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Chapter 1. A Very Special Time
It is autumn now. It is evening. We are sitting at home in the living room. It is raining and the wind is blowing outside. But it is nice and warm inside. We are sitting all together near the fireplace. The fire is beautiful as it burns in the fireplace. Mommy Matilda and Daddy Arnold are sitting on a big red pillow on the floor. My younger sister Betsy and I are sitting on the blue carpet and our little brother Timmy is running around us. I love family home evenings!
“Dear puppies, Christmas is coming soon,” our Mommy says, “It is a very special time of the year.”
“Why is it so special?” I ask.
“I know! I know why!” Timmy cries. “It is so special because I will get a lot of presents. Last year I got a black remote control toy car from Father Frost!”
“You are right Timmy,” Mother says. “It is very nice to get presents on Christmas and New Year. But Christmas is not only about getting. It is also about giving.”
“What do you mean Mommy?” Betsy asks.
“Christmas is a very special time of the year, because you can do something good for other dogs; for your family and friends and even for dogs you don’t know yet. We call it ‘service’”.
“Mommy, but we are just little puppies, what can we do for other dogs?” I ask.
“Well, Rex, you can do a lot!” Daddy says. “You just need to use your imagination.”
“You and Betsy go to school; you have a lot of friends and teachers. Please think what you can do for them. How can you serve them?” Mommy says.
“And even Timmy, the smallest member of our family, can do good things at Christmas time.” Daddy says.
“In the United States of America, Christmas time starts at the end of autumn. It starts on Black Friday and ends on the 25th of December.” Mommy says.
“In other countries, like Russia or Ukraine, dogs start to celebrate Christmas in the evening on the 6th of January. And Christmas time goes on till the 19th of January.”
“I know what we can do!” Timmy is very excited. “We can start celebrating Christmas on Black Friday and finish celebrating on the 19th of January!”
“I love this idea!” Mommy says. “Let’s have two months of Christmas!”
“And let’s think what good things we can do for others during this time!” Father says.
autumn [ˈɔːtəm] – осень
living room [ˈlɪvɪŋ rum] – гостиная
warm [wɔːm] – тепло
fireplace [ˈfaɪəpleɪs] – камин
fire – [ˈfaɪə] огонь
to burn [bɜːn] – гореть
special [ˈspeʃəl] – особенный
service [ˈsɜːvɪs] – служение
to serve [sɜːv] – служить
to go on – продолжаться, длиться
Answer the questions
1. Where is the puppy’s family?
2. Why is Christmas time so special?
3. When do you celebrate Christmas in your country?
4. How can you serve others during Christmas time?
5. What present to you wish to get for Christmas?
True or false
1. The sun is shining outside.
2. It is very cold inside near the fireplace.
3. Timmy is running around his family.
4. Betsy and Rex are sitting on a big red pillow.
5. Mommy and Daddy are laying on the bed.
Guess the riddles
1. What do you call good things that you do for others; for your family and friends and even for those people you don’t know yet.
2. It is a very special time of the year. Everyone is happy. Everyone gives presents to each other.
