Progressive 29
When the Thunder Speaks
A strong storm came faster than Alex and his little sister, Lily, expected. By the time they reached the old family cabin, rain poured down in sheets. Thunder rumbled in the distance as Alex fumbled with the keys.
“Come on, come on,” he muttered, finally opening the door. They rushed inside, wet from head to toe.
“Great. Now we’re stuck here,” Lily said, flopping onto the couch. “I knew we should’ve left earlier, but no—you had to stop for snacks.”
“Hey, don’t blame me,” Alex replied, dropping the bags. “How was I supposed to know the weather would get so bad?”
“Well, it’s not hard to check the forecast,” Lily said, rolling her eyes.
Before Alex could answer, a loud clap of thunder shook the cabin. The lights flickered and went out.
“Perfect,” Lily said. “Now we’re stuck in the middle of nowhere.”
Alex sighed. “Okay, don’t panic. First, let’s get some light.” He found a flashlight and a box of candles. “Problem solved.”
Lily lit a candle. “Mom always said thunder is the sky trying to tell us something.”
Alex laughed. “Dad used to say it tells us to slow down. I guess we have no choice now.”
They listened to the rain hitting the roof. Lily asked softly, “Do you think things will ever go back to normal?”
“I don’t know,” Alex admitted. “But worrying won’t help. We just need to deal with it.”
Lily frowned. “Easy for you to say. I had to cancel my graduation party.”
“True,” Alex said. “I’ve been disappointed too. Remember when I didn’t get that internship? I thought it was the end of the world, but it wasn’t. Life goes on.”
“I feel like I’m running in circles,” Lily said, biting her lip.
Alex smiled. “Sometimes you have to weather the storm to see the rainbow. Things might be hard now, but they won’t stay that way. Keep your chin up.”
“You sound like a grandpa,” Lily laughed.
“Just trying to cheer you up,” Alex said. “You’re stronger than you think. You’ll land on your feet.”
Another loud crack of thunder shook the cabin. The flashlight flickered but stayed on.
“Okay,” Lily said, “maybe the thunder is trying to tell us something.”
Alex smirked. “It says, ‘Stop overthinking and make the best of what you’ve got.’”
Lily laughed. “Alright. Let’s play cards while we wait.”
“Now you’re talking,” Alex said, taking out a deck. “Loser makes hot cocoa.”
They played their game as the storm began to calm. The thunder became quieter, almost like it agreed they were having fun.
Comprehension Questions
Why were Alex and Lily wet when they entered the cabin?
What made them jump when they first got inside?
How did Alex solve the problem of no light?
What lesson did Alex try to teach Lily about the storm?
How did the story end?
Your Thoughts
Have you ever had to stay inside because of a storm? How did you feel?
How can facing problems calmly help you, like Alex and Lily did?
Do you think thunder can teach lessons, or is it just a sound? Why?
