When the Thunder Speaks

The storm rolled in faster than expected, and by the time Alex and his younger sister, Lily, reached the old family cabin, rain was pouring down in sheets. Thunder rumbled in the distance as Alex fiddled with the keys.

“Come on, come on,” he muttered, finally unlocking the door. They both rushed inside, dripping wet.

“Great. Now we’re stuck here,” Lily said, plopping onto the couch. “I knew we should’ve left earlier, but no, you had to stop for snacks.”

“Hey, don’t start pointing fingers,” Alex replied, dropping the bags by the door. “How was I supposed to know the weather would go south so quickly?”

“Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to check the forecast,” Lily shot back, rolling her eyes.

Before Alex could respond, a loud clap of thunder echoed through the room, making them both jump. The lights flickered and then went out.

“Perfect,” Lily said sarcastically. “Now we’re sitting ducks in the middle of nowhere.”

Alex sighed and ran a hand through his damp hair. “Okay, let’s not lose our heads. First things first, let me grab some candles.” He rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a flashlight and a box of candles. “There, problem solved.”

Lily lit one of the candles and watched the flame dance. “You know, Mom always said thunder was the sky trying to tell us something.”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, and Dad used to say it was nature’s way of telling us to slow down. Guess we’ve got no choice now.”

They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the rain pounding against the roof. Then, Lily broke the silence. “Do you think things will ever go back to normal?” Her voice was softer now, uncertain.

Alex hesitated, unsure how to answer. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But sitting around worrying about it won’t do us any good. We’ve just got to roll with the punches.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who had to cancel her graduation party or miss out on senior year.”

“True,” Alex said, nodding. “But I’ve had my fair share of disappointments, too. Remember when I didn’t get that internship? I thought the world was ending, but it wasn’t. Life goes on.”

“Yeah, but what if I don’t figure things out?” Lily asked, biting her lip. “I feel like I’m running in circles.”

Alex smiled faintly. “Listen, sometimes you’ve got to weather the storm to see the rainbow. Things might be rough now, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way. You just need to keep your chin up.”

Lily gave him a small smile. “You sound like a grandpa.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to keep your spirits up,” Alex said with a laugh. “Besides, you’re tougher than you think. I know you’ll land on your feet.”

Another loud crack of thunder shook the cabin, and the flashlight flickered briefly before stabilizing. Lily’s eyes widened. “Okay, maybe the thunder is trying to tell us something.”

Alex smirked. “Yeah, it’s saying, ‘Stop overthinking and make the best of what you’ve got.’”

Lily laughed. “Alright, alright. Let’s play cards or something while we wait this out.”

“Now you’re talking,” Alex said, pulling a deck of cards from his bag. “Whoever loses has to make hot cocoa.”

As they started the game, the storm outside began to calm. The thunder grew quieter, as if even it agreed they were on the right track.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Roll in – To arrive or happen, especially suddenly.

  • Example: “The storm rolled in faster than expected.”

Go south – To deteriorate or worsen.

  • Example: “How was I supposed to know the weather would go south so quickly?”

Figure out – To understand or solve something.

  • Example: “What if I don’t figure things out?”

Light up – To illuminate.

  • Example: “Lily lit one of the candles and watched the flame dance.”

Run in circles – To make no progress despite effort.

  • Example: “I feel like I’m running in circles.”

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct Phrasal Verb

  1. The storm ________ faster than expected, catching everyone off guard.

  2. How was I supposed to know the situation would ________ so quickly?

  3. She spent hours trying to ________ what went wrong with her project.

  4. When the lights went out, they used candles to ________ the room.

  5. I feel like I’m ________, trying so hard but getting nowhere.

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

  1. Rolled in

  2. Go south

  3. Figure out

  4. Light up

  5. Running in circles

 

Idioms & Example Sentences

Pointing fingers – Blaming others.

  • Example: “Don’t start pointing fingers.”

Sitting ducks – Vulnerable or unprotected.

  • Example: “Now we’re sitting ducks in the middle of nowhere.”

Roll with the punches – To adapt to difficult situations.

  • Example: “We’ve just got to roll with the punches.”

Weather the storm – To endure a difficult situation.

  • Example: “Sometimes you’ve got to weather the storm.”

Keep your chin up – To remain optimistic.

  • Example: “You just need to keep your chin up.”

Idioms & Examples Sentences

Fill in the blank with the correct Idiom

  1. Instead of ________, let’s work together to find a solution.

  2. Without shelter during the storm, they felt like ________.

  3. Life can be tough, but you’ve got to ________ and adapt to challenges.

  4. Sometimes you’ve just got to ________ and trust things will get better.

  5. Even when things seem hard, remember to ________ and stay positive.

Answers: Idioms

  1. Pointing fingers

  2. Sitting ducks

  3. Roll with the punches

  4. Weather the storm

  5. Keep your chin up

 

Multiple-Choice Questions:

Circle the correct answer.

  1. "Where are Alex and Lily when the storm begins?
    a. In their car
    b. At the old family cabin
    c. At a friend’s house
    d. In a grocery store

  2. Why does Lily blame Alex for their situation?
    a. He ignored her warning about the storm.
    b. He stopped for snacks, delaying their arrival.
    c. He forgot to bring an umbrella.
    d. He wanted to explore the area despite the weather.

  3. What happens shortly after Alex and Lily get inside the cabin?
    a. The rain stops.
    b. The power goes out.
    c. They find a lantern.
    d. The storm gets weaker.

  4. What does Alex do to address the power outage?
    a. Fixes the circuit breaker
    b. Lights candles and uses a flashlight
    c. Calls for help
    d. Builds a fire

  5. What did their mom say thunder represented?
    a. A warning from nature
    b. The sky trying to tell us something
    c. A call to slow down
    d. A sign of bad luck

  6. How does Alex respond to Lily’s concerns about her future?
    a. He dismisses her worries as temporary.
    b. He shares his own experiences with disappointment.
    c. He tells her to focus on her graduation party.
    d. He advises her to wait for someone else to help.

  7. What advice does Alex give Lily about handling tough situations?
    a. Make a detailed plan.
    b. Weather the storm and stay positive.
    c. Avoid thinking too much about the future.
    d. Look for opportunities to change direction.

  8. What does Lily jokingly say Alex sounds like?
    a. A teacher
    b. A fortune cookie
    c. A motivational speaker
    d. A weather reporter

  9. What do Alex and Lily decide to do to pass the time during the storm?
    a. Watch a movie
    b. Play cards
    c. Tell stories
    d. Cook dinner

  10. What does the thunder seem to symbolize by the end of the story?
    a. Danger approaching
    b. The importance of slowing down
    c. Overcoming challenges and making the best of things
    d. A reminder to plan better

Answers: Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. b - At the old family cabin

  2. b - He stopped for snacks, delaying their arrival

  3. b - The power goes out

  4. b - Lights candles and uses a flashlight

  5. b - The sky trying to tell us something

  6. b - He shares his own experiences with disappointment

  7. b - Weather the storm and stay positive

  8. b - A fortune cookie

  9. b - Play cards

  10. c - Overcoming challenges and making the best of things

Thought Provoking Question

  • Do you think Alex handled the situation with Lily in the best way when she was feeling uncertain about the future?

  • Why do you think so?