Progressive 23
When the Sky Falls
Ethan had a big problem. It was only his third day at his new job, and everything seemed to go wrong. His boss asked him to finish an important presentation, but the printer jammed, he spilled coffee on his notes, and the meeting was moved… to just ten minutes from now.
“This can’t be happening,” Ethan muttered. He felt nervous and wanted to run away. But then he took a deep breath and said, “One step at a time.”
Ethan grabbed a notepad and quickly wrote the key points from memory. His handwriting was messy, but it would have to do. He fixed the printer and printed some of the slides. Then he ran to the meeting room. His coworkers were already waiting.
“Sorry I’m late,” Ethan said, setting up his materials. “It’s been one of those mornings.”
The presentation didn’t go perfectly. The projector froze halfway through. But Ethan didn’t panic. He walked to the whiteboard and explained the rest there. He smiled and made a joke or two to help everyone relax. By the end, his team was nodding and smiling.
After the meeting, Ethan sat at his desk, catching his breath. His coworker Maya came by. “Hey,” she said, leaning on his cubicle. “That was amazing.”
“Amazing?” Ethan asked. “It felt like a disaster.”
Maya smiled. “Maybe, but the way you stayed calm? That was inspiring. Most people would have panicked.”
Ethan blinked. “Really? I was just trying to get through it.”
Maya nodded. “Yes! You didn’t let a bad morning ruin the day. You showed everyone it’s possible to stay calm.”
Ethan felt warm inside. “Thanks, Maya. I guess I just thought there was no point in getting upset. Stuff happens—you just have to keep going.”
Later, Ethan heard two coworkers talking near the breakroom.
“Did you see Ethan today?” one said. “I don’t know how he stayed so calm. I would have lost it.”
“Same,” the other agreed. “He’s new, but he’s showing us how to handle a tough day.”
Ethan smiled quietly. He hadn’t thought about people watching him. He only wanted to finish the day. But now he realized that even when it feels like the sky is falling, how you react can help others too.
When the day ended, Ethan packed his things. He paused at the door and looked at the busy office. People were typing, talking, and solving problems. “One step at a time,” he whispered.
Outside, the evening air felt cool. Ethan smiled. The sky wasn’t falling anymore. It had just been a hard day—and he had handled it.
Comprehension Questions
Why did Ethan feel nervous at the beginning of the day?
How did Ethan handle the printer and the spilled coffee?
What did Ethan do when the projector stopped working?
Why was Maya impressed with Ethan?
What lesson did Ethan learn about handling difficult situations?
Your Thoughts
Have you ever had a day when everything went wrong? How did you feel?
Why is it important to stay calm when things go wrong?
How can staying positive help not only you but also the people around you?
