OH POOR ELENA! THE CAT ATE HER PIGEON!

Elena was happy. She had a good husband, Edward, and two perfect children, a girl and a boy. She used to have a good job, but she gave it up. She left it because the family had enough money. Edward was an early riser so he got up early every morning and made the children’s breakfasts. He helped them get dressed and then he drove them to school before going to the office. Elena stayed in bed and watched TV. However, the news was all bad and she worried about bombings, murders and the problems in the Middle East. She spent a lot of time with her beautiful cat Mamie. Mamie wasn’t an ordinary cat, oh no! Elena told everyone how special the cat was – like a human being; like a third child! How she fussed and faffed with that cat! When Elena looked into her cat’s eyes, she knew they had a really special relationship.

Elena also had a pet woodpigeon. It didn’t live in the house, of course. It lived in her garden. Every morning, Elena put sunflower seeds out for it and it always came for them. Elena loved the white ring round its neck and the way it fluttered its wings. Mamie never bothered that bird – she knew how much it meant to Mummy Elena. She really did.

Until one day when Mamie came in the house with feathers in her mouth. She wouldn’t! She couldn’t! No, she never would! Elena cried out and ran into the garden. Oh no, she had! There was the beautiful pigeon, dead. Killed and chewed on by Mamie, none other.

Elena screamed and started to cry. Then she ran back into the house to face the murderous cat who had betrayed her. Elena looked at the cat as if it was a strange, unknown creature. Mamie licked her paws, rolled over and purred.

‘Look, she’s just a cat!’ Edward said when he got home. ‘That’s what they do, sweetheart. Cheer up, it was only a pigeon! Oh and by the way, we need a receptionist at work. Would you be interested?’

‘Oh! Oh, well maybe I would…’ answered Elena. Perhaps it was time she went back to work. Life as a housewife was far too stressful.  

Answer in full sentences.

1)     Why did Elena give up work? She ….

2)    Why did Edward sort the children in the mornings? He…..

3)    Do you think that Elena should have got up to make the children’s breakfasts and get them ready for school? Was she being fair?

4)    What things did Elena worry about? Why do you think she worried about these things?

5)    How did Elena view her cat Mamie? Do you think her relationship with the cat was healthy and normal?

6)    How did Elena care for the woodpigeon?

7)    Why did she think the cat wouldn’t harm the pigeon?

8)    What happened to the pigeon? Who do you blame?

9)    How did Elena react to the pigeon’s fate?

10)  How did she view the cat after the ‘murder’?

11)   How did Edward react to the sorry tale of the pigeon?

12)  Do you think Elena should consider the job? Why or why not?