Here’s a story about two brothers, Jake and Mike. Their father is a forester and he’s taken them to the forest so that they can help him with his work a bit. But the boys don’t feel like working at all. The younger brother thinks his elder brother should set an example for him.
Jake: Mike, why are we hiding from dad? Is it for fun?
Mike: Shush, or he’s going to hear us. You know we’re not on a hike here. Dad wants us to work again.
Jake: I could have sworn he said it would be a nice day in the forest for all of us. I thought we’d be horsing around and having fun.
Mike: Not this time. Dad really meant a gorgeous day for us provided you like hard work. So, you’re right in this respect.
Jake: You’re so reluctant to work. You’re my older brother, you should set a good example for me.
Mike: OK, let’s leave it at that. You’re driving me nuts. Go and work all day if you want. I’m staying here.
Jake: Come on, we’ll have to work for an hour or so and that’s it. OK, let’s say two hours, tops.
Mike: Here we go again. I can never count on you. You really take after dad, you would work and work…
Jake: I’m not afraid of some work. I’m sure we’ll have time for some fun too.
Mike: It was so tiring walking here and now you’re telling me you still want to work?
Jake: Mike, the 20-minute walk was too much for you? You’re a joke! Besides, it’s time to eat something. I bet dad got us something good. I think I can even smell it.
Mike: Yes, I can smell it too. It’s making my mouth water actually. I’m starving. Let’s go. And yes, you’re right, we should help dad with his work a little. It turns out you set a good example for me rather than the other way around.
Vocabulary
| shush | used to tell sb to be quiet |
| hike | a usually long walk especially for pleasure or exercise |
| I could have sworn that… | used to say that you feel completely sure about sth, though it appears not to be true |
| horse around | to play in a rough or loud way |
| gorgeous | very beautiful or attractive |
| respect | a particular way of thinking about or looking at sth |
| reluctant | feeling or showing doubt about doing sth, not willing or eager to do sth |
| set an example | to cause sth to be accepted as an example for others to follow or try to copy |
| leave it at that | not to change sth or discuss it further |
| drive sb nuts | to make sb crazy |
| tops | at the very most |
| Here we go again. | used when sth unpleasant is about to happen again |
| take after sb | be like sb, such as a parent, to resemble sb |
| tiring | causing you to feel tired |
| joke | sb or sth that is not worth taking seriously |
| make one’s mouth water | to make one’s mouth wet with saliva especially because they want to eat or taste sth |
| starving | very hungry |
| turn out | to happen, end, or develop in a particular way |