Lexile: 660L
Word Count: 286
The Special Day
When Raul finally arrived home, it was dark outside. His rusty van
sputtered and wheezed as he pulled into his driveway. He wondered what
time it was, but the clock on his van’s radio was broken. He checked his cell
phone, but it was dead.
“Claudia, dearest, I’m home,” Raul called as he walked in the door.
Behind his back, he held a bunch of flowers wrapped in plastic. He wanted to
give them to Claudia, but she did not answer.
“She must be in bed sleeping already,” Raul thought as he removed his
suit coat and loosened his tie. He carefully set the flowers on the counter and
unpacked his briefcase full of legal papers. Then he crept upstairs and opened
the bedroom door. There was Claudia, asleep in bed. The lights and TV had
been left on, and Claudia was still in her work clothes. She had on a white coat
and wore a hospital badge on her sweater.
“Hi, sweetheart!” Raul whispered as he opened the door.
“Hello, honey,” Claudia replied as she slowly rose from bed.
Raul wouldn’t normally wake Claudia. However, this was a special day for
them.
“Sorry I’m late. I know this isn’t how we should spend our special day, but I
was stuck in court with my client. Then I had to stay late at the office to finish
some paperwork. Anyway, I got something for you.”
“Raul, are those what I think they are?” Claudia gasped. “They are! I
can’t believe you found them. Those are the same type of flowers that were in
my wedding bouquet.”
“It was nothing, sweetheart,” Raul responded with a smile. “How else
would we remember the awesomeness of our special day?”
©Kristine Nannini
www.youngteacherlove.com
42
Name: _________________________________________
Date: _________________
The Special Day
Use your inferring skills to answer the questions below.
1.) What is the condition of Raul’s van? How do you know?
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2.) What is the relationship between Raul and Claudia? How do you know?
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3.) What is Raul’s job? What is Claudia’s job? How do you know?
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4.) Did Claudia intend to fall asleep? How do you know?
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5.) What occasion are Raul and Claudia celebrating? How do you know?
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©Kristine Nannini
www.youngteacherlove.com
43