When the Sky Falls

Ethan stared at the pile of papers on his desk, his heart sinking. It was only his third day at his new job, and things were already unraveling. His boss had asked him to finalize an important presentation, but the printer jammed halfway through, he accidentally spilled coffee on his notes, and to top it off, he had just found out the meeting was rescheduled… for ten minutes from now.

“This can’t be happening,” he muttered under his breath. The office felt like it was closing in on him, and for a moment, he considered just walking out. But instead, he took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and said to himself, “One step at a time.”

With no time to waste, Ethan grabbed a spare notepad and began rewriting the key points from memory. His handwriting was messy, but it would have to do. He ran to the printer, coaxing it back to life with a few quick fixes, and managed to salvage some of the slides. By the time he rushed into the conference room, his colleagues were already seated.

“Sorry I’m late,” Ethan said, setting up his materials. Despite his nerves, he smiled. “It’s been one of those mornings.”

The presentation wasn’t perfect, but Ethan kept his energy high, cracking a joke here and there to ease the tension. When the projector froze halfway through, he didn’t panic. Instead, he calmly walked over to the whiteboard and improvised. By the end of the meeting, the team was nodding and smiling, impressed by his ability to stay composed.

Afterward, as Ethan sat at his desk catching his breath, his coworker Maya approached him. “Hey,” she said, leaning against his cubicle wall. “That was amazing.”

“Amazing?” Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow. “That was a train wreck.”

“Maybe,” Maya admitted, “but the way you handled it? That was inspiring. Most people would’ve crumbled under the pressure, but you just kept going.”

Ethan blinked in surprise. “Really? It didn’t feel like that.”

Maya nodded. “Seriously. You didn’t let any of it get to you. It reminded me that a bad day doesn’t have to ruin everything.”

Ethan smiled, a warm feeling spreading through him. “Thanks, Maya. I guess I just figured there wasn’t much point in getting upset. Stuff happens, right? You just have to roll with it.”

Later that day, as Ethan tried to catch up on his workload, he overheard two other coworkers talking near the breakroom.

“Did you see Ethan during that presentation?” one of them said. “I don’t know how he stayed so calm. I would’ve completely lost it.”

“Same,” the other replied. “He’s new, but he’s already showing us how to handle tough days.”

Ethan pretended not to hear them, but a small grin crept onto his face. It hadn’t occurred to him that people were watching how he handled himself. He was just trying to get through the day. But now he realized that even when it felt like the sky was falling, how he responded mattered—not just for him, but for those around him.

When the day finally ended, Ethan packed up his things and paused for a moment at the door. He looked out at the bustling office, where people were typing, talking, and solving their own problems. “One step at a time,” he whispered to himself, smiling.

As he stepped into the cool evening air, Ethan felt lighter. The sky wasn’t falling anymore—it was just another day, and he’d pulled it back together.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Catch up – To get back on schedule or complete unfinished work.

  • Example: “Ethan tried to catch up on his workload.”

Roll with it – To adapt to a difficult situation.

  • Example: “You just have to roll with it.”

Pull together – To recover or regain control.

  • Example: “The sky wasn’t falling anymore—it was just another day, and he’d pulled it back together.”

Set up – To arrange or prepare something.

  • Example: “Ethan said, setting up his materials.”

Figure out – To understand or solve something.

  • Example: “Ethan grabbed a spare notepad and began rewriting the key points from memory.”

 

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the Blank with the Correct Phrasal Verb

  1. Ethan tried to ________ on his workload after the chaotic meeting.

  2. When things started going wrong, he had no choice but to ________ and adapt.

  3. After the stressful day, Ethan finally ________ and felt ready for the next challenge.

  4. Before the meeting, Ethan rushed to ________ his materials in the conference room.

  5. Despite the obstacles, Ethan managed to ________ a solution for his presentation.

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

  1. Catch up

  2. Roll with it

  3. Pulled together

  4. Set up

  5. Figure out

 

Idioms & Example Sentences

One step at a time – To handle a situation gradually and methodically.

  • Example: “But instead, he took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and said to himself, ‘One step at a time.’”

Stuff happens – A casual way to say that problems or accidents occur.

  • Example: “Stuff happens, right? You just have to roll with it.”

The sky is falling – To believe the situation is hopeless.

  • Example: “Even when it felt like the sky was falling, how he responded mattered.”

Train wreck – A complete disaster.

  • Example: “‘That was a train wreck,’ Ethan said.”

Crumbled under pressure – To fail or give up when stressed.

  • Example: “Most people would’ve crumbled under the pressure, but you just kept going.”

Idiom Quiz

Fill in the Blank with the Correct Idiom

  1. Ethan reminded himself to handle the challenges ________, instead of panicking.

  2. When Maya complimented Ethan, he replied, “Thanks. I guess ________ sometimes, and you just have to adapt.”

  3. During the meeting, it felt like ________, but Ethan managed to hold his composure.

  4. Afterward, Ethan described the presentation as a ________, but Maya saw it as inspiring.

  5. Most people would’ve ________, but Ethan’s calm attitude helped him persevere.

Answers: Idioms

  1. One step at a time

  2. Stuff happens

  3. The sky is falling

  4. Train wreck

  5. Crumbled under pressure

 

Multiple-Choice Questions

Circle the correct answer.

  1. Why was Ethan feeling overwhelmed at the start of the story?
    a. He wasn’t confident about his presentation skills.
    b. Several things had gone wrong while preparing for the presentation.
    c. He was late to work and missed an important meeting.
    d. His coworkers weren’t supportive.

  2. What did Ethan do after realizing the meeting was rescheduled?
    a. He left the office to take a break.
    b. He calmly began rewriting his key points from memory.
    c. He asked his boss to reschedule the meeting again.
    d. He decided not to attend the meeting.

  3. How did Ethan handle the projector freezing during the presentation?
    a. He called for technical support.
    b. He panicked and apologized repeatedly.
    c. He improvised by using a whiteboard.
    d. He ended the presentation early.

  4. What was Maya’s reaction to Ethan’s presentation?
    a. She thought it was a disaster.
    b. She was inspired by how he handled the challenges.
    c. She offered to help him next time.
    d. She didn’t think it was relevant to her.

  5. What lesson did Ethan share with Maya about bad days?
    a. They are inevitable and should be ignored.
    b. You can’t avoid them, but you can choose how to respond.
    c. They only happen to unprepared people.
    d. They don’t matter as long as you’re successful.

  6. What did Ethan overhear his coworkers saying about him?
    a. They admired his ability to stay calm under pressure.
    b. They were surprised he had made so many mistakes.
    c. They thought he needed more training.
    d. They believed he was lucky everything worked out.

  7. How did Ethan feel after overhearing his coworkers?
    a. Embarrassed
    b. Proud but humble
    c. Nervous about future presentations
    d. Indifferent

  8. What did Ethan realize by the end of the day?
    a. Handling pressure positively can inspire others.
    b. He needed to avoid mistakes to earn respect.
    c. People only care about perfect results.
    d. It’s best to avoid stressful situations altogether.

  9. What mantra helped Ethan stay focused throughout the day?
    a. “Stay calm and work hard.”
    b. “One step at a time.”
    c. “Focus on the big picture.”
    d. “Don’t let them see you sweat.”

  10. How did Ethan feel as he left the office at the end of the day?
    a. Exhausted and defeated
    b. Relieved and confident
    c. Anxious about the next day
    d. Uncertain about his future

Answers: Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. b - Several things had gone wrong while preparing for the presentation.

  2. b - He calmly began rewriting his key points from memory.

  3. c - He improvised by using a whiteboard.

  4. b - She was inspired by how he handled the challenges.

  5. b - You can’t avoid them, but you can choose how to respond.

  6. a - They admired his ability to stay calm under pressure.

  7. b - Proud but humble.

  8. a - Handling pressure positively can inspire others.

  9. b - “One step at a time.”

  10. b - Relieved and confident.

 

Thought Provoking Question

  • Do you think Ethan’s ability to stay calm under pressure is more important than having everything perfectly prepared?

  • Why do you think that?