The Babysitter
Version by Tamara Kula
When my aunt asked me to babysit my three cousins on Saturday, I was a little hesitant. I know that my cousins are always getting in trouble and misbehaving. But my aunt begged me. “Please say you can watch the kids!” she said. “I know you’re very responsible and I really need to take a trip on Saturday.”
“Well, OK,” I responded with a sigh. My aunt was so pleased that she gave me a big hug.
Synonyms:
1. be bad: ___________
2. mature: _____________
3. content: __________
4. take care of: ___________
5. ask: _____________
6. reply: _________________
7. not wanting to do something: __________________
- - - -
When I showed up at my aunt’s house on Saturday, I was amazed to see six children! “They have a few classmates here today so they won’t get bored,” my aunt explained. The minute my aunt left, my youngest cousin Jeff burst into tears. “I want my mommy!” he cried. Then my other cousin Bill kicked his sister Angela. “Bill’s picking on me!” Angela said, and she pulled Bill’s hair to get revenge. The other three kids were also acting out, running around and screaming.
Synonyms:
8. peers: ______________
9. start crying: ________________
10. hurt someone after they hurt you: ____________________
11. misbehave: ____________
12. surprised: ______________
13. be mean to: ___________________
- - - -
“OK, listen everyone!” I demanded. “Pay attention! I am in charge here, and if you don’t behave, I will punish you! Now, let’s go to the park and play.”
Jeff was still sniffling. “I don’t want to go to the park!” he complained. “I’m hungry!”
“Yeah, we’re hungry too!” shouted the others and all the kids ran into the kitchen like a herd of elephants. I started to clean the living room, but then I heard the sound of something breaking in the kitchen. I ran to check on the kids. “What happened?!” I demanded, looking at the broken glass on the floor.
Synonyms:
14. soft crying: _______________
15. look at: _________________
16. be good: _________________
17. be the boss: ______________
18. listen carefully: _____________
19. order, ask: ___________
- - - -
Angela pointed at Bill and said, “Bill did it! It’s his fault!” “I didn’t do it – you’re a liar!” yelled Bill, and he stuck his tongue out at Angela. “You guys are driving me crazy!” I shouted. “Now, Bill and Angela – go to your rooms right now!” I was very upset. Bill and Angela glared at me as they left the kitchen. Angela looked bummed and Bill was in a very bad mood.
Synonyms:
20. a person who doesn’t tell the truth: ________
21. annoy: ________
22. to be guilty: _______________
23. look at angrily: ___________
24. angry: _________________
25. unhappy: ________________
26. disappointed: ________________
- - - -
Suddenly one of the neighbor kids slipped on the broken glass and started crying. Soon he had a big bump on his head that was becoming more and more swollen. “I’m at the end of my rope!” I cried, feeling unnerved. “I want to quit this job!” Finally, my aunt returned. I just knew I would regret that I agreed to babysit. I will never watch my cousins again!
Synonyms:
27. stop: _____________
28. big and puffy: ______________
29. lump: _____________
30. fall: ______________________
31. stressed: _____________
32. fed up: ____________________
33. when you wish you hadn’t done something: ___________________
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