Reading I
Thomas and Jerry
Once upon a time in a village, there was an old man named Jerry. He hadn’t seen his son for few years and wanted to meet his son who lived in a city. He started his journey and came to a city where his son used to work and stay. He approached the place from where he used to get letters long back. When he knocked the door he was excited and smiled with joy to meet his son. Unfortunately, someone else opened the door. Jerry asked, “I suppose Thomas should be staying in this place.” The person said, “No! He had left the place and shifted to a different location.” Jerry was disappointed and just pondered how to meet his son.
He started to walk in the street and the neighbors asked Jerry, “Are you looking for Thomas?” Jerry responded by nodding his head. The neighbors gave Thomas’s office address Jerry. Jerry thanked them and started towards the path which would lead to his son. Finally, Jerry arrived at the office and asked at the reception counter, “Could you please tell me Thomas’s location, in this office?” The receptionist asked, “May I know how you are related to him?” Jerry responded politely by saying, “I’m his father.” The receptionist requested Jerry to wait for a moment and rang up to Thomas and conveyed the same.
Thomas was stunned and told the receptionist to send his father to the cabin immediately. Jerry entered the cabin. As soon as he saw Thomas, his eyes were filled with tears. Thomas was happy to see his father. They talked for a while and Jerry asked Thomas, “Son! Mom dearly wants to see you. Will you go home with me?”
Thomas responded, “I’m afraid, I can’t go home, father. I am swamped working for my success and it’s hard to manage a leave to visit as my hands are full of stressful work.” Jerry gave a simple smile and said, “Okay! You may do your work. I’ll be going back to our village this evening.” Thomas asked, “Would you stay for a few days with me, please?” Jerry responded after a moment of silence, “Son, you are busy with your tasks. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or become a burden for you,” he continued, “I hope if I ever had a chance to meet you again, I would be happy.” Then, he departed.
After a few weeks, Thomas wondered why his father came alone after a long time, he felt bad for treating his father in a weird manner. He felt guilty for it and took a leave in the office for a few days and went to his village to meet his parents. When he went to the place where he was born and grew up, he saw that his parents were not there. He was shocked and asked the neighbors, “What happened here? My parents have to be here. Where are they now?” The neighbors gave the address of the place where his parents were staying.
Thomas scurried to the place and noticed that the place was like a graveyard. His eyes were filled with tears and started to walk slowly towards the place. His father noticed Thomas in a far distance and waved his hand to draw his attention. Thomas saw his father; started to run and hugged him as soon as he met him. Jerry asked, “How are you?” and continued, “What a surprise to see you here. I didn’t expect that you would be coming to this place.” Thomas felt ashamed and kept his head down. Jerry said, “Why are you feeling bad? Has anything wrong happened?”
Thomas responded, “No father” he continued, “It’s just I never knew that I would be seeing you in this position in our village.” Jerry smiled and said, “I had taken a loan when you moved to a city for your college to pay for your education, then again when you wanted a new car, but due to a loss in farming, I couldn’t pay the loan back. So I thought of approaching you for help, but you were very busy and bustled with your work. I just didn’t want to burden you with this problem and remained silent and I had to let go away from our home to repay the loan.”
Thomas whispered, “You could’ve told me. I’m not an outsider.” Jerry turned around and said, “You were very busy and stressed with your work which made me remain quiet. All we wanted was your happiness. So I kept quiet.” Thomas started to cry and hugged his father again. He apologized to his father and asked to forgive him for his mistake. Jerry radiated and said, “No need for that. I’m content with what I have now. All I want is that you spare some time for us, we love you very much and at this old age it’s hard to travel to see you often.”
A. Find the words from the story that correspond to the meanings below.
a. a load, typically a heavy one - Burden
b. came near - Approached
c. so shocked that one is temporarily unable to react
d. left, especially in order to start a journey - Departed
e. a burial ground - Graveyard
f. very strange; bizarre
g. satisfied - Content
h. shined with energy or happiness
i. moved or ran somewhere suddenly or rapidly
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Why did Jerry go to the city?
➡ Jerry went to the city to meet his son Thomas.
b. What did the father want from his son?
➡ The father [Jerry] wanted his son to repay the loan which he had taken to send him to college.
c. Did the son agree to fulfill his father’s request? Why?
➡ The son did not agree to fulfil the father's request as he had to work for his success in the city.
d. What made Thomas decide to visit his father?
➡ After a few weeks Thomas realizes his mistake as he treated his father in a wired way which made him decide to visit his father.
e. What had Jerry taken the loan for?
➡ Jerry had taken the loan to send his son for further study in the city.
f. Why did Jerry return home without telling his son about the loan?
➡ Jerry did not want to burden to his son as he wanted his son's happiness so he returned home without telling his son about the loan.
C.Read the story again and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
a. Jerry did not use to get letters from his son. False
b. The neighbours helped Jerry find the way to meet his son. True
c. Thomas was so eager to meet his father in his office. True
d. Thomas requested his father to stay with him for a week. True
e. Thomas felt bad to see his father in his workplace. False
f. The story tries to show that parents’ happiness is tied up with their children’s success and happiness. True