It was a lovely sunny day. Tom’s family lived near the sea and his father owned a small sailing boat. Tom was a good sailor and decided to sail to a nearby island that day. Tom’s father was leaving for work and said to Tom “Be careful if you are sailing today. I think it may be windy and wet this afternoon.”
Tom called on his friends, Adam and Lucy. “Do you want to go sailing to the island? We can have a picnic”.
Adam said “That sounds fantastic. But I can’t go this morning because I’m helping my mum and Lucy. Can we go at 12 o’clock instead?”
Tom said “Sure. It’s very sunny. Bring sandwiches and your swimming costumes.” Lucy said “OK. Do you think it will be sunny all day?”. Tom said, “I think it will be fine, but I will check.”
Tom listened to the weather forecast on the radio which said, “It will be sunny until 2 o’clock but then it will be windy and start to rain”
Tom was worried but knew that Adam and Lucy wanted to go sailing. He thought that it should be safe and decided not to tell them about the weather forecast.
At 12 o’clock they met at the sailing boat and it was still very sunny. “The weather looks fine” said Lucy. “I think we’re going to have a great time! We are glad that you know how to sail Tom”
Tom was worried. He didn’t want to disappoint his friends but also didn’t want them to be in danger. Adam and Lucy climbed into the boat and waited for Tom to untie the ropes holding the boat to the harbour wall.
Tom decided to tell them about the weather. “I’m sorry to disappoint you but I don’t think that we should go. The weather is going to change, and the sea may get rough. I don’t want to put you in any danger.”
Adam and Lucy climbed out of the boat. “We are sad Tom but thanks for telling us. We can go another day when the weather will be fine.”
The three friends walked to the beach instead and had a picnic on the sand. They stayed until 2 o’clock when it started to rain, then they quickly ran home.
The Sailing Trip – Questions
Who are Tom’s friends?
Where were they planning to sail?
What time did the forecast say the weather would change?
Why couldn’t they go sailing in the morning?
Why did Tom cancel the trip?
What did they do instead?
Practising English 