The photograph

Story 1

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Glossary

nearly: (adv.) very close to, almost. It was nearly Becky’s birthday. Her Mom and Dad asked her “What do you want for your birthday this year?” Becky thought for a few minutes, and then she said “I want a cell phone, please. Lots of the kids at school have cell phones, and I’d like one, too.” Her Mom laughed. “You’re very young to have a cell phone,” she said. “I’m nearly ten!” said Becky. “Can I have one……please!” “We’ll think about it,” said her Dad, smiling.

Becky woke up early on Saturday morning. It was her birthday. She was ten! She jumped out of bed and ran downstairs. Her Mom and Dad were at the breakfast table. They were waiting for her. “Happy birthday, Becky!” said her Mom, and kissed her. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart,” said her Dad, and handed her a wrapped gift. “This is for you from both of us.” Becky took the gift and tore the paper off as quickly as she could. It was a cell phone! “Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad,” she said.

Glossary

exciting: (adj.) great enthusiasm and eagerness. Becky was very pleased with her cell phone. She called her grandparents immediately to tell them about her new phone, and to give them her phone number.

Then Becky started to look at all the things she could do with her phone. The very best thing about her new cell phone was that she could take photographs with it. That was really exciting!

She ran upstairs to get dressed, and then went outside to take a photograph of her dog, Snowy.

That afternoon it was Becky’s birthday party. All her friends came. She showed them all her new cell phone, and gave everyone her new phone number! Of course she took lots of photographs of the party as well. She took photographs of her friends playing games. She took a photograph of her birthday cake. She took a photograph of her grandparents. She took about twenty photographs that afternoon!

Glossary

ducklings: (pl. n.) babies or young ducks. The next day Becky and her Dad took Snowy for a walk in the park. While Becky’s Dad was throwing a ball for Snowy to run after, Becky went to look at the ducks in the pod. There was a mother duck swimming about with her ducklings. Of course Becky took out her cell phone and took a photograph of them, because they looked very cute. She ran to show her photograph to her Dad and Snowy. They thought it was a very good photograph. Well, Becky’s Dad did. Snowy was more interested in running after his ball!

A week after Becky’s birthday her cousin got married. Becky went to the wedding with her parents. “Don’t forget to bring your cell phone with you,” her Mom said. “You can take some photographs of the wedding. So Becky took her cell phone. She took several photos of her cousin and her new husband. “Don’t forget to send us those photographs,” her aunt said. “I want to have all the photographs you take today!”

Becky wanted to take her new cell phone to school with her every day, but she couldn’t. One of the school rules was ‘No cell phones at school!’

But every evening Becky called her school friends, and she and her friends would send photographs to each other! In fact, Becky spent so much time talking to her friends on her phone, and sending them photographs that her Dad got quite worried. “Becky! Don’t you have any homework to do?” Then Becky had to say “Goodbye” to her friends and go and do her homework!

Glossary

worry: (v.) to feel anxious or troubled about a situation or problem.

Then one day, the teacher told the children about a new project he wanted them to do. “It’s a project about everyday life in your neighborhood,” he said. “Find out what public buildings there are near where you live. Find out about what work people do.” Becky put her hand up. “Yes, Becky?” said Mr Henderson. “Can we take photographs of people and places for the project?” she asked. “Of course you can,” said Mr Henderson. “I think photographs are a great idea!”

Becky was excited about the project. She took her cell phone around the neighborhood where she lived, and she took lots of photographs. She took a photograph of the street market near her house, and she took a photograph of the police officer on the corner directing traffic. She took a photograph of the man delivering letters. She even took photographs from her bedroom window of people passing by in the street below.

One evening Becky was looking out of her bedroom window, trying to find something good to take a photograph for her project when she saw two men running out of the house opposite. They were carrying a computer and a television set. That seemed weird! Becky lifted up her cell phone, focused the camera onto the two men, and took a photograph for her project. She went and sat down on her bed to check the photograph. It was a good one! Glossary

weird: (adj.) very strange.

After school next day Becky was having dinner with her Mom and Dad, when her Mom said “Thieves broke into the Green’s house yesterday and stole their television and Mr. Green’s computer.” The Greens were the people who lived in the house across the street from Becky and her Mom and Dad. “Oh no!” said Becky’s Dad. “Did they steal anything else?” “I don’t think so,” said Becky’s Mom. “And no one saw them!” Becky suddenly remembered the photograph she had taken from her bedroom window the night before. “I saw them,” she said.

Becky ran up to her bedroom for her cell phone. She took it downstairs and showed her parents the photograph of the two men running away with a television and a computer. Becky’s parents stared at the photograph on the cell phone in amazement. It was a very good photograph! The men’s faces were very clear. “You two wait here,” said Becky’s Dad. “I’m going to go and call the police. Glossary

stared: (v.) in the past. To look.

Two police offers came to Becky’s house. Becky’s Dad showed them the photograph Becky had taken with her new cell phone. The police officers were impressed. “I recognize these two thieves,” said one of the police officers. “They’ve broken into houses and stolen things before.” They congratulated Becky on her photograph. Glossary After that it was easy to catch the two thieves, and Mr and Mrs thieves: (n.) plural form of thief. A Green got their television and their person who steals or robs something computer back. or someone with or without violence. “And it was all thanks to you, Becky,” said Mr Green. “No!” said Becky. “It was all thanks to my new cell phone!”