Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Slow Down
Mr. Smith sighed as he sat on his porch rocker. Every morning was the same thing. Get up. Get dressed. Feed the cat. Make some coffee. Put two pieces of bread in the toaster. Spread the toast with grape marmalade (not jelly -- marmalade, like his wife used to make). Go out to the porch and get the paper. Sit and watch the neighborhood wake up.
"There's Mrs. Barnette, walking that 'so-repugnant-it's-cute' dog of hers," Mr. Smith thought as he sipped the rich, cinnamon-flavored coffee. Generally, Mr. Smith liked the basic, bold, plain coffee, but sometimes, like today, he treated himself to a flavored coffee. He would never admit that to his friends who gathered on Fridays at the local diner for eggs, bacon, and the "good, strong stuff." They would tease him without mercy if they knew he went in for what they called "fluffy" gourmet coffee from time to time.
He waved to Mrs. Barnette, who returned a cheery, if hurried, greeting. "Hey, Ben," she said. "Have a great day!" Mrs. Barnette never stopped moving, pulled along by that little -- but powerful -- ball of fur. He learned a long time ago not to try to engage in a lengthy conversation with her.
