Reading

Pamela

I had a lot of fun during the holidays. What about you?

Paul

So did I, but tell me what you did.

Pamela

As a family, we visited Lake Nakuru National Park in December.

Paul

I haven’t been there myself. Did you see a lot of animals?

Pamela

Oh yes! Our driver took us to see lions, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, giraffes, hippopotamuses, waterbucks and ostriches. By the way, he was also our tour guide.

Paul

Did you see all these animals?

Pamela

Yes, we did but they were not very close. I still remember one giraffe that appeared sick. My little brother begged my mother to treat it.

Paul

Ha ha ha! But why your mother?

Pamela

My mother is a doctor. She told him she is not a veterinarian. Now what about you? Tell me what you did.

Paul

Well, on Christmas Day, we visited my grandparents. Most of my aunts, uncles and cousins were there. We also made friends with the neighbours’ children. We had a lovely time together.

Pamela

I also love family gatherings. Anything interesting that you did?

Paul

Oh, yes. My cousins and I decided to play a game called “What I will be”.

Pamela

Mmm! Sounds interesting. What was it about?

Paul

We were pretending to be adults in various occupations. We were imitating our parents and other people we know.

Pamela

I see. What did you pretend to be?

Paul

I acted as a dentist. I told my cousin Loise to open her mouth wide so that I could extract her aching tooth.

Pamela

Was her tooth really aching?

Paul

Of course not. Loise claimed that I had removed the wrong tooth and said that as a lawyer, she was going to take me to court.

Pamela

She wanted to sue you? That means she was aware of her rights. Was there anyone acting as a judge?

Paul

Indeed, there was. It was my cousin Eliud. He said that he would listen keenly to all the facts before making a decision.

Pamela

Mmm! That sounds like a sober judge. No wonder they say as sober as a judge. So, did the game end there?

Paul

Oh no! Just then, Alice, my sister, started making some strange roaring noises. She was wearing Dad’s cap. “Give way and hurry up! I want to land the aeroplane,” she said.

Pamela

So she was pretending to be a captain?

Paul

You are right. She started boasting that her job was the most important of all.

Pamela

Did you agree with her?

Paul

Definitely not. We told her she needed the services of a hair dresser, a garbage collector, a baby sitter, a butcher and even entertainers like magicians and musicians for her life to run smoothly.