The Rainy Day: Staying Inside (Nivel Intermedio B1)

The morning started with the gentle sound of rain tapping against the windows. Emma, a ten-year-old girl with bright eyes and endless curiosity, peered outside. The gray clouds covered the sky, and the streets shimmered with puddles reflecting the muted light of the day. "It’s going to be a stay-inside kind of day," Emma’s mother said with a smile as she placed a warm cup of cocoa on the kitchen table. Little did Emma know, this rainy day would become one to remember.

Emma wandered through the house, looking for something exciting to do. Her mother suggested cleaning her room, but Emma rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing fun about cleaning,” she muttered. Instead, she rummaged through an old chest in the attic and stumbled upon a dusty box filled with forgotten treasures.

Inside, Emma found a photo album, an antique clock, and a book with a worn leather cover. She opened the book, revealing pages filled with handwritten stories and drawings. "This belonged to your grandmother," her mother explained when Emma brought it downstairs. "She used to write stories on rainy days like these."

Fascinated, Emma decided to create her own rainy-day adventure. She grabbed some paper, markers, and the old typewriter her father kept in the study. Sitting by the window, she began crafting a story about a magical umbrella that could take its owner to any place they imagined. Emma’s fingers flew across the keys, the sound of the typewriter harmonizing with the rain outside.

Her imagination soared. She described an umbrella that sparkled with stars and whisked its owner to tropical beaches, bustling cities, and even the moon. Emma lost track of time as she illustrated her story with vibrant pictures, her cocoa forgotten and now cold.

By evening, the rain had stopped, and the sky cleared to reveal a soft golden sunset. Emma presented her story to her parents, who listened intently as she read aloud. Her mother’s eyes sparkled with pride, and her father clapped enthusiastically when she finished. “This is wonderful, Emma. You’ve turned a rainy day into something magical,” her mother said.

That night, as Emma lay in bed, she thought about how much she had enjoyed her day. Even though she hadn’t gone outside, she had explored new worlds through her imagination. Rainy days, she decided, weren’t so bad after all. With a smile, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of more adventures to come.

Glossary

• Tapping: (verbo) Un sonido ligero y repetitivo, como la lluvia golpeando una superficie.

• Puddles: (sustantivo) Pequeños charcos de agua que suelen formarse después de la lluvia.

• Shimmered: (verbo) Brillar con una luz suave y parpadeante.

• Curiosity: (sustantivo) Un fuerte deseo de saber o aprender algo.

• Rummaged: (verbo) Buscar algo de manera apresurada o descuidada.

• Chest: (sustantivo) Un cofre grande y resistente usado para guardar cosas.

• Fascinated: (adjetivo) Extremadamente interesado o cautivado por algo.

• Harmonizing: (verbo) Combinar bien, creando un efecto agradable.

• Whisked: (verbo) Moverse rápidamente o de repente en una dirección específica.

• Intently: (adverbio) Con plena atención y concentración.