Tommy is a ten year old dark brown Vizslador. He is a mix of a Chocolate Labrador and a Hungarian Vizsla, so he is clever, loyal, and full of energy, even at his age. He lives with his owner, Mrs Green, in a small cosy house near the river. Everyone in the neighbourhood knows Tommy. Some people call him “Good Boy Tommy,” and some people call him “That Dog Who Causes Trouble.” Both names are correct.
One sunny Wednesday, Mrs Green decides to clean the house. She works hard all morning and finally sits down with a cup of tea. “Tommy,” she says, “please behave today. I am tired.” Tommy listens for a moment, then walks away to find something interesting to do. He is ten years old, but he still thinks he is a puppy.
While exploring the garden, Tommy notices a squirrel sitting on the fence. The squirrel looks at him with small, bright eyes. Tommy stares back. For a moment, they are like two cowboys in an old film. Then, whoosh! the squirrel runs, and Tommy follows. He runs across the garden, through the flowers, around the washing line, and straight into a bucket of water. The water splashes everywhere. Tommy looks like a wet, confused chocolate bar. The squirrel watches from the tree and seems to laugh.
When Tommy goes back inside, Mrs Green gasps. “Oh no, Tommy! You are soaking wet! And now you are dripping on my clean floor!” Tommy looks down at the water, surprised. He had forgotten he was wet.
Mrs Green dries him with a towel and puts the towel on the chair. “Please, Tommy,” she says gently, “just sit and rest.”
Tommy tries. He really does. But a few minutes later, he smells something wonderful. Mrs Green has baked cheese biscuits for her friend, Mrs Carter. She leaves the warm biscuits on the counter. Tommy looks at them with big, hopeful eyes. The biscuits look back like they are saying, “Eat us, Tommy.”
He knows he should not jump. He knows it very well. But he is a dog, and dogs do not always make good choices. So Tommy tries to reach the biscuits. He jumps… and misses. He falls backwards into the chair with the towel, and the chair tips over. Tommy rolls onto the floor wrapped up like a warm, wiggly sausage roll.
Mrs Green runs in and sees the mess. She puts her hands on her hips. Tommy lies very still. Then, slowly, he wags his tail. Wiggly towel. Wiggly tail. Wiggly dog. Mrs Green can’t help it, she starts to laugh.
“Oh, Tommy,” she says, “you are trouble, but you are my trouble.”
She gives him one biscuit, just one. Tommy eats it carefully, thinking hard. He has learned two things today: never chase a squirrel through a garden full of flowers, and never jump for biscuits when you are still wet.
Vocabulary Notes
Cosy
Meaning: Warm, comfortable, and pleasant.
Example: “He lives with his owner, Mrs Green, in a small cosy house near the river.”
Other example: “The café felt cosy on a cold day.”
Similar words: warm, comfortable, homely, snug.
Neighbourhood
Meaning: The area around someone’s home; a community of houses and people.
Example: “Everyone in the neighbourhood knows Tommy.”
Other example: “There is a small shop in my neighbourhood.”
Similar words: area, district, community, region.
Soaking wet
Meaning: Completely wet; very, very wet.
Example: “Oh no, Tommy! You are soaking wet!”
Other example: “She walked home in the rain and came in soaking wet.”
Similar words: dripping, soaked, wet through.
Gasps
Meaning: Makes a short, quick breath because of surprise, shock, or fear.
Example: “Mrs Green gasps.”
Other example: “He gasped when he saw the price of the shoes.”
Similar words: inhale sharply, breathe in quickly, exclaim (a little similar in feeling).
Mess
Meaning: A dirty or untidy state; things are not in the right place.
Example: “She runs in and sees the mess.”
Other example: “The children made a mess in the living room.”
Similar words: chaos, untidiness, clutter (slightly stronger), disorder.
Story written by ChatGPT.
Image created by ChatGPT.
CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.
Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners 
Leave a comment