A family of mice lived happily in the basement of a house, with plenty of food and space to play, except for the threat of a hungry cat. The mother warned the children not to go into the garden. When the mother went shopping, the children disobeyed and went into the garden, where they enjoyed the trees, grass, and flowers. Suddenly, the hungry cat appeared and stared at them hungrily. The mother rescued the children by barking at the cat, making it run away. The mother told the children they should learn a second language.

1. Once upon a time there was a family of mice. They lived happily in the basement of a big, beautiful and comfortable house.

2. Yes, mum! Ok, dad! They had plenty of food, room to play, nice furniture, but only one forbbiden thing… YES! A big, strong and hungry cat lives in there. Don’t forget it! Remember kids! You can’t go out to the garden…

3. Winter was coming, so mum went shopping because they all needed new scarfs. I’m going shopping, darling! Take care of the children! Don’t worry honey! Oops! ‘Was not an offside! Dad, as all daddies do, was watching football on TV.

4. But the children, as all the children do as well, thought the garden was a wonderful place and they disobeyed their parents. Look at the garden! How nice! How beautiful! Yes, yes! Let’s go out to play! Just for a while! Ok, let’s go! Oh, yeah! You’re right! … booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle.

5. They went into the garden and… Oh, look at the tall trees. Oh, look at the green grass! … and those flowers! … and that beautiful pond over there! The Sun was so bright and the breeze moved softly the leaves of the trees. Everything was pleasant! SURPRISE!!

6. The mice couldn’t believe what they saw. They laid on the fresh grass and looked at the clouds and the birds. Suddenly, a huge black shadow covered their heads

7. They were astonished and scared! The cat stared at them. He was in a bad mood because he was hungry. Mummy! Mummy! Mummy! Help! Help! Help!

8. Then mummy, as all mummies do, ran to help her children. She stood in front of the cat and, looking deeply into his eyes, she barked : WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

9. The cat ran away with fear. The children couldn’t believe their eyes. Wow! How did you do it? Yes! Tell us, mum!

10. Smiling at her children mum answered slowly: How many times have I told you? You must learn a second language!

11. This story is taken from the book “Knowing me. Knowing you” by Jim Wingate The story has been adapted by the teachers’ group of the “Programa de formació per a l’ensenyament de l’anglès a l’educació infantil i primària” Departament d’Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya November 2006