Category: Simple Stories in English

Season 1, episode 12

Paula enjoys living in the mountains with her dog Bobo and her one hundred and fifty cows. But sometimes her cows wander off and need help getting out of some sticky situations. Paula counts her cows and when they are missing, she looks for them. Paula will do anything to help her cows if they get stuck. She will pull, cut and even sing to help them. Will she be able to help them all?

This simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words “needs”, “is missing”, “look for”, “stuck”, “hears”, and “runs”.

THE LOST COWS

There is a woman. Her name is Paula. Paula is a strong, solitary woman. She is not very sociable. Paula doesn’t have many friends because she lives far from civilization. Paula is a rancher. She lives on a ranch in the mountains. Paula has a lot of cows on the ranch. She takes care of the cows. She feeds them. She talks to them. She sings to them. The cows just say, “Moo.”

Paula also has a dog. Paula’s dog is named Bobo. Bobo is a white and black dog. Bobo has a lot of energy. He likes running in the mountains. He likes running after the cows. Paula takes care of her dog. She feeds him. She talks to him. She sings to him. Bobo the dog just says “bow wow.”

Paula and Bobo walk with the cows in the mountains. Paula likes walking with the cows in the mountains. But there is a problem. Sometimes the cows get lost in the trees and Paula doesn’t know where they are.

So Paula counts the cows. She counts the cows in the morning and in the afternoon. She counts the cows to check that all the cows are present.

Paula has 150 cows. In the morning, she walks with her 150 cows to the woods. The cows eat the green grass and are very happy. Paula and Bobo walk in the flowers and breathe the fresh air and are very happy.

In the afternoon it is time to return to the ranch. So Paula counts her cows. she should have 150 cows, but she only counts 147 cows. She is missing three cows! Where are the cows? The cows are lost!

Paula and Bobo look for the three cows. They look in the trees and they look in the green grass. Bobo hears a noise and barks, “bow wow.” Then Bobo runs to the noise. Paula runs after Bobo. Then Paula hears the noise “moo.”

It’s a cow! Paula and Bobo run to the cow. They find the cow in a puddle of mud. The mud is brown and thick. The cow can’t move very well. the cow is stuck in the mud. The cow doesn’t move from the mud.

Paula wants to help the cow. She takes a rope and forms a lasso. Paula throws the lasso over the cow. Then Paula pulls. She pulls and pulls the rope. The cow moves a little. Paula pulls more. Bobo grabs the rope and pulls. Finally the cow is free from the mud! Paula, Bobo, and the cow walk to the group.

Paula counts the cows again. Now she has 148 cows. She is missing two cows! Where are the cows? The cows are lost!

Paula and Bobo look for the two cows. They look in the bushes and they look in the green grass. Bobo hears a noise and barks, “bow wow.” Then Bobo runs to the noise. Paula runs after Bobo. Then Paula hears the noise too, “moo.”

It’s a cow! Paula and Bobo run to the cow. They find the cow in a tree. The branches of the tree trap the cow. The cow can’t move very well. The cow is trapped in the tree. The cow doesn’t move from the tree.

Paula wants two help the cow. She takes a knife. Paula uses the knife and cuts the branches of the tree. She cuts and cuts the tree. The cow moves a little. Paula cuts more. Bobo grabs and moves the branches. Finally the cow is free from the tree! Paula, Bobo, and the cow walk to the group.

Paula counts the cows again. Now she has 149 cows. She is missing one cows! Where is the cow? The cow is lost!

Paula and Bobo look for the cow. They look in the bushes and trees. They look in the green grass and in the mud. Bobo hears a noise and barks, “bow wow.” Then Bobo runs to the noise. Paula runs after Bobo. Then Paula hears the noise too, “moo.”

It’s a cow! Paula and Bobo run to the cow. They find the cow in the grass. The cow is perfectly fine. The cow is not stuck in the mud or trapped in a tree. But there is a problem. he cow doesn’t move. Paula touches the cow, but it doesn’t move. Paula pulls the cow, but it doesn’t move. Paula pushes the cow, but it doesn’t move. Bobo barks at the cow, but it doesn’t move.

“What is your problem, cow?” Paula says.

“Mooooo!” the cow responds.

“Bow wow!” Bobo barks.

Paula observes the cow, then Paula understands. Paula wants to help the cow. She touches the cow softly. Paula sings softly to the cow. After a few minutes, the cow moves a little and Paula is happy.

Paula looks at the green grass behind the cow. In the green grass there is a small baby, a calf. The calf looks at Paula with big eyes and says, “moo.”

The calf stands up and walks to its mom. Paula, Bobo, the cow, and the calf walk to the group. Paula counts the cows again. Now she has 151 cows. She isn’t missing a cow, she has an extra cow!

The end.

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Season 1, episode 11

Luis enjoys his life as a rancher. He likes taking care of animals. Being on a ranch requires boots. Luis has a special friend that he wants to spend time with on the ranch, but she does not have boots, so Luis decides to get her some. Luis goes all over town, including the shoe store, the bank and the gas station as he tries to buy the perfect boots. Will he be able to get what he wants?

This simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words “needs”, “asks”, “goes”, “has”, numbers and many descriptions of people.

THE BOOTS

There is a boy. The boy’s name is Luis. Luis is sixteen years old. Luis is tall, dark, and handsome. Luis lives in Wyoming. Luis lives on a ranch in Wyoming. Luis is a rancher. Luis likes living and working on the ranch. He likes working with the animals on the ranch. But there is a problem. The animals on the ranch produce a lot of manure, or poop. So Luis wears boots. He always wears boots. He likes boots.

Luis has a special friend. His special friend is named Sally. Sally is pretty with long red hair. She isn’t tall or short, she is average. Luis likes to spend time with Sally. He thinks Sally is perfect, with one exception. Sally doesn’t have boots. Sally always wears sandals or cute shoes. She doesn’t want animal manure on her cute shoes, so Sally doesn’t visit the ranch.

Luis likes Sally a lot and he wants to spend more time with her on the ranch. So Luis decides to buy boots for Sally in the city. Luis has an old blue truck. Luis goes to the city in his truck. He goes to the shoe store in the city. The shoe store sells shoes, sandals, and boots.

Luis enters the shoe store. In the shoe store there is a man. The man is short, fat, and very nice. The man works in the shoe store.

“Hello. How may I help you?” the man says.

“I am looking for boots,” Luis responds.

“I have a lot of boots,” the man says.

Luis looks at the boots. There are brown boots, red boots, blue boots, pink boots, and purple boots. Luis likes the purple boots because purple is Sally’s favorite color.

“How much are the purple boots?” Luis asks the man.

“They cost $259 (two-hundred fifty-nine dollars), sir,” the man answers.

Luis is surprised. The boots cost a lot of money. Luis doesn’t have enough money and he doesn’t have his credit card. Luis needs to go to the bank.

Luis gets in his truck. Luis goes to the bank in his old truck. The bank has a lot of money services. The bank cashes checks, sends money to other people, and gives loans. It is also possible to take money out of an account.

Luis enters the bank. In the bank, Luis sees a woman. She is tall and dark. The woman works in the bank.

“Hello, how my I help you?” she says.

“I need money,” Luis answers.

“I have money,” the woman says. Luis gives his bank account information to the woman and the woman looks at Luis’s money on the computer. Luis has enough money in the bank.

“How much money do you need?” the woman asks.

“I need $259 (two-hundred fifty-nine dollars), please,” Luis answers.

The woman counts out $259 (two-hundred fifty-nine dollars) and gives it to Luis. Luis takes the money and says, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” the woman responds.

Luis runs to his truck. Now he has the money and he needs to return to the shoe store to buy the purple boots. Luis goes to the shoe store in his old truck.

After five minutes, the truck stops. It stops in the middle of the street! Luis looks at the controls and sees the problem. The truck is out of gas! Now Luis has two problems: he needs to buy the boots for Sally, but he also needs to buy gas for his truck.

Luis pushes the truck to the gas station. Luis decides that he needs gas more than boots. In the gas station, Luis sees a man. The man is skinny and of average height. The man works in the gas station.

“Hello, sir. How may I help you?” the man asks Luis.

“I need gas,” Luis answers.

“I have gas,” the man says. The man fills the truck’s tank. The truck uses a lot of gas. When he is done, Luis asks, “How much is it?”

“$65 (Sixty-five dollars),” the man answers.

Luis counts $65 (sixty-five dollars) from the money he got at the bank. Luis is sad. Now he doesn’t have enough money for the purple boots for Sally and he doesn’t have time to return to the bank. Luis decides to go to the shoe store. Maybe there are other boots that cost less money.

“Hello! Are you going to buy the purple boots?” the man who works in the shoe store says when Luis enters.

“I don’t have enough money for the purple boots,” Luis answers. Luis counts his money. He originally had $259. The gasoline cost $65. So Luis now has $194 (one hundred ninety-four dollars).

“Do you have boots that cost $194?” Luis asks.

The man looks at the boots. The red boots are only $194! So Luis buys the red boots for Sally.

Luis prepares a fantastic night for Sally. Luis likes Sally a lot. Luis wants to go to an elegant restaurant and he wants to give the boots to Sally in a romantic moment. Then, he wants to walk with Sally in the ranch.

Luis goes to Sally’s house in his old truck. Sally lives in an enormous house in the city. In the truck Luis talks a lot. Sally doesn’t say anything. Sally just listens.

In the elegant restaurant, Luis eats steak and potatoes. Sally eats a salad with chicken. Luis talks a lot. Sally doesn’t say anything. Sally just eats and listens.

After eating, Luis prepares a romantic moment. He wants everything to be perfect when he gives Sally the boots. Luis looks at Sally and says, “Sally, I think you are fantastic. I want to spend more time with you. I want to walk a lot in the ranch with you, so I bought you these boots.”

Luis passes the boots to Sally. Sally doesn’t accept the boots. She looks at the boots with disgust. Finally Sally speaks.

“Luis, I don’t like ranches, I don’t like boots, I don’t like walking in animal poop, I don’t like your old truck, and I don’t like the color red. Good-bye.” 

Luis is very surprised and sad. Sally takes a taxi to her house and Luis walks to his truck alone. When he is walking, Luis has an idea.

Luis decides to visit the house of one of Sally’s friends. Luis goes to Hilda’s house. Hilda is very nice. She lives on a ranch too. She doesn’t have problems with animal poop or old trucks. Luis knocks on the door and looks at Hilda.

Hilda opens the door and Luis says, “Hello, Hilda. I bought you some boots!”

“I love red!” Hilda says with a smile. “Do you want to walk on he ranch with me?”

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 and I like to keep it ad free. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

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

Season 1, episode 10

When things get lost, the logical solution is to look for them. Sometimes we are so busy looking that we don’t see what is right under our noses. Lourdes is busy. She tries to make time for her son’s problems, but sometimes her own problems get in the way, such as when she needs some ginger for her cake.

This story is told in the present tense and has multiple repetitions of “Did you look?” and “I looked” as well as places around the house. 

THE BUSY MOM

There is a woman. Her name is Lourdes. Lourdes is a nice and patient woman. She is also a hard working woman. Lourdes works a lot. She works at home. She has a cooking blog. She prepares food recipes, cooks the food, takes photos of the food, and write articles about the whole process for her blog. Lourdes works practically all the time in her home. She is always busy.

Lourdes lives with her husband and her son. Lourdes’s husband is named Bill. Bill works too, but Bill does not work from home. He works in a chocolate factory. Bill works in the factory from nine (9) in the morning until five (5) in the afternoon.

Lourdes and Bill’s son is named Kevin. Kevin is fourteen (14) years old. Kevin does not have a job. Kevin likes to play video games.

One day Lourdes is working. She is working on a new recipe for gingerbread cake. Lourdes is in the living room. She is busy. She is reading an old book of recipes when Keven enters. Lourdes is busy, but she takes a moment to talk to her son.

“Mom, I have a problem,” Kevin says.

“What’s wrong?” Lourdes asks.

“I can’t find my new video game. I looked through the whole house. I don’t know where it is,” Kevin says.

“Did you look in your bedroom?” Lourdes asks.

“Yes, I looked in my bedroom. It’s not there,” Keven responds.

“Did you look in your backpack?” Lourdes asks.

“Yes, I looked in my backpack. It’s not there,” Keven replies.

“Did you look in the car?” Lourdes asks.

“No, no I did not look in the car,” Kevin replies.

“Well, maybe it’s in the car. Look in the car,” Lourdes tells her son. So Kevin goes to the car to look for his new video game and Lourdes continues reading the book of recipes. After a while, Lourdes moves from the living room to the kitchen to make the gingerbread cake. 

Lourdes is in the kitchen. She is busy. She is preparing the ingredients for the gingerbread cake when Kevin enters with another problem. Lourdes is busy, but she takes a moment to talk to her son.

“Mom, I have a problem,” Kevin says.

“What’s wrong?” Lourdes asks.

“The car is locked and I can’t find the keys. I looked all over the whole house. I don’t know where they are,” Kevin replies.

“Did you look in the entryway?” Lourdes asks.

“Yes, I looked in the entryway. They’re not there,” Keven replies.

“Did you look in the living room?” Lourdes asks.

“Yes, I looked in the living room,” Keven replies.

“Did you look in the kitchen?” Lourdes asks.

“No, no I did not look in the kitchen,” Kevin responds.

“Well, maybe they are in the kitchen. Look in the kitchen,” Lourdes told her son. Kevin looks a little and finds the keys.

Kevin leaves the kitchen and looks for his video game in the car. Lourdes has a lot of work. She is busy. She continues to prepare the ingredients for the gingerbread cake. She has eggs, butter, sugar, and flour. But there is a problem. She doesn’t have ginger! Lourdes looks all over the kitchen, but she doesn’t know where the ginger is. It is not possible to make a gingerbread cake without ginger!

“Mom, I have a problem,” Kevin says.

Usually when Lourdes is busy she makes time for her son. But in this moment, Lourdes doesn’t have time.

“I’m busy, dear. I don’t have time for another problem right now,” Lourdes responds.

“What’s wrong?” Kevin asks.

“I can’t find the ginger. I don’t know where it is,” Lourdes responds.

“Did you look in the cupboard?” Kevin asks.

“Yes, I looked in the cupboard,” Lourdes responds.

“Did you look in the pantry?” Kevin asks.

“Yes, I looked in the pantry,” Lourdes replies.

“Did you look in the fridge?” Kevin asks.

“No,” Lourdes says, “who puts ginger in the fridge? I think we don’t have any more ginger. I think I need to go to the store to buy more ginger.”

Lourdes needs to go to the store so she grabs her purse and grabs her wallet. The store is a bit far, so Lourdes needs to drive there. To go to the store, Lourdes needs the car keys.

“Mom, I have a problem,” Kevin repeats.

“I’m busy, dear,” Lourdes says. “I don’t have time now. I am looking for the car keys. I don’t know where they are.”

“Yes, well, mom…,” Kevin says.

“Just a minute. I am going to look for them in my bedroom,” Lourdes interrupts. She goes to her bedroom and looks for the keys, but they are not there.

“Well, mom,” Kevin says.

“Just a minute. I am going to look for them in the sofa,” Lourdes interrupts. She looks for the keys in the sofa, but they are not there.

“Mom!” Kevin yells.

“Just a minute,” Lourdes responds. “I am busy. I am looking for the keys. I don’t know where they are.”

“But I know where the keys are!” Kevin yells at his mom.

Lourdes stops and looks at Kevin. “You know where the keys are?,” Lourdes asks.

“Yes,” Kevin responds. “They are in the car.”

“Ah, perfect. Let’s go to the supermarket for the ginger,” Lourdes responds.

“But mom, there is a problem,” Kevin explains. “The keys are in the car, but the car is locked.”

“Oh,” Lourdes says and she thinks for a moment. “Ah! It’s okay, son. I have extra keys in my purse here,” Lourdes says. She opens her purse and grabs the extra keys. “Now let’s go. I am very busy today.”

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 and I like to keep it ad free. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

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

Season 1, episode 9

Miguel just wants to go to a concert, but his mom says no, even when he begs. So, Miguel and his friend come up with a plan that involves just a little lie. Miguel typically tells the truth, so lying is not easy for him. Will he be able to maintain the lie? Or will he cave under pressure?

This short, simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words “lie”, “says”, “sees”, “music”, and “concert”.

MIGUEL’S LITTLE LIE

Miguel is a boy. Miguel is twelve (12) years old. Miguel is short and chubby. Miguel is typically honest and good. Miguel lives with his mother and his sister Maggie. Miguel likes music a lot. He especially likes rock music. He likes the music of Nirvana, Green Day and Mago de Oz. Miguel listens to music in his bedroom. He imagines that he plays with the band on the guitar or the drum. Miguel dances and sings with the rock music.

One day Miguel sees that Green Day is going to have a concert in his city. Miguel is very excited. He loves Green Day. Miguel wants to go to the concert so Miguel talks to his mom.

Miguel’s mom is not excited. She thinks that Miguel is too young to go to a rock concert. Miguel’s mom says that he can’t go to the concert. Miguel begs his mom.

“Please, mom,” Miguel begs. “All my friends are going to the concert.”

“And if all your friends jump off a mountain, you will also jump off the mountain?” Miguel’s mom asks.

“But mom, it’s not fair!” Miguel says.

“Life isn’t fair, son,” Miguel’s mom responds.

Miguel is very sad. He wants to go to the concert. Miguel decides to talk to his sister Maggie. Maggie is sixteen (16) years old. She is intelligent and sophisticated. But Maggie does not want to help Miguel. She does not want to go to a rock concert. Maggie prefers classical music.

“Please, sis. Let’s go to the concert,” Miguel begs. “I will was the dishes for a month.”

“No,” Maggie responds. “Rock music is terrible. I don’t like the drum and guitar. I prefer the violin. Do you want to go to the symphony concert?”

“No,” Miguel responds. Miguel does not like classical music. He sleeps when he hears his sister’s music. He prefers rock music because he thinks it is more energetic. Miguel talks to his friend about his problem. His friend’s name is Wes. Wes has an idea.

“It’s all good, friend. You simply need to stay that you’re spending the night at my house. Your mom will think that you’re at my house, but really we’ll be at the concert!”

“But, it’s a lie,” says Miguel.

“It’s not a big lie,” says Wes, “it’s a little lie.”

Miguel thinks that Wes’s idea is a good idea. It is not a big lie, it is a little lie. So, Miguel talks to his mom and asks for permission to spend the night at Wes’s house. Miguel’s mom thinks that it’s okay. Wes is a good kid from a good family. Miguel is excited and a little nervous. Typically, Miguel is honest. Typically, Miguel tells the truth. But in this moment, he is not honest. He does not tell the truth, he tells a lie. Miguel is not going to spend the night at Wes’s house. He is going to spend the night at the Green Day concert.

Maggie sees Miguel’s face and she understands that there is a problem because Miguel appears nervous.

“Miguel,” says Maggie, “what is your problem?”

“Nothing!” Miguel shouts quickly.

Now Miguel is very nervous. Miguel does not make eye contact with Maggie. Maggie thinks that Miguel is telling a lie. She thinks that he is not being honest. But Maggie doesn’t care, so she goes to her room to listen to classical music and Miguel goes to his room to prepare for the concert.

After a short time, Miguel’s mom enters his bedroom.

“Hello, son,” his mom says. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, mom, I’m ready,” Miguel responds.

Miguel does not make eye contact with his mother. Miguel looks at his feet.

“Do you have your pijamas?” his mom asks.

“Yes, I have my pijamas,” Miguel says. He is very nervous and trembles a little.

“Do you have your toothbrush?” his mom asks.

“Y-yes, I h-have my t-toothbrush,” Miguel responds. He is nervous and stutters a little.

“Do you have your clothes for tomorrow?” his mother asks.

“Uh, um, uh, yeah, yes. I h-have my c-clothes for tomorrow,” Miguel responds. He is super nervous. He does not make eye contact. He trembles and stutters. And there is water on his face because Miguel is sweating a lot.

Miguel’s mother sees the sweat on Miguel’s face. She sees that Miguel trembles. She thinks that maybe Miguel is sick.

“Miguel, are you okay?” His mother asks.

“Y-yes, yes, yes. I’m perfectly good. I just want to go to Wes’s house,” Miguel responds.

Miguel is not honest. Miguel tells a lie to his mother. In this moment, a person knocks on the door. It’s Wes. Miguel just needs to maintain the lie for a few minutes more. Miguel opens the door and looks at his friend.

“Good-by mom, bye Maggie. I’m going with Wes,” Miguel shouts to his family.

“Yes, friend. Let’s go the to concert!” Wes says. Miguel looks at Wes in horror.

Miguel’s mom looks at Wes and Miguel. Miguel and Wes’s eys are big.

“What concert?” his mom asks.

“Uh, uh, my sister has a concert today,” Wes responds. Wes’s response is not the truth, it is a lie. His sister does not have a concert. Wes is not being honest.

“Your sister plays with the symphony?” Maggie asks.

“Uh, yeah. She plays the violin,” Miguel says. Miguel’s response is not the truth, it is another lie. Wes’s sister does not play the violin.

“Perfect! I will go to the concert with you,” Maggie says to the boys.

“Me too!” Miguel’s mom says. “I love classical music. The symphony is excellent.”

So Miguel goes to a concert. He goes to a concert of classical music with Wes, Maggie, and his mom. And he does not go to Green 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 and I like to keep it ad free. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

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

Season 1, episode 7

Birthdays are a special time, especially for young kids. Ruthie wakes up on her birthday wanting something special to eat for breakfast: cake! Her parents think that she should eat what they do, but Ruthie is determined to have her cake and eat it too. Can she convince her sweet grandmother to make her cake for breakfast?

This short, simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words “birthday”, “breakfast”, “cake”, “can’t”, “can” and “should”.

CAKE FOR BREAKFAST

There is a girl. Her name is Ruthie. Ruthie is a fun girl. She is five (5) years old. Ruthie is short and has red hair. She is social and kind. She lives in a house with her parents and grandmother. Ruthie doesn’t have any siblings.

Every morning, Ruthie eats breakfast. Breakfast is really important. It is the first meal of the day. Ruthie typically eats cereal for breakfast. Her favorite cereal is Lucky Charms.

But this morning, Ruthie wants something different. She doesn’t want cereal, she wants to eat cake. Ruthie wants to eat cake for breakfast because it is her birthday. Ruthie thinks that she needs to eat cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She thinks that she needs to eat cake all day because it is her birthday (and she likes cake a lot).

Ruthie walks to the kitchen. There is a box of cereal on the table. Ruthie doesn’t want to eat cereal. She looks at her mom and says, “Mom, today is my birthday and I want cake for breakfast.”

Ruthie’s mom is tall, thin, and pretty. She looks at Ruthie and responds, “You can’t eat cake for breakfast. You should eat toast with butter like me. You can eat cake in the afternoon.”

Ruthie’s mom makes toast with butter and eats it. Ruthie doesn’t want toast with butter, she wants cake. The toast with butter looks bad. So, Ruthie goes to her dad. Ruthie’s dad is tall and chubby. Ruthie looks at her dad with big eyes and says, “Dad, it’s my birthday and I want a special breakfast. I want cake for breakfast. Can I have cake, please?”

Ruthie’s dad looks at his daughter with her big eyes and responds,” You can’t eat cake for breakfast. You should eat eggs and bacon like me. You can eat cake in the afternoon.”

Ruthie’s dad prepares two eggs and bacon and eats them.

“How delicious,” Ruthie’s dad says.

Ruthie looks at her dad and the eggs and toast. Ruthie doesn’t think the eggs and toast are delicious, she thinks they are disgusting! She wants cake. So she goes to her grandmother. Ruthie looks at her grandmother very sweetly and says, “Grandma, it is my birthday and I want cake for breakfast. Can I please have cake, my favorite grandma?”

Ruthie’s grandmother is short, chubby and very kind. She looks at Ruthie. Ruthie is very nice and sweet. Plus, it’s her birthday! Ruthie’s grandmother can’t say no. 

“Okay, my favorite granddaughter. I will prepare you cake for breakfast.”

Ruthie is very excited. She sits and the table in the dining room and waits for her cake for breakfast.

Ruthie’s grandmother goes to the kitchen. She has a plan. She cooks the cake. She washes fruit to put on the cake. She prepares strawberries and blueberries. Then she cooks pancakes. She puts a pancake on a plate and then she puts cream and fruit on the pancake. Then she puts another pancake and more strawberries, blueberries and cream. Ruthie’s grandmother makes a tower of pancakes, strawberries, blueberries, and cream. The tower of pancakes looks like a cake.

Ruthie’s grandmother walks into the dining room with the “cake” of pancakes. Ruthie is happy because she thinks she is going to eat cake for breakfast. She looks at the tall tower of pancakes and asks, “Grandma, where’s my cake?”

“It is a cake of pancakes!” her grandmother responds.

Ruthie looks at the cake of pancakes, cream, strawberries and blueberries. She thinks it looks like a cake and she eats it. It is delicious.

“Thanks for the cake, grandma!” Ruthie exclaims.

Ruthie’s parents enter the dining room. Ruthie looks at her parents with a huge smile and says, “Look, mom! Look, dad! I am eating cake for breakfast!”

Ruthie’s mom looks at the cake of pancakes. She wants cake for breakfast too. She doesn’t want to eat toast with butter. Ruthie’s dad looks at the tower of pancakes. He also wants cake for breakfast. He doesn’t want to eat eggs with bacon.

Ruthie’s dad looks at his mom (Ruthie’s grandmother) and says, “Mom, I want cake for breakfast. Can I have cake, please?”

“Me too!” Ruthie’s mom says.

“No,” Ruthie’s grandmother says, “it is not your birthday. You should eat eggs, bacon and toast with butter for breakfast. You can eat cake in the afternoon!

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 and I like to keep it ad free. Please, consider buying me a taco to support my work!

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

Season 1, episode 6

When a child is sick, they should stay home. However, some kids pretend to be sick to get out of schoolwork. Jessica has a test. She pretends to be sick so she doesn’t have to take the test. She fakes a cough and cold so she can stay at home on her phone. What a great actress!

This short, simple story is told in the present tense and focuses on the words “doesn’t”, “acts”, “cough”, and “school”. 

THE GIRL IS SICK

There is a girl. The girl’s name is Jessica. Jessica is fourteen (14) years old. She has brown hair and green eyes. Jessica lives with her mom in an apartment.

Jessica is not very active. She is lazy. Jessica doesn’t exercise. She prefers to be in her bedroom. Jessica spends a lot of time on her phone in her bedroom. Jessica likes to use Snapchat on her phone to talk to her friends. She also likes to watch movies on Netflix.

Jessica doesn’t like school. She doesn’t like to do her schoolwork. She doesn’t like to write essays. She doesn’t like to work on projects. She doesn’t like to study. And she doesn’t like to take test.

One day, Jessica has a test in her math class. Jessica is not ready for the test. Jessica doesn’t study or practice for the test.

Jessica doesn’t want to take the test, so she has an idea. If she is sick, she can’t go to school! Jessica thinks this is the perfect plan. So, Jessica decides to tell her mom that she is sick in the morning.

In the morning, Jessica doesn’t get up; she stays in bed. Jessica’s mom yells, “Jessica! It’s time to go to school! Get up!”

Jessica doesn’t answer, so her mom comes into her room. She sees Jessica in her bed.

“Jessica, are you okay?” she asks.

“No, mom,” Jessica responds. “I’m sick.”

“You’re sick? What’s wrong?” the mom asks. Jessica acts very sick and coughs.

“I have a cough and my throat hurts. I can’t talk much,” Jessica says.

“Poor thing. You need to rest. Stay in bed. You are not going to school today,” Jessica’s mom says.

Jessica is happy. She doesn’t want to go to class and she doesn’t want to take the math test. Jessica coughs again (a fake cough). Her mom says good-bye and goes to work.

Jessica doesn’t work and she doesn’t go to school. Jessica stays in bed all day. She talks to her friends on Snapchat and watches movies on Netflix. Jessica likes being at home on her phone.

After work, her mom returns home and talks to Jessica.

“How do you feel, honey?” She asks Jessica. Jessica acts sick and sneezes.

“Achoo! I feel awful,” Jessica lies and pretends to cough. “My throat hurts and my head hurts.”

“My poor girl,” her mom says. She goes to the kitchen to prepare some food.

Jessica is very happy. She is not sick, but it is really easy to act sick. Her mom returns to her room with soup.

“Achoo!” Jessica pretends to sneeze. “Thanks for the soup, mom.”

“Poor thing, you have a cold,” her mom says. She gives a box of Kleenex to Jessica. Jessica acts even more sick.

“Yeah, mom. I have a bad cold. I don’t think I can go to school tomorrow.”

“You’re right. You can’t go to school,” her mom says.

In the morning, her mom goes to work and Jessica stays in her room. She is hungry. She wants to eat. So Jessica looks for food in her bedroom. She finds chocolate, granola bars, soda, and a box of cakes.

Later, Jessica has a stomachache. Jessica really is sick and now she doesn’t need to act.

After work, her mom returns home and talks to Jessica.

“How are you, honey?” she asks Jessica.

“I am really sick, mom,” Jessica cries.

“Hmmm, you’re not coughing,” her mom says.

“No, I don’t have a sore throat,” Jessica responds.

“You’re not sneezing,” her mom says.

“No, I’m not stuffed up,” Jessica responds.

Her mom touches her forehead. Jessica’s forehead is not hot, so she doesn’t have a high temperature.

“You don’t have a fever,” her mom says.

“No, I don’t have a fever,” Jessica responds.

“So, what’s the problem?” Jessica’s mom asks.

Jessica doesn’t respond to her mom. She runs to the bathroom and vomits. She throws up all the chocolate. She throws up all the granola bars. She throws up all the soda. She throws up all the cakes.

Her mom sees all the trash from the junk food Jessica ate in her bed. Now her mom understands everything.

“My poor child,” she says sarcastically. Jessica lays down in bed and her mom takes away her phone.

The end.

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