FICTION Michael O’Neill
STORY 1
Lazybones
Jack and Suzanne are grandparents who have a big lazy dog named Lazybones. One day, Jack and Suzanne’s daughter, Nancy, and their grandson, Lukas, come to visit. Lukas is a curious and energetic little boy who gets himself into trouble, but Lazybones jumps into action and becomes a hero. STORY 2
Encounters with the Greens
A new family, the Greens, moves into the housing development next door to the Major family. But the Greens are not like the Majors, or any other family. They are different. In time, the two families find a way to be good neighbours. STORY 3
Hello from Camp Crazy Loon
Stephanie writes a letter to her parents while she is away at Camp Crazy Loon. She says she is enjoying all the activities there: hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and camping. But is she really enjoying herself? Do the activities actually happen the way she tells her parents?
Lazybones STORY 2 Encounters with the Greens STORY 3 Hello from Camp Crazy Loon STORY 1
LAZYBONES Jack and Suzanne have a big dog. He has huge paws and long ears. Jack and Suzanne call their dog Lazybones. He is one lazy dog! When Lazybones was a cute little puppy, his name was Max, and Jack and Suzanne took him to the park a lot. But the poor dog does not get much exercise any more. He just lies around, and sleeps and eats, so Lazybones just gets bigger and bigger.
2
Lazybones
Every day, Lazybones wanders around the backyard until he finds a good spot for a rest. Now that it is summer, he likes to go and sleep on the deck in the shade. Jack and Suzanne are grandparents. One day their daughter Nancy comes for lunch. Of course, she brings along three-year-old Lukas, the young grandson that everyone loves. Jack and Suzanne are very excited about the visit!
Glossary huge: very big lazy: slow and inactive wander: to explore with no real destination shade: not in the sun
Lazybones
3
Lukas is a curious and energetic little boy. He loves to explore. He snoops in every cupboard in the kitchen. After he has emptied each one, Lukas comes back to see his mother Nancy. Nancy, Jack and Suzanne are talking and looking at photographs. The phone rings. The television is on. The soup on the stove needs stirring. All the adults are busy doing something.
4
Lazybones
A door in the kitchen opens out onto the deck and the swimming pool. Uh-oh! The door is open a little bit. Lukas goes out and walks around the table and chairs on the deck. Lazybones opens one eye to look at Lukas, then he goes back to sleep. Lukas heads for the pool. He is moving fast. He slips at the edge and falls into the water.
The man next door, Mr. Johnson, sees everything. He lives alone and spends his days snooping on the neighbours. He runs over quickly, screaming and yelling, “Help! Help! Jack, Suzanne, come quickly! Your grandson fell in the pool!�
Glossary snoop: to investigate stir: to mix a liquid neighbour: the person who lives next door
Lazybones
5
Jack, Suzanne and Nancy run out to the deck. Lukas is all wet. He is on top of the pool ladder. Lazybones is holding him by his shirt. Nancy pulls Lukas out of the pool. He is crying and coughing, but he is fine.
Glossary cough: to force air out of your lungs with a short, loud sound out of breath: have a difficult time breathing to be rescued: to be saved from danger pal: friend wag: a quick tail movement from side to side
6
Lazybones
Mr. Johnson, out of breath, tells everyone the whole story of what he saw and finishes with “your dog is a hero.� Lukas is all right. Everyone goes back inside the house. Nobody else will need to be rescued today.
Nancy dries Lukas off, and everyone sits down to eat. Mr. Johnson is there too. After their meal, Jack says, “I think Lazybones should have a better life. He is not lazy; he is our hero! Let’s use his real name—Max. That’s a much better name for him. Right, Max, old pal?” Max wags his tail when he hears his name. “And I will take him for walks twice a day. I’ll take him to the park to play. It will be good for Max and for me too!” Jack, Suzanne, Nancy, Mr. Johnson and Lukas are all happy that Max saved the day.
1 Why do Jack and Suzanne call their dog Lazybones?
2 What is Lazybones’ real name? 3 Describe Lukas. 4 What happens to Lukas? 5 Why is Lazybones a hero? Lazybones
7
Irregular verbs Verb
Present
Past
be
am, is, are
was, were
know know, knows
knew
begin begin, begins
began
leave leave, leaves
left
bring bring, brings
brought
buy
buy, buys
come come, comes
Verb
lie
Present
lie, lies
Past
lay
make make, makes
made
came
ride
ride, rides
rode
bought
do
do, does
did
run
run, runs
ran
eat
eat, eats
ate
see
see, sees
saw
fall
fall, falls
fell
sit
sit, sits
sat
find
find, finds
found
get
get, gets
got
take
take, takes
took
go
go, goes
went
tell
tell, tells
told
have
have, has
had
sleep sleep, sleeps
think think, thinks
slept
thought
FICTION Michael O’Neill
STORY 1
Lazybones
Jack and Suzanne are grandparents who have a big lazy dog named Lazybones. One day, Jack and Suzanne’s daughter, Nancy, and their grandson, Lukas, come to visit. Lukas is a curious and energetic little boy who gets himself into trouble, but Lazybones jumps into action and becomes a hero. STORY 2
Encounters with the Greens
A new family, the Greens, moves into the housing development next door to the Major family. But the Greens are not like the Majors, or any other family. They are different. In time, the two families find a way to be good neighbours. STORY 3
Hello from Camp Crazy Loon
Stephanie writes a letter to her parents while she is away at Camp Crazy Loon. She says she is enjoying all the activities there: hiking, canoeing, horseback riding and camping. But is she really enjoying herself? Do the activities actually happen the way she tells her parents?
Lazybones STORY 2 Encounters with the Greens STORY 3 Hello from Camp Crazy Loon STORY 1