. She wants to have teeth when she is 60 years old.

Doctor Anderson leaves and Emma finishes her work by applying fluoride to Silvia’s teeth. The fluoride prevents cavities and Silvia doesn’t want more cavities – five is enough!

Finally, Silvia thanks Emma and walks to Mark to make an appointment for the fillings. When she goes home, Silvia wants to go to the candy store, but she decides that her teeth are more important than her sweet tooth.

The End.

You can also watch a video of this story on YouTube!

I really enjoy creating and sharing simple, comprehensible stories. I work hard to provide tools and supports for those who want to learn. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

You can download a printer-friendly PDF of this story.