Where The Storm Rages
The wind whipped through the trees, rattling windows and howling like a wild animal. In the kitchen of the Thompson house, the mood was just as turbulent. Lauren Thompson was packing boxes while her husband, Mark, hauled them to the car. Across the street, the Johnsons were boarding up their windows and stacking sandbags against the door.
“You’re really leaving?” Clara Johnson called from her porch, her voice rising above the gusts.
Lauren looked up, her face tense. “Yes, Clara. We’re leaving. This storm is going to be bad. The news said it could be the worst in years!”
Clara folded her arms. “We’ve lived here for decades, Lauren. We’ve weathered hurricanes before. There’s no need to panic.”
“It’s not panic,” Lauren shot back, her voice cracking. “It’s called being prepared. I can’t risk my kids’ lives!”
Clara shook her head, her frustration evident. “You’re scaring everyone with all this running around. My kids keep asking if we’re going to die because they heard your son saying the house might flood.”
Lauren’s face flushed with anger. “I’m not scaring anyone, Clara. I’m protecting my family. You should be doing the same instead of gambling with your children’s safety!”
Mark stepped out onto the porch, carrying the last box. “Let it go, Lauren. We’ve made our decision.”
But Lauren couldn’t let it go. “How can you be so calm? What if this is the one storm you can’t handle? What if you’re wrong, Clara?”
Clara stood firm. “And what if you’re wrong, Lauren? What if you’re uprooting your family and driving into chaos when we’ll be perfectly safe here? We’ve got supplies, a generator, and a sturdy house. We’re not leaving just because the TV says so.”
The tension between the women was palpable. From inside the Johnsons’ house, Clara’s husband, Dave, called out, “Clara, leave it alone! Let them do what they want.”
Clara sighed but couldn’t resist one last jab. “I just hope you’re not teaching your kids to be afraid of everything that looks like a challenge.”
Lauren turned away, biting back tears. “And I hope you’re not teaching yours to ignore danger because you think you’re invincible.”
The two families parted in silence, each convinced the other was wrong.
As the night wore on, the hurricane intensified. The Thompsons had safely reached a motel inland, where Lauren stayed glued to the news. She felt relief knowing her family was far from the storm’s path, but a part of her couldn’t stop thinking about Clara’s words.
Meanwhile, the Johnsons huddled in their living room, listening to the wind batter the house. Clara glanced at her kids, who were surprisingly calm, playing a board game by lantern light. She wanted to believe she’d made the right choice, but Lauren’s warnings echoed in her mind.
By morning, the storm had passed. The Johnsons’ house stood strong, with only minor damage. Clara called Lauren, who hesitated before answering.
“Hi, Clara,” Lauren said softly.
“We’re fine,” Clara said. “You were right about one thing—it was scary. But we made it.”
Lauren exhaled. “I’m glad. I didn’t want to be right about anything bad happening.”
“Maybe we’re both a little right and a little wrong,” Clara admitted. “We just see things differently.”
Lauren smiled, tears welling up. “Maybe. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
The storm had tested their friendship, but as they talked, they realized it had also given them a new understanding of each other.
Phrasal Verb & Example Sentences
Pack up – To gather belongings for a move.
Example: “Lauren was packing up boxes while Mark hauled them to the car.”
Look up – To raise one’s eyes.
Example: “Lauren looked up, her face tense.”
Let it go – To stop dwelling on something.
Example: “‘Let it go, Lauren,’ Mark said.”
Call out – To shout or yell.
Example: “‘Clara, leave it alone!’ Dave called out.”
Hold on – To stay firm or persevere.
Example: “Clara held on to her belief that they’d be safe.”
Phrasal Verb Quiz
Fill in the blank with the correct Phrasal Verb.
Lauren quickly ________ her boxes and loaded them into the car.
Clara refused to ________ her belief that staying was the right choice.
Mark tried to get Lauren to stop arguing and ________ the situation.
Clara’s husband ________ from inside the house, telling her to leave it alone.
The Johnsons decided to ________ and endure the hurricane at home.
Answers (Phrasal Verbs)
Packed up
Give up
Let go of
Called out
Ride out
Idioms & Example Sentences
Ride out the storm – To endure a difficult situation.
Example: “We’ve weathered hurricanes before. We’ll ride out the storm.”
Teach your kids a lesson – To impart a moral or practical teaching.
Example: “I hope you’re not teaching your kids to ignore danger.”
A gamble with safety – To take a risky chance.
Example: “You’re gambling with your children’s safety!”
The calm before the storm – A peaceful period before trouble starts.
Example: “The morning had been quiet, the calm before the storm.”
See things differently – To have different perspectives.
Example: “Maybe we just see things differently.”
Idiom Quiz
Fill in the blank with the correct Idiom.
The Thompsons felt like they were running out of time during the ________.
Clara believed her family would safely ________ the hurricane.
Lauren accused Clara of ________ with her children’s safety by staying.
By morning, the storm was over, and everything felt like ________.
Clara and Lauren realized they would always ________ about how to handle storms.
Answers (Idioms)
Calm before the storm
Ride out the storm
Gambling
A new beginning
See things differently
Multiple-Choice Questions
Choose the correct answer.
What was the main reason Lauren’s family wanted to leave?
a. They had a safer place to go.
b. They didn’t trust their house to withstand the storm.
c. They were worried about their children’s safety.
d. They didn’t have enough supplies.Why did Clara’s family decide to stay?
a. They couldn’t afford to leave.
b. They believed their house was strong enough.
c. They didn’t think the storm was real.
d. They didn’t want to scare their kids.What did Clara accuse Lauren of doing?
a. Overreacting and scaring the kids.
b. Leaving without saying goodbye.
c. Underestimating the storm.
d. Disrespecting her decision to stay.What did Lauren accuse Clara of?
a. Being careless and ignoring the danger.
b. Lying about her preparations.
c. Blaming Lauren for her fears.
d. Not talking to her husband about the decision.What did Dave tell Clara during the argument?
a. To prepare for the storm.
b. To leave the Thompsons alone.
c. To make peace with Lauren.
d. To start packing up.Where did Lauren’s family go during the storm?
a. To another state.
b. To a nearby motel inland.
c. To a friend’s house.
d. To an emergency shelter.How did Clara’s family spend the night during the storm?
a. Playing games by lantern light.
b. Listening to the news.
c. Hiding in the basement.
d. Watching the storm from the window.What was Lauren’s emotional state during the storm?
a. Calm and relaxed.
b. Relieved but worried about Clara’s family.
c. Angry at Clara.
d. Indifferent to the situation.What happened to the Johnsons’ house after the storm?
a. It was severely damaged.
b. It was completely fine.
c. It had minor damage.
d. It was flooded.What did Clara and Lauren agree on after the storm?
a. That both had made the right decision.
b. That they saw things differently but could respect each other’s choices.
c. That they would never argue about storms again.
d. That Lauren should have stayed.
Answers to the Multiple-Choice Questions
c - They were worried about their children’s safety.
b - They believed their house was strong enough.
a - Overreacting and scaring the kids.
a - Being careless and ignoring the danger.
b - To leave the Thompsons alone.
b - To a nearby motel inland.
a - Playing games by lantern light.
b - Relieved but worried about Clara’s family.
c - It had minor damage.
b - That they saw things differently but could respect each other’s choices.
Thought Provoking Questions
Do you think Lauren and Clara’s arguments were justified, or should they have respected each other’s decisions from the start?
Why do you think that?