Tom lives in a small flat in Bristol. He works in a factory that makes bicycles. Every day he cleans and fixes old bicycles. He likes his job because he likes working with his hands.

One day his sister Anna calls him. She says, “Tom, I have a problem. I need to go to London for two weeks. Can you look after my daughter, Lily? She is eight years old.”

Tom is surprised. He has never looked after a child before. He says yes.

Lily arrives on Saturday. She has a small bag and a big smile. She asks Tom many questions. “Why do you have so many bicycles?” “Do you like pizza?” “Can we go to the museum?”

On Sunday Tom and Lily go to the museum in the city centre. Lily loves the room with old machines. Tom tells her how the machines work.

On Monday Tom must go to work. Lily goes with him. She sits in the corner and draws pictures of bicycles. At lunch Tom buys sandwiches and they eat together.

After a week Lily says, “I do not want to leave. I like it here.”

Tom feels happy but also sad. He knows Anna will come back soon.

On Friday Anna returns. She says thank you to Tom. Lily hugs Tom and says, “I will come again soon.”

After they leave, the flat feels empty. Tom looks at Lily’s drawings on the wall. He smiles. He decides to make a small bicycle for Lily. He will give it to her for her birthday next month. He starts work that evening and feels very happy.

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Vocabulary Notes

Factory – noun
Meaning: a large building where things are made, usually with machines.
Example: “He works in a factory that makes bicycles.”
Similar words: plant, workshop

Fix – verb
Meaning: to repair something that is broken or not working correctly.
Example: “Every day he cleans and fixes old bicycles.”
Similar words: repair, mend

Look after – phrasal verb
Meaning: to take care of someone or something; to be responsible for them.
Example: “Can you look after my daughter, Lily?”
Similar words: take care of, care for, watch

Surprised – adjective
Meaning: feeling a little shocked because something unexpected happened.
Example: “Tom is surprised. He has never looked after a child before.”
Similar words: shocked, amazed
Related verb: to surprise – “Anna surprised Tom with her phone call.”

Empty – adjective
Meaning: with nothing inside; with no people or things in it.
Example: “After they leave, the flat feels empty.”
Opposite: full
Similar words: vacant, clear

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Video generated by MoneyPrinterTurbo AI.

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