Progressive 07
Socks on the Ceiling
Shay and Hanna were happy at home. Their routine was simple: cartoons on Saturday mornings, blanket forts in the living room, and sometimes raiding the cookie jar. When their parents said they were going out of town and leaving the kids with Aunt Maxine, Shay and Hanna protested.
“No way!” Shay said, crossing his arms. “We can stay here alone!”
“Yeah!” Hanna added. “I’m almost ten, and Shay can make sandwiches. We don’t need a babysitter.”
Their parents smiled. “Aunt Maxine is excited to see you,” their mom said.
Shay and Hanna refused to get dressed. They threw their pajamas on the ceiling fan, blocked the door with stuffed animals, and scattered cereal on the floor.
“See? We’re creative!” Hanna said.
Their dad laughed. “Nice try, but you’re going. Aunt Maxine will take good care of you.”
Reluctantly, the kids packed their bags.
When they arrived at Aunt Maxine’s house, it looked very strange. The house was round, like a giant coin. Maxine greeted them at the door with a colorful scarf.
“Welcome, my darlings! Get ready for surprises—and maybe some fun,” she said.
Inside, Shay and Hanna were amazed. The stairs twisted, the beds hung sideways, and socks were on the ceiling.
“Look! Socks on the ceiling!” Hanna shouted.
“Of course,” Maxine said. “That’s where they belong. My house is for fun, not for boring rules.”
Shay jumped on a trampoline floor, bouncing high. Hanna joined him. They tried the upside-down sink, where water flowed upward. Shay pushed a sofa on wheels, making Hanna laugh.
At dinner, spaghetti hung from a tree. Noodles twisted in the air. Hanna found a chair that spun her around and made sounds.
Before bed, Maxine tucked them in with a bedtime crown. “Explore the house as you like, but don’t be surprised if furniture moves!”
The next morning, pancakes hung on strings. Syrup was in an upside-down hat. Maxine danced in a polka-dot gown.
When their parents came, Shay and Hanna cried, “We’re not ready to leave!”
Maxine winked. “You can always come back whenever you want.”
Shay and Hanna knew Aunt Maxine’s house was the most fun place ever, with beds on the walls and socks on the ceiling.
Comprehension Questions
Why did Shay and Hanna not want to go with Aunt Maxine at first?
What was unusual about Aunt Maxine’s house?
What happened with the socks in the house?
How did the kids have fun inside the house?
What did Maxine say when their parents came to pick them up?
Your Thoughts
Would you like to stay in a house like Aunt Maxine’s? Why or why not?
Why do you think the kids enjoyed Maxine’s house so much?
How does the story show that breaking normal rules can be fun sometimes?
