When the Stars Fall

Elena sat on the front porch, gazing at the night sky as the stars twinkled brightly above. Her grandfather, a retired sailor, joined her, carrying two steaming cups of tea. “You’ve got your head in the clouds again,” he said with a chuckle, handing her a cup. “What’s on your mind?”

She smiled faintly, her thoughts miles away. “I’ve been trying to figure out what to do next. Life feels so… uncertain.”

Her grandfather nodded knowingly. “Well, that’s the way life is, isn’t it? Full of twists and turns. But when the stars fall—metaphorically speaking—it’s up to you to pick yourself up and move forward.”

Elena tilted her head, curious. “What do you mean by ‘when the stars fall’?”

He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the heavens. “When things don’t go as planned. When dreams feel out of reach or life knocks you down. That’s when you see what you’re made of. You either throw in the towel or get back in the game.”

Elena sighed. “Easier said than done. I’ve hit a brick wall with my work. I keep trying to come up with new ideas, but nothing sticks. I feel like I’m chasing my tail.”

Her grandfather chuckled. “Ah, I’ve been there. When I was out at sea, there were storms that made me think the ship would sink. But I learned something important—calm seas never made a skilled sailor. Sometimes, you’ve got to ride out the storm and trust that you’ll find your way.”

“Ride out the storm…” Elena murmured. The words lingered in her mind. “But what if I can’t? What if I’m just not cut out for this?”

He leaned forward, his voice firm but kind. “Listen, Elena. Life isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment. It’s about making the best of what you’ve got. If one path doesn’t work, blaze a new trail. Don’t sit around crying over spilled milk.”

Elena nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. She thought back to the nights she spent sketching designs, the passion she once felt bubbling up again. Maybe she had been looking at things the wrong way.

“What’s one thing I can do to get back on track?” she asked, her tone hopeful.

“Start small,” her grandfather advised. “Go back to basics. Sometimes, we make mountains out of molehills. Take one step at a time and see where it leads. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Even the strongest sailors need a crew.”

Elena smiled. “Thanks, Grandpa. You always know how to help me see things clearly.”

The stars seemed to twinkle brighter as they sat in silence. For the first time in weeks, Elena felt a spark of motivation. Maybe she couldn’t control when the stars would fall, but she could decide how to pick herself back up.

“Looks like I’ve got work to do,” she said, standing up. “No time to sit on my hands.”

Her grandfather grinned. “That’s the spirit. Remember, when the stars fall, it’s just a chance to make your own light.”

Elena laughed, the tension in her chest finally easing. She gave him a quick hug before heading inside, ready to take her first step forward.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Figure out – To understand or solve something.

  • Example: “I’ve been trying to figure out what to do next.”

Pick yourself up – To recover from a setback.

  • Example: “It’s up to you to pick yourself up and move forward.”

Throw in the towel – To give up.

  • Example: “You either throw in the towel or get back in the game.”

Come up with – To think of an idea.

  • Example: “I keep trying to come up with new ideas.”

Ride out – To endure or survive a difficult situation.

  • Example: “Sometimes, you’ve got to ride out the storm.”

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct Phrasal Verb

1.      “I’ve been trying to ________ what to do next, but nothing seems clear.”

2.      “No matter how hard things get, you’ve got to ________ and keep going.”

3.      “It’s tempting to ________ when things don’t go as planned, but you shouldn’t give up.”

4.      “I’ve been trying to ________ new ideas for the project, but I feel stuck.”

5.      “Sometimes, you’ve just got to ________ the storm and trust that things will get better.”

Answers: Phrasal Verbs

1.      Figure out

2.      Pick yourself up

3.      Throw in the towel

4.      Come up with

5.      Ride out

Idioms & Example Sentences

Head in the clouds – To be lost in thought or daydreaming.

  • Example: “You’ve got your head in the clouds again.”

Hit a brick wall – To face an obstacle.

  • Example: “I’ve hit a brick wall with my work.”

Chasing your tail – To waste time trying to do something.

  • Example: “I feel like I’m chasing my tail.”

Cry over spilled milk – To dwell on past mistakes.

  • Example: “Don’t sit around crying over spilled milk.”

Make mountains out of molehills – To exaggerate a problem.

  • Example: “Sometimes, we make mountains out of molehills.”

 

Idiom Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct Idiom

1.   “You’ve got your ________ again; what are you daydreaming about?”

2.  “I feel like I’ve ________ with this problem. Nothing seems to work.”

3.  “Lately, I’ve been ________, trying to get everything done without making progress.”

4.  “There’s no use ________. What’s done is done.”

5.   “Let’s not ________. This problem isn’t as big as it seems.”

Answers: Idioms

1.     Head in the clouds

2.    Hit a brick wall

3.    Chasing my tail

4.    Crying over spilled milk

5.    Make mountains out of molehills

 

Multiple Choice Questions:

Circle the correct answer.

  1. What is Elena doing at the beginning of the story?
    a. Sketching designs
    b. Watching the stars from the front porch
    c. Talking on the phone
    d. Reading a book

  2. Why does Elena feel uncertain about her life?
    a. She recently changed her career path.
    b. She feels stuck and can’t come up with new ideas for work.
    c. She doesn’t have any hobbies to pursue.
    d. She is unsure of her relationship with her grandfather.

  3. What does Elena’s grandfather mean by "when the stars fall"?
    a. A meteor shower
    b. Times when life becomes uncertain or difficult
    c. Losing a competition
    d. Missing an important event

  4. According to Elena’s grandfather, what makes a skilled sailor?
    a. Avoiding storms
    b. Learning to navigate calm seas
    c. Riding out the storms
    d. Practicing on the shore

  5. What advice does Elena’s grandfather give her about moving forward?
    a. Avoid taking risks
    b. Wait for the perfect moment
    c. Start small and take one step at a time
    d. Rely solely on others for help

  6. How does Elena feel after her conversation with her grandfather?
    a. Discouraged
    b. Motivated
    c. Indifferent
    d. Angry

  7. What metaphor does her grandfather use to describe life’s challenges?
    a. Climbing a mountain
    b. Sailing through storms
    c. Building a house
    d. Lighting a candle

  8. What does Elena plan to do after her conversation?
    a. Quit her current work
    b. Focus on her passion and take small steps forward
    c. Create a detailed long-term plan
    d. Travel with her grandfather

  9. Why does Elena thank her grandfather?
    a. He helped her solve her work problem immediately.
    b. He motivated her to see things clearly and move forward.
    c. He offered to assist her with her designs.
    d. He shared a story about his time at sea.

  10. What does Elena’s grandfather mean by “make your own light”?
    a. Create your own happiness and opportunities.
    b. Build a fire to guide others.
    c. Find a lighthouse for guidance.
    d. Trust only the stars for navigation.

Answers: Multiple Choice

  1. b - Watching the stars from the front porch

  2. b - She feels stuck and can’t come up with new ideas for work

  3. b - Times when life becomes uncertain or difficult

  4. c - Riding out the storms

  5. c - Start small and take one step at a time

  6. b - Motivated

  7. b - Sailing through storms

  8. b - Focus on her passion and take small steps forward

  9. b - He motivated her to see things clearly and move forward

  10. a - Create your own happiness and opportunities

Thought-Provoking Questions

  • Have you ever felt like you were “chasing your tail” in life?

  • How did you overcome it?