Aboody was a seven-year-old boy who was usually quite brave. He liked climbing trees in the park and wasn't afraid of insects or even small snakes. But Aboody had one secret: he didn't like the night. When it was dark outside and he was in his bed, every little sound seemed loud and scary.
CEFR A2 Level
Read and understand simple texts that include common vocabulary.
Aboody and the Night Noises
His bedroom was nice. It had blue walls with posters of animals like elephants and monkeys. He had a comfortable bed with a soft blanket. Next to his bed, there was a small lamp with a picture of the moon and stars on it. His mum always left this little light on for him. But still, Aboody felt afraid.
One night, there was a storm. Rain hit the window hard, and the wind made a strange sound as it blew through the trees outside. Aboody heard a scratching noise coming from the corner of his room. His heart started beating fast.
Was it a mouse? Or maybe a rat? Or something worse? He pulled the blanket over his head, covering his ears with his fingers. He felt a tear run down his cheek. He wanted to shout for his dad, but he felt too scared to make a sound.
He lay there for a long time, maybe ten minutes. Then, he remembered something his grandpa once told him. "Sometimes, Aboody, things sound different in the dark. Sounds can play tricks on your ears. If you're brave and listen carefully, you can often guess what they really are."
Aboody took a deep breath. He slowly pulled the blanket down from his head. He listened again. Scratch... scratch... It was coming from near the window. He turned his head slowly. The little lamp gave enough light to see the shape of his furniture - his bookcase, his desk, his toy box. He looked towards the window. A small branch from the tree outside was hitting the glass when the wind blew. That was the scratching sound!
Aboody felt a lot better. It wasn't a monster or a rat; it was just the tree. He listened to the rain and the wind again. Now they didn't sound so scary. The rain sounded like a gentle song on the roof. The wind sounded like it was whispering stories. He even heard an owl outside, which was a cool sound.
He realized his grandpa was right. He closed his eyes, feeling much less afraid, and soon, he fell asleep. From that night on, Aboody was still a little bit careful in the dark, but he knew that most noises had a simple explanation.