5 Lesson 13 - Reading

I followed my mom to the local post office to fill out some paperwork. P

Each time we move, we need to notify the post office. P

This way, they can forward all our mail to our new address. P

The mailman comes to deliver our mail on a daily basis, except for Sundays. P

The only thing that gets delivered to our doorstep on Sunday is the Sunday newspapers. P

Every time I hear footsteps by our door, I rush out to see if it's the mailman. P

I've been waiting for my friends' letters all this time. P

They promised to send me the pictures that we took before I left. P

I'm so looking forward to those wacky pictures we took! P

5 Lesson 14 - Conversation

I don't know why but our mailbox was empty this morning. P

Of course! Today is President's Day. All offices are closed. P

Really? I had no idea. P

Yeah, the banks and the post offices are all closed in observation of this day. P

Oh, I see. I didn't know that it was a national holiday. P

Now you know! P

What can we do on day like today? P

We could go hiking today. P

That sounds like a great idea. P

Let's go! P

5 Lesson 15 - Reading

My dad and I went to the bank downtown to withdraw cash. P

He usually tells me to wait in the car while he withdraws money from the ATM machine, but he recently lost his card and had to replace it at the bank. P

I have no idea how my parents keep track of all the money they earn. P

I guess that's why there's a bank. P

My mom says that everything she buys with her bank ATM card or her checks gets paid for from the money she has in her bank account. P

Whoever invented this banking system is a genius! P

Imagine what would happen if we all had to store the money in our houses! P

Then nobody would be willing to leave the house. P

We'd always have to be on guard in case a thief should try to rob us! P

5 Lesson 16 -Conversation

I don't know what to do! I lost my wallet! P

Are you kidding? Oh no! How much did you have in it? P

Well, my parents gave me $20 yesterday and I had about $5 before then. P

That's too bad. You should have been more careful. P

I know. I don't know what I'm going to say to my parents. P

Don't worry. Maybe someone will turn it in. P

Should I go to the lost and found? P

Yes, it's near the school office. P

I hope they have it. P

I hope you find it. P

5 Lesson 17 - Reading

My mom and I went to a nearby theater to watch a movie. P

The movie just opened in all theaters today, so there was a long line when we arrived. P

We wanted to watch the 3'o clock show, but the tickets were all sold out! P

We had to wait one hour until the next showing at 4. P

My mom and I went to the concession stand to buy our buttered popcorn and a large cup of Coke. P

The movie wasn't as good as I had expected, but I enjoyed being out with my mom. P

Next time we go to the movies, I'll purchase the tickets online so that we don't have to wait in line for so long. P

My mom says that I shouldn't watch anything that's above the PG-13 rating, because those movies are inappropriate for children. P

I wonder when I'll be able to watch movies that adults all watch! P

5 Lesson 18 - Conversation

Let's go watch the movie this weekend. P

What movie? Is anything good out this week? P

I heard Spider Man is opening nationwide. P

Oh really? I can't wait to watch it! P

So you're going for sure? P

Yup, count me in. P

Okay, meet me at the movie theater around 4:30PM. P

Okay, I'll see you there. P

Don't be late. There's going to be a lot of people. P

I know. I'll arrive 30 minutes early. P

5 Lesson 19 - Reading

I went to the doctor's office with my dad to get vaccinated. P

The flu season is here so I had to get a flu shot. P

I tried not to go, but my dad said that I would suffer even more if I really catch the flu. P

Last year, I was sick for a whole week just because of stomach flu. P

I had to stay home for the entire week and drink lemon tea and take all sorts of prescription medications, including something called antibiotics. P

I'm not sure exactly what those antibiotics are but they made me get better a lot faster. P

The doctor told me that it's important for me to always wash my hands and brush my teeth at least 3 times a day. P

He says that good hygiene is the best way to not catch the flu this season. P

I better go wash my hands now! P

5 Lesson 20 - Conversation

I've been sick all day. I don't know why, but my throat really hurts. P

Maybe you caught the flu virus. P

But I got a flu shot a month ago! P

Flu shot doesn't guarantee that you won't get sick. P

Really? Now what am I supposed to do? P

Just go home and take a long nap. P

Good idea. P

Also, stop by the pharmacy and get some flu medicine. P

Yes, I will. Thanks. P

Hope you feel better. P

6 Lesson 1 - Reading

I went to the computer warehouse with my parents to buy a laptop computer. P

My parents are actually buying it for my brother, because he needs a personal computer during class. P

I guess college students really need laptops, because they take a lot of notes during class. P

It would be so cool if I could use a laptop at school to take notes. P

But laptops are not allowed in our school yet. P

We bought a fairly simple laptop for my brother. P

My mom didn't want to buy him a fancy one, because she only wants him to use it for educational purposes. P

My brother didn't sound too happy about that. P

Anyway, I think he's incredibly lucky for having a laptop of his own. P

Now he can bring it with him wherever he goes. That would be so convenient. P

6 Lesson 2 - Conversation

Hey! Where are you going? P

My parents are taking me with them to visit my brother at college. P

When are you leaving? P

We are packing the car tonight so that we can leave first thing in the morning. P

How long will it take you to get there? P

About five hours. P

That's a long time to sit in the car. P

I know, but I can watch the new DVD my parents bought me. P

Good, that will make time go by faster. But why are you going? P

My parents need to take my brother's new laptop to him. P

He's getting his own laptop? That is too cool! P

I guess you really need them when you get to college. P

6 Lesson 3 - Reading

Now that I think about it, there are a lot of things I can learn and enjoy through a computer. P

I can use it to play games, and I can also use it to read. P

There are countless numbers of texts I can read online, and there is no limit to the information I can gather by researching the web. P

All the grownups are always surprised to see that a kid like me can be so good with computers. But it's no big deal, really. P

Computers are very easy to use if you only know how. P

Besides, it's not the 1990's anymore. Almost every kid knows how to use a personal computer. P

I guess the world has really changed since my parents were kids. P

I can't imagine a life without my computer, but I'm going to make sure that I use it the right way! P

From now on, I'm really going to start studying with my computer. P

And who knows? Maybe then my parents will buy me a cool laptop of my own! P

6 Lesson 4 - Conversation

Wow. Is that a new laptop? P

Yeah. What do you think? My parents bought it for me yesterday. P

It is really cool. Is it your very own? P

Well yeah. I guess so. But it isn't just for playing games. P

It isn't? What else are you going to do? P

This laptop is really for my homework. P

Really? Do you get lots of computer work from school? P

Oh yes. I have computer work in almost every class now. P

I guess you have to type your essays? P

Sure. But that isn't all. Sometimes I have to do a web quest. P

What is a web quest? P

It is a kind of lesson that is online. P

That sounds like a fun way to learn. P

It is. P

6 Lesson 5 - Reading

Major League Baseball (or the MLB) holds a World Series tournament every season. P

My dad and I used to go to the New York Yankees games very often. P

That was before we had to move to Smalltown. P

Here, we don't have our own team, but we watch all of the games through television. P

There are nine innings in a game, and whichever team scores the most within those nine innings wins the game. P

Whenever a hitter hits a home run, all the fans stand up and cheer with joy. You can feel the entire stadium shake! P

Sometimes, when a player hits a home run, the bat can even break! P

From the sidelines, I tried to catch some of the foul balls, but somebody always got to them before I did. P

When I go back to the Yankee stadium, I'm going to catch a ball for sure! P

I wish that I could be with those players in the dugout. It must be so exciting! P

6 Lesson 6 - Conversation

This is the best time of the year! P

Why do you like the fall so much? P

I like to watch the World Series. What else would it be? P

Oh, that's a relief. I thought you suddenly became attached to school. P

Have you ever been to a game in person? P

Yes, being at the game in person makes all the difference. P

When did you go to a game? P

My dad and I used to go together sometimes when we lived in the city. P

Is it better in person? P

It is the most exciting thing in the world. The sights and sounds of the game make you feel like you are part of what is happening. P

I would like to experience that sometime. P

Maybe we can go together next time we go to the city. P

6 Lesson 7 - Reading

Yesterday, my mom bought me a series of books about the legendary Greek heroes and heroines. P

I started to read volume I, and it was much more fun than I thought. P

It was about the Trojan War and how the cunning Odysseus made it into Troy without getting caught. P

Odysseus, one of the Greek heroes, built a huge horse out of wood and left it on the Trojan beach. P

The Trojans, thinking that this horse was a gift from the defeated Greeks, brought it into the castle. P

But inside this gigantic horse, Odysseus and his soldiers were waiting for a chance to attack! P

When all the Trojan soldiers were sleeping, Odysseus and his men attacked the village and conquered Troy. P

I felt bad for the Trojans because they lost their homes to the Greeks, but I couldn't help admire Odysseus' wit. P

Because of Odysseus' plan, the Greeks were able to conquer Troy. P

I guess you really have to be smart to win battles, too. P

6 Lesson 8 - Conversation

What's up? P

Oh hello. Am I late? P

Yeah... I've been waiting for you for an hour. P

I am sorry. I got caught up in my reading. P

Wow... It must be good! What is it? P

My mom bought me this series of books about the Greek heroes, and they are really good. P

Really? What kind of stuff happens? P

Well, there is so much. There are wars and giants and great heroes like Odysseus. P

I saw the movie Hercules. It sounds like the stories are sort of alike. P

I think they are. P

That would be exciting reading. Can you lend me some of those books? P

Sure. Then you will have something to do while you wait for me! P

Very funny. Where should I start? P

Let's go see! P

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