A Broken Promise
Listen To The Following Reading
Jordan promised his little sister Mia they would spend Saturday afternoon at the park. She’d been counting down all week, even packing snacks and her favorite kite the night before. But Saturday came, and Jordan was nowhere in sight. Mia waited by the door, her excitement fading into quiet disappointment.
That evening, Jordan told his friend on the phone,
“I was supposed to take Mia to the park, but the guys called me last minute to play basketball. I figured I could make it up to her later, but I guess I really let her down. I didn’t mean to back out, but the game ran long, and I lost track of time. She’ll get over it once I explain. It’s not like I meant to hurt her feelings.”
Meanwhile, Mia sat on her bed, holding her unused kite. She told her mom softly,
“He promised he’d take me today. I know he didn’t mean to break his word, but it still hurts. I feel like he turned his back on me. He always says I’m his favorite sister, but he bailed on me again. Maybe next time I won’t count on him so much.”
Discussion Prompts
Explain what Jordan was feeling after missing the park trip.
What did Jordan mean when he said:
make it up to
let her down
back out
get over it
Explain what Mia was feeling after waiting for her brother.
What did Mia mean when she said:
break his word
turned his back on me
bailed on
count on
What do their words reveal about how promises and trust shape relationships between family members?
