The Darling family lived in the city of London.
They lived in a tall, narrow house.
There were three children in the family.
Wendy was the oldest.
She had two brothers, called John and Michael.
The children slept in a bedroom at the top of the house.
Wendy told them stories about strange lands.
Their bedroom was a happy place.
Mr. and Mrs. Darling loved their children.
But they needed help to look after them.
KEY WORDS
grow up (grow–grew–grown)
narrow (↔ wide)
oldest
call
top
tell (tell–told–told)
about
strange
land
place
need
help
look after
“I do not have much money.
I cannot pay someone to look after you,” Mr.
Darling told them.
So he bought a big, friendly dog called Nana.
She looked after the children well.
Nana brushed their hair.
She helped them to dress.
She gave them their medicine.
She even filled the bath with water for them.
KEY WORDS
can (= be able to)
pay (pay–paid–paid)
so
buy (buy–bought–bought)
friendly
well
brush one’s hair
dress
medicine
even
fil
bath
get ready to go out (get–got–gotten)
too ... to ~
share
shall
of one’s own
have fun
safe
watch over
One evening, Mr. and Mrs. Darling were getting ready to go out.
They went into the children’s bedroom.
“Wendy, you are too old to share a room with
your brothers,” said Mr. Darling.
“Tomorrow, you shall have a room of your own.”
“But I like it in here!” said Wendy.
“We have fun together.
I feel safe with Nana watching over us.”
Wendy did not want to grow up.
When she was about to tell her father, he
shouted, “Look at my trousers!”
His smart trousers were covered with long, white dog hairs.
“Why do we have a dog to take care of our
children?” he shouted.
“Because she looks after them so well,” said Mrs.
Darling.
Just then, Nana appeared.
She had some medicine for Michael.
“Time to take your medicine,” she said.
KEY WORDS
be about to + Verb
shout
look at
trousers
smart
be covered with
take care of (take–took–taken)
because
just then
appear
take a medicine
Michael frowned.
“I don’t want to take it.” he said.
“When I was a boy, I always took my medicine,”
said Mr. Darling.
“You must do the same.”
This was not true.
Mr. Darling hated to take any medicine.
Wendy knew where Mr. Darling kept his medicine.
She went to fetch it.
“You can show Michael how to be brave,” she said.
Mr. Darling did not want to take the medicine.
He poured it into Nana’s bowl.
Nana began to drink it!
KEY WORDS
frown
always
must (= have to)
same
true
hate
know (know–knew–known)
keep (keep–kept–kept)
fetch
show (show–showed–shown)
how to + Verb
brave
pour
bowl
begin (begin–began–begun)
think (think–thought–thought)
funny
joke
mean (mean–meant–meant)
ashamed
outside
still
guard
take
downstairs
tie
doghouse
Mr. Darling thought it was a funny joke.
“That was a mean thing to do!” said Wendy.
Mr. Darling felt ashamed.
“Nana must go and sleep outside!” he said.
“But who will look after us?” cried Michael.
“Nana can still guard the house,” said Mr.
Darling.
He took Nana downstairs.
He tied her to the doghouse.
After a while, Mrs. Darling came out.
She looked up at the window.
“I hope that the children will be safe,” she said.
Nana barked.
It was a bark that meant danger was near.
“Don’t you think we should stay at home?” asked Mrs. Darling.
“No, I do not,” said Mr. Darling.
“Now let us go, or we will miss our dinner.”
In the bedroom, Wendy lay in bed.
The curtains were open, and she could see the stars.
Everything was quiet.
John and Michael were asleep.
The window was open a little.
Wendy heard Nana barking.
She wondered why Nana was barking.
But, she fell asleep soon.
POP QUIZ
How did Nana express that danger was near?
ⓐ She took her medicine.
ⓑ She barked.
KEY WORDS
after a while
come out (come–came–come)
look up
hope
bark
danger
near
should
stay at home
let us (let–let–let)
or
miss
lie (lie–lay–lain)
quiet
asleep
hear
wonder
soon