Page 47 - Ext. Listening Reading_Neat

“When we get to where we are going, the Justin threw a second snowball that flew
first thing I’m going to do is build a house.”
Justin said.
“I want to live on the top of the world,
with a view of everything around me in all
directions,” said Jake.
“I want to be able to fish in a great lake
so we will have plenty to eat,” said Elan.
“I want to be able to plant vegetables so
I will have broccoli and green beans and
peas to eat with our fish,” said Justin.
“I want an orchard with apple trees and
bee hives so I have honey to dip my apple
slices in,” said Jake.
“I want to have pastures for our goats,
and sheep, and cows,” said Elan.
Travel was slow as they were unable to
travel at night, so the boys had lots of time
to think and dream. But as they moved
higher and higher into the mountains the
weather started to change. Autumn became
winter and snow began to fall. The boys
collected what they could from the forest
and streams so they were well stocked for
the winter. They decided to build huts for
each to stay in during the winter. They
worked hard. Justin built his hut out of
sticks and mud. Jake built his out of stone.
Elan’s hut was a frame with a fireplace of
stone in the middle and a chimney through
the roof. Each hut was cozy.
The boys were ready to settle down for
the winter. There wasn’t much to do now
but wait the winter out. In the Valley where
they had lived the winters were mild, with
little snow, and the cold was never bitter. In
the high country, they expected the winter
to be harsher with bitter cold and lots of
snow, and that is exactly how it was.
When the snow began to fall, it fell thick
and fast. It wasn’t long before the snow was
piled in banks all around them. It
threatened to bury their huts, but they kept
the doors clear and paths between each
house open. At night, even with the bright
white snow, it was still dark. One night, in
spite of the darkness, Justin came out of
his house and made a snowball and threw it
at Jake’s door to see if he could get him to
open his door. Jake opened his door and
wide of Jake and hit Elan’s house. Elan
stuck his head out his door and saw the
smudge of snow on it.
“Who threw snow at my door?” He
shouted.
No one answered. Justin threw a
snowball in the direction of Elan’s house, as
he was unable to see him in the dark, dark
night. Elan luckily ducked, as he couldn’t
see the snowball coming, and avoided being
hit. Not so for Justin, for the snowball
thrown by Jake, caught him in the side of
his head. Justin laughed and started
making more snowballs. Meanwhile, Jake
took the opportunity to throw a snowball in
Elan’s direction and hit him on the arm.
“Jake, you’re in big trouble now.” Elan
shouted.
Elan and Justin started to fire one
snowball after another in Jake’s direction,
catching him in crossfire. Snowballs flew
everywhere from every direction. The fight
went on, not with malice, but with great
fun. Snowballs flew right and left and then
up. Justin made a giant snowball and threw
it high in the air where it was carried by the
mountain winds, high above the mountain
peaks, high enough to reflect the suns light
from the other side of the world, and
thereby became the moon. The other boys
began to throw their snowballs into the air
instead of at each other, and as each
snowball caught the mountain winds, they
drifted up and up, and began to fill the sky
with stars, and planets, and all the
celestial bodies. Now with the moon and
stars in place, the night sky was
brightening. An occasional snowball would
drift back to earth creating streak in the
sky as it melted. If the boys would be lucky
enough to catch a glimpse of the streak of
light, they’d make a wish. The boys threw
the snowballs into the air all night, and, as
they did, a soft glow began to surround
them and gave them the ability to see in the
dark. They could see each other’s huts and
each other, but instead of throwing the
snowballs at each other, they continued to
fill the sky with stars.
Extensive Listening & Reading l 43