Name_____________________________________Date________________________
Reading Comprehension
Volume 3, Number 32, May 18, 1998
www.rhlschool.com
Charlton Moves On
. . . Miss Joan was in a very
good mood as she entered the teachers’ lounge. She placed her
tray between Mrs. Plant and Mr. El. “Just think, only four
more weeks of school!” she said happily.
. . . “Must be
Charlton’s acting up again,” Mrs. Plant noted.
. . . “Please,
let’s not tamper with my good mood,” Miss Joan
replied. “Umm, this cheeseburger smells good.”
. . . Mr. El tossed a french
fry high into the air and caught it with his teeth.
“Haven’t you taught that child any manners
yet?” he asked. “Maybe I should discuss manners
with him.”
. . . Miss Joan lifted a french
fry with her fork and took a small bite. “I think not,”
she stated calmly, after being sure she had swallowed the morsel.
“It’s not that he’s a bad kid,
he’s just an expert at annoying everyone. And cooperation is
not in his vocabulary.”
. . . “I think he
just wants your attention,” Mr. El suggested.
. . . “I’m
sure of it,” Mrs. Plant agreed. “That poor
kid’s been shifted from foster home to foster home for most
of his life.”
. . . “Maybe
that’s part of it,” Miss Joan conceded.
“As a matter of fact, I have to cut lunch short today so that
I can meet with the little darling.”
. . . “What did he do
this time?” Mr. El asked.
. . . “He pulled
little Jenna’s pig-tails and then claimed he was just
practicing shoe tying.”
. . . “That was a
clever excuse,” Mrs. Plant laughed.
. . . Miss Joan sighed.
“Unfortunately, Jenna wasn’t favorably
impressed.”
. . . “Well, Miss
Joan, only four more weeks,” Mr. El said, “and the
pressure’s off.”
. . . That’s
right,” Miss Joan smiled broadly, “In four weeks
Charlton moves on and my blood pressure moves back down.” She
picked up her tray and started toward the door.
“It’s time to have a very serious talk with the
young man.”
. . . Miss Joan entered the
cafeteria and immediately noticed Charlton standing by his chair. She
signaled for him to leave his table and join her. He was more subdued
than usual as they walked toward their classroom.
. . . “Are you going
to call my foster parents?” he asked.
. . . “Do you think I
should?”
. . . “It
won’t make any difference,” Charlton said quietly.
This wasn’t his usual defiant tone.
. . . Miss Joan stopped and
looked at Charlton. “And why not?”
. . . “They’re
getting rid of me. My mother, I mean foster mother, says it just
isn’t working out.”
. . . Already sure of the
answer, Miss Joan asked, “Have you done anything to make her
feel that way?”
. . . “Maybe.”
. . . Miss Joan looked at the
door that led out to the playground. It was a warm and sunny spring
afternoon. The playground seemed much more inviting than their current
destination. “Why don’t we go outside and
talk?”
. . . They walked to the
swings. “We might as well make ourselves comfortable on these
swings while we talk,” Miss Joan said.
To be continued.
For discussion:
1. Does Charlton remind you of any one you know?
2. How would you deal with Charlton if you were his teacher?
Copyright 1998 RHL