(Mom shakes the small money-saving box and looks inside, confused.)
Mom: Huh? Why is there so little money in here? I thought I was saving!
Dad (relaxing on the couch, smiling): Well… you did put some money in. But you also took it out a few times.
Mom: No way! I don’t take that much!
Dad: Really? Last week, I saw you put in money once. Then, later, you used the key—one time… then again… and oh, a third time!
Mom: That’s not true! …Wait, maybe just a little. But I needed it!
Dad: Uh-huh. And what was it for?
Mom: (mumbling) A coffee… a cute notebook… and maybe a little sale at the store.
Dad: (laughing) So you’re saving… but also un-saving at the same time? That’s not how it works!
Mom: (pouting) Well, sometimes I need extra money for small things.
Dad: Maybe you should get a real savings box. One without a key. No little door to open. No backup plan!
Mom: No key? What if I really need the money?
Dad: Then you’ll think twice before spending it!
Mom: Hmm… I’ll consider it. But for now… (smiling) can I borrow a little extra from your wallet?
Dad: Oh no, no, no. My wallet is a real savings box—with no key!
(Both laugh.)
Vocabulary List
- Savings box – a small box where people store saved money
- Key – a tool used to open something locked
- Backup plan – an extra plan in case the first one doesn’t work
- Pouting – making a sad face to show disappointment
- Consider – to think about something before deciding
Grammar Tips:
- Past tense verbs in storytelling
- “Last week, I saw you put in money once.” (saw is the past of see)
- “Then, later, you used the key.” (used is the past of use)
- Expressing humor with exaggeration
- “So you’re saving… but also un-saving at the same time?” (Playful use of language for humor)
- Conditional sentences for advice
- “Maybe you should get a real savings box.” (should is used to suggest something.)
- “What if I really need the money?” (What if expresses concern about a possible situation.)
FILL IN THE BLANK
Mom: Huh? Why is there so little money in here? I thought I was !
Dad: Well… you did put some money in. But you also took it out a few .
Mom: No way! I don’t take that !
Dad: Really? Last week, I saw you put in money once. Then, later, you used the —one time… then again… and oh, a third time!
Mom: That’s not true! …Wait, maybe just a . But I needed it!
Dad: Uh-huh. And what was it for?
Mom: (mumbling) A … a cute notebook… and maybe a little sale at the .
Dad: (laughing) So you’re saving… but also un-saving at the same time? That’s not how it !
Mom: (pouting) Well, sometimes I need extra money for small .
Dad: Maybe you should get a real savings box. One without a . No little door to open. No backup plan!
Mom: No key? What if I really need the ?
Dad: Then you’ll think twice before it!
Mom: Hmm… I’ll consider it. But for now… (smiling) can I borrow a little extra from your ?
Dad: Oh no, no, no. My wallet is a real savings box—with no !
(Both laugh.)