Unseen Passage for Class 3 - Passage 07

Passage - Ben sighed, feeling like he was always last in everything. From learning to whistle to losing a tooth, it seemed like he was lagging behind. His older sister, Kate, was known for her bossy nature. She advised him, "Jiggle your teeth. Find one that's wiggly and wobbly." Following her instructions, Ben tried to wiggle each tooth until he discovered the last one was loose.

Encouraged by Kate, Ben attempted to tug the tooth out. However, he mumbled, "Uh! It's stuck in my gums." Kate pondered for a moment and suggested, "Munch on that apple." Ben took a bite, but it only resulted in a painful experience.

Undeterred, Kate came up with another idea. She proposed scaring the tooth out, drawing inspiration from how people get rid of hiccups. Ben closed his eyes tightly, held his breath, and anxiously waited for the scare. But to his surprise, Kate tricked him by saying, "Hey! When am I going to scare you?" Startled by her sudden "Boo!" and arm-flapping, Ben instinctively moved his fingers to the tooth, giving it a final wriggle. Finally, the tooth came out!

Feeling a mix of relief and disappointment, Ben exclaimed that he would never lose a tooth or even learn to whistle. However, Kate offered to teach him how to whistle. With her guidance, Ben learned the technique of puckering his lips and leaving a tiny space. Following Kate's instruction, he shot the air out forcefully, and along with the whistle, out came his tooth.

Bump! Bump! Scratch!

Startled, Adam opened his eyes and hastily pulled the covers up to his chin. He scanned the dark room, trying to identify the source of the eerie noises. As if in response, the closet door shuddered under a mysterious force from within.

"Who's there?" Adam's voice quivered with fear.

Gradually, the closet creaked open. Adam leaped out of bed, racing towards the door. With all his might, he slammed it shut using his palms. Frantically, he wedged his desk chair against the handle for added security. Seeking refuge, he hurriedly dashed down the hallway and found his brother's door wide open. Adam hopped onto David's bed, seeking comfort and support.

A groggy David questioned, "Adam? Why are you here?"

Adam tugged at David's arm urgently. "There's something lurking in my closet!"

"Perhaps it was just a bad dream. Go back to bed," David dismissed.

Adam ripped the blankets off the bed in frustration. "It wasn't a dream! I was wide awake, and the closet door started opening on its own!"

Exasperated, David relented. "Alright. But after we don't find anything, you must promise not to disturb me for the rest of the night."

Adam nodded in agreement. David retrieved a flashlight from his desk drawer, and together, they made their way back to Adam's room. Adam paused at the doorway, listening intently to the scratching sounds emanating from the closet door.

"Do you hear that?" Adam whispered anxiously.

David nodded, stepping towards Adam's bed and removing the case from one of the pillows. He carefully opened it.

"You open the door slowly, and I'll grab whatever is inside," David instructed.

Adam shifted the chair aside, gingerly cracking open the closet door. Something forcefully struck the door, attempting to break free. With a deep breath, Adam opened it wider, allowing a small, furry creature to dart straight into the waiting pillowcase.

"I caught it!" David exclaimed, swiftly closing the pillowcase and holding it aloft.

Curiosity piqued, Adam moved closer as David cautiously peered inside. The pillowcase was placed on the bed, and an orange cat emerged.

Adam scooped up the cat in his arms. "Apricot? How did you end up trapped in my closet?"

David chuckled. "Poor Apricot. If I were stuck in your closet with those smelly shoes, I'd be banging on the door too!"

"Poor Apricot," Adam empathized. "You must have been more frightened than I was."