1.  A jealous girlfriend

 

Gary and Alma were having problems, again.

- "But you told me it was okay to call up Carol," said Gary. "I asked you if it was okay to talk to her, because it was her birthday and I've wished her a happy birthday every year for the last 10 years."

- "But you had already promised me that you would never call her again. You promised me that. So, you lied to me."

- "Oh I had forgotten that I told you that. You know that I forget things. I'm not going to argue with you; you have a memory like an elephant. But you've got to believe me, I completely forgot. And more important, Carol is just a friend."

- "No, she isn't. She's still in love with you."

- "But I'm not in love with her. She can love me all she wants, but I'm not in love with her. I never was!"

- "Well, you say that. Maybe it's true. Maybe it isn't. But the important thing is that you never know what the future will bring. You say that nothing will happen between you and her, but you don't know that for sure, because you don't know the future."

- "Yes, you're right. No one knows the future. I could fall in love with her again, and she and I might run off and get married and have nine or ten kids."

-"Again? What do you mean 'again'?"

 

2.  An Important  Exam

 

Vicky woke up and looked at the clock.

- “Oh no, it's half past ten! I should be at school for my science exam," she thought.

 Vicky didn't want to be late for this exam because she knew it was very important for her future. She wanted to be a dentist. She got dressed quickly and ran to catch the bus. But it wasn't her lucky day! It was foggy and the traffic was very slow. Vicky waited for a quarter of an hour but the bus didn't arrive.

- "Oh, no! I'll be late for my exam," she thought, and decided to take a taxi.

Vicky arrived at school at midday. She saw her friends leaving the science room and felt very unhappy.

 - "I'm too late! I've missed the science exam. I'll never make it to university!" she cried.

Then, she heard her science teacher ask, "What's the matter, Vicky?"

-  "I was too late for the science exam this morning. What am I going to do?" said Vicky.

-  "But the exam is tomorrow morning, Vicky! Don't you remember?" said her teacher.

 

3. Don't Talk to my Parrot

 

Wanda's dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman.

-  'I'll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a check.' 'Oh, by the way don't worry about my bulldog Spike. He won't bother you.

But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot!' 

'I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!!!'

 

When the repairman arrived at Wanda's apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking bulldog he had ever seen. However, the dog was really well-behaved.

 

Just as Wanda  had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work. The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name calling. Finally the repairman couldn't control himself any longer and yelled:

- 'Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!' 

To which the parrot replied, 'Get him, Spike!' 

 

You can easily imagine how the repairman left the apartment. He dragged himself out, bleeding and groaning. The attack he suffered from the dog was very nasty.

So you see, what happens when people do not listen!!!

 

4. How the giraffe got its long neck

 

It is well-known that the giraffe is the animal with the longest neck, but not many people know the reason why its neck is so long.

This story took place in Africa many years ago. One day the giraffe was feeling hungry so, it started looking for leaves because as we all know giraffes are vegetarians.  However, when he found leaves and started eating , he was pushed away by the other animals, who were very greedy. By the time they had finished their meal, there were no leaves on the lower branches for the giraffe to eat.

This happened many times and the giraffe was so unhappy that he sat on the ground and started to cry. Suddenly he heard a strange squeaking noise coming from the tree. He looked up and saw a strange furry animal looking down at him.

-  “ Don’t just sit there, get me down!” the little animal said. The gentle giraffe picked him up in his mouth and put him down on the ground.

- “ What are you doing up in the tree?” the giraffe asked.

The animal explained that he had seen the animals coming for their feast of leaves and he had been so afraid of them that he had run up the tree trunk to hide, but he had got stuck and couldn’t get down. He also explained that he had magic powers and could grant the giraffe one wish. The giraffe immediately wished for a way to be able to eat. The moment  he said this, his neck started to grow. It kept on growing until the giraffe was as tall as the tallest tree.

From that day on, the giraffe always eats the most fresh, the most juicy the tenderest leaves, which grow at the top of the trees.

 

5.  I am too ill

 

Boy:     Dad, I am not well.  I am too ill to sleep. 

Dad:     Really?  Have a drink !  

Boy:     “Dad, Oh my throat hurts, I am too ill to drink”

Narrator : The boy has a sore throat.

Dad: “Oh, dear I am so sorry. Here is some medicine. You will feel better.” 

Boy : “Dad, I am too ill to take medicine. I do not want anythingggggggggg” .  

Narrator : Next morning the boy has a headache.  

Boy: “Ouch ouch  it hurts. My head  hurts. My eyes hurt. My back hurts. I am not well dad. I can not go to school”. 

Dad  “Medicine! You need medicine, my boy”  

Boy “No, I am too ill to take medicine”. 

Narrator  By midday, the boy  has a tummy ache. 

Boy   “Ouch , ouch ouch it hurts. My tummy hurts”  

Dad  “Oh dear,”  It is getting worse. 

Narrator  By evening the  boy has an ear ache. The next day he does not go to school. 

Boy  “Ouch, ouch,, ouch ouch, it hurts. My ears hurt”. 

 Dad “Oh dear! I am calling the doctor”  

Boy “Daddy, I am too ill to see the doctor”  

Dad  “No! I am calling the doctor NOW!”  

Boy “Oh, dad, wait.  Wait. I think I am feeling a lot better now! Don’t call the doctor. My head is fine…. AND… my tummy and my ear don’t hurt  anymore and we do not have money for the doctor!”  

Dad “Hmmmm! Are you sure you are telling me the truth, boy?”

Boy “Yes, and no. Sorry dad but I have a problem. And my problem is that  I just don’t want to go to school!”!

 

6. Jack and the beanstalk

 

Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. They only  had  a cow.

One morning, Jack’s mother told Jack to take their cow to market and sell her. On the way, Jack met a man. He gave Jack some magic beans for the cow. Jack took the beans and went back home. When Jack’s mother saw the beans, she was very angry. She threw the beans out of the window.

​

The next morning, Jack looked out of the window. Outside in the garden there was a giant beanstalk. He went outside and started to climb the beanstalk. He climbed up and up and he went up the cloud. He went  to the sky through the clouds.  There, Jack saw a beautiful castle. He went inside.

Jack heard a voice. “Fee, Fo, Fum!” Jack was afraid and ran into a cupboard.

An enormous giant came into the room and sat down. On the table there was a hen and a golden harp.

  “Lay!” said the giant.

The hen laid an egg- it was a golden egg.

  “Sing” said the giant.

The harp began to sing. Soon the giant was asleep. Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the hen and the harp. Suddenly the harp started singing.

  “Help, Master!”

The giant woke up and shouted, “Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum!”

Jack ran and started climbing down the beanstalk. The giant came down after him.

Jack shouted, “Mother! Mother !Help!”

Jack’s mother heard him. She  took an axe and chopped down the beanstalk. The beanstalk fell down and the giant fell down too  and crashed on  to the ground. Nobody ever saw him again.

Now Jack had  the golden eggs and the magic harp.  Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.

 

7.  Lost and found

 

Donna and her husband John go to the beach every Saturday in the summer. Today is no exception. Donna packs a picnic lunch. She packs the beach umbrella and sun lotion. She cannot find their beach towels. Donna always loses things.

Donna: John, have you seen the beach towels? They are not in the laundry basket or dryer. They are not in the closet, either.

John: Oh, I don’t know honey! Did you look in the bag?

She finally looks in her beach bag. She sees the towels folded in the bottom. Of course, the beach towels are exactly where they should be.

Donna puts on her swimsuit and floppy sun hat. She is almost ready. She just needs her sunglasses.

Donna: Where are they? I ‘m sure I left them somewhere here today!

She thinks they are on the table by the door. Or maybe they are in the bathroom. They could also be in her purse. Donna sighs.

Donna: Not again! I can’t leave without them!

​

John puts the picnic basket, umbrella, and beach bag in the car.  He checks his fishing poles and equipment. He places them in the car beside the picnic basket. Daisy, their dog, jumps in the backseat. She loves the beach! John is ready to leave.

John: Where is Donna? She knows I like to arrive at the beach before the crowds….Why is so late?

John groans and shakes his head.

John: Arghhh! I’m really angry! Donna is always late!

​

Donna searches for her sunglasses.

Donna: I can’t find them, and I know John is waiting. He hates when I’m late!

She grabs her purse and locks the door.

"You are late," John says as Donna gets in the car.

Donna:  Well, I couldn’t find my sunglasses!

John looks at her and laughs!

John: Ha! Ha! But your sunglasses are on top of your head!

Donna looks in the mirror and laughs too!

John: They were there the whole time!

"It is always in the last place that you look," Donna laughs again!

 

8. Nasreddin’s Visitors

 

One day a visitor came to Nasreddin's house.

"I am your cousin from Konya," he said, "and I have brought you a duck to celebrate the visit."

Nasreddin was delighted. He asked his wife to cook the duck, and served the visitor a fine dinner.

The next day another visitor arrived.

"I am a friend of the man who brought you the duck," he said.

Nasreddin invited him in and smiling  gave him a good meal as well.

The next day another visitor arrived, and said he was a friend of the friend of the man who had brought the duck. Again Nasreddin invited him in for a meal but he was not smiling this time.

He was getting annoyed. Visitors seemed to be using his house as a restaurant.

Then another visitor came, and said he was a friend of the friend of the friend of the man who had brought the duck.

Nasreddin did not have time to invite him  in but the man came in anyway  to eat dinner with him.

Nasreddin’s wife  brought some soup to the table and the visitor tasted it.    

"What kind of soup is this?" asked the visitor.

"It tastes just like warm water."

"Ah!" said Nasreddin,

"There is good reason for this. That is the soup, of the soup, of the soup of the duck of some days ago!

 

9. The greedy hippo

 

There was a greedy hippo. He ate everything in sight. From cheese to peas, chips and cake, he always had a bite.

Now hippo, he was selfish. He ate everybody’s food. He ate the cat’s, the dog’s, the cow’s. he was very very rude.

One morning after breakfast, he jumped into the lake. One big splash and he was stuck. That was a big mistake. The hippo, he sank deeper. Then he began to shout.

 

‘Help! Please help! I am sinking. Won’t someone pull me out?”

The animals all pulled and pulled, as hard as they were able. The Hippo popped out, ran past them all and ate everything on their table !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

The animals were angry and thought  they would play a trick. They made a pie from fish and soap to make old hippo sick.

“Here you are! We made a pie especially for you!”

“Thanks! I will eat it now , I’ve nothing else to do!” he said.

First a little piece, then a bigger piece, then a bigger bite. Then  a great big swallow. The hippo went back into the lake. He liked it there. But something wasn’t right, thought hippo.

“I feel quite odd inside!”

 

Now, he had a tummy ache. The animals looked. They were curious.

The Hippo learnt his lesson. It was the end of all their troubles. He left the town and changed. But he went to live to another river.

 

10.  The haunted house

 

Once, we walked through the forest on a dark, dark night.

Suddenly, the thunder went bang, bang. Bob, our dog, had such a fright!

Bob ran through the trees as fast as he could; into a house at the edge of the wood.

We ran after Bob and into the hall. We shouted his name but heard nothing at all.

​

“Bob, Bob!”

We looked in the kitchen and there was a snake, showing its fangs. What a noise we made. “Aargh!”  What a noise we made.

“Bob, Bob!”

We looked in the bathroom. Do you know what we saw? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight long legs in the bath.  Yes, you heard right. Eight long legs in the bath. We were glad there weren’t any more!

​

“Bob, Bob!”

We looked in the study and saw a hard shell. What was inside it? A turtle! Well, well!

​

“Bob, Bob!”

We looked in the lab and there was a cat and there on the table a horrible rat.  Yes, a rat!

​

“Bob, Bob!”   “Bob, Bob!”

We looked for hours and then I said, “Stop! We can’t find him! He’s lost…”       “Let’s just go home…”

We went home, opened the door and what did we see?

Inside the house was Bob lying on the floor, eating a bone.

 

11. The little blue parrot

 

Narrator:  The little blue parrot lives  on a farm.

Parrot:  Look at these fruit seeds. I can plant them.

My friends please help me plant the seeds. Dear snake, dear monkey and dear  lizard come and help me plant the seeds.

Snake:  No! I can’t now. I am busy

Monkey: Sorry! I am tired now.

Lizard: No! Sorry. I can’t now. I have something to do. Later.

Parrot: OK. I can plant them alone. I don’t need their help.

Narrator: The plants start to grow and to grow and to grow.

Parrot: Friends, can you help me water the trees, please?

Narrator: The snake, the monkey and the lizard were tired.

Snake: No! No! I can’t now.

Monkey: No! Sorry! I am tired now.

Lizard: No! No! Sorry. I can’t now.

Parrot: OUF. Then I can water them alone. I will do all the work alone.

Narrator:The fruit started to grow. At last, it was ready to pick.The parrot asked his friends for help. But the snake, the monkey and the lizard  said they were tired.

Snake: No! No! I can’t now. Another time

Monkey: No! Sorry! I am tired now. Another time.

Lizard: No! No! Sorry. I can’t now. Another time.

Parrot: Then, I can pick it. All by myself.

Narrator:The little blue parrot came home.

Parrot: Can you help me cut the fruit, please?

Monkey: No,we can’t.

Lizard: We’re busy. We are playing.

Snake: We are playing. Don’t you see?

Parrot: Then, I can cut the fruit all by myself.

Narrator:The little blue parrot made a fruit salad. He put the fruit in a big bowl. At last, the salad was ready.The monkey , the Lizard and the snake all come near him. They look at the fruit salad and say. We like peaches, plums, strawberries. Can we have some?

Parrot: I planted the seeds. I watered the trees. I picked the fruit. I cut the fruit. You can’t eat the fruit salad! But I can! And so the little blue parrot ate all the fruit salad.

 

12. The Wolf and the Dog

 

A wolf and a dog went out for a walk.

The Dog said to the Wolf, "Brother wolf, you look so thin! How can you be happy when you are so thin? You should come live with me and my master. I eat every day and I never want more food."

The wolf thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, you are probably right. Why should I be out here in the wild searching for food when someone else will give it to me? And you are so well fed. I have made up my mind, I will come to live with you."

"Good," said the dog, "then follow me."

As the dog walked ahead, the wolf saw that there was a spot around the dog’s neck where the fur had been worn off.

"Brother Dog, " asked the wolf, "why do you have that patch around your neck where there is no fur?"

The dog slowed down, stopped and turned to the wolf with sadness in his eyes.

"That is where they place the leather leash around my neck every night. They do this so they can control me and keep me in my place while they sleep." replied the Dog, not too enthusiastically.

"Never!" said the wolf as he began to turn back to the forest.                                                                                                "I would rather starve and be free than be fat and a slave."

And with that the Wolf disappeared the forest.

 

 13.  The worried friends

 

There were two funny men living together for a long time. Both of them were very close pals, very stupid and yet they lived happily. Something that annoyed  other people about them  is that they worried  even for very minor issues.

One day, they saw a sign board with these words.

‘If you can do something successfully, there is no reason to worry about doing it!

If you cannot do something, worrying for it will not make it happen!’

The two men decided not to worry for anything.

However, they still worried about who would then take care of their problems. They decided to appoint a person who could worry for their problems.

​

After a few days, they found a man who did not have a permanent job but  survived on temporary jobs. He got jobs here and there. They asked him if he was willing to work for them. He would have to worry about their problems.  It was a new kind of job for him but the man said that he was willing to take it on.  But of course he asked how much they would pay him for worrying for  them.

​

The old men discussed the issue and told him that they decided to pay 20 dollars for a week for his job!

The young man said that  it would not  work! He continued, ‘you pay too little for me  to worry about things that you should worry about. How can I worry when I really worry about the little money I make from this job?’

The old men discussed again and said that they were ready to pay him 150 dollars a week!

The surprised young man, said. ‘It won’t work again. You pay a huge amount. Why should I worry If  I earn a good sum of money?

The old men started to worry now!!!!