02 My Father Is a Garbage Collector
/02 My Father Is a Garbage Collector
*George was an eleven-year-old boy who enjoyed playing with his friends at school.
/*George was an eleven-year-old boy who enjoyed playing with his friends at school.
But recently, he had been having a bit of trouble at school.
/But recently, he had been having a bit of trouble at school.
It was because some of his friends had made fun of the people who collect garbage.
/It was because some of his friends had made fun of the people who collect garbage.
“Garbage collection is such a smelly job. I’d never want to do that.”
/“Garbage collection is such a smelly job. I’d never want to do that.”
“They smell like trash every day. How do they even do it?”
/“They smell like trash every day. How do they even do it?”
Whenever *George heard those kinds of comments, his heart would ache.
/Whenever *George heard those kinds of comments, his heart would ache.
That was because *George’s father was a garbage collector.
/That was because *George’s father was a garbage collector.
One day, on his way home from school, *George saw his father driving the garbage truck and working.
/One day, on his way home from school, *George saw his father driving the garbage truck and working.
“Dad, why do you work collecting garbage?” *George asked bravely.
/“Dad, why do you work collecting garbage?” *George asked bravely.
His father smiled and replied,
/His father smiled and replied,
“*George, because of this job, the town stays clean and everyone can live safely.”
/“*George, because of this job, the town stays clean and everyone can live safely.”
“If no one cleaned up the garbage, the town would be full of trash.”
/“If no one cleaned up the garbage, the town would be full of trash.”
Hearing those words, *George realized,
/Hearing those words, *George realized,
“My dad’s job supports everyone’s daily life.”
/“My dad’s job supports everyone’s daily life.”
The next day at school, *George spoke to his friends.
/The next day at school, *George spoke to his friends.
“Hey, you know, because of garbage collectors, our town stays clean.”
/“Hey, you know, because of garbage collectors, our town stays clean.”
But his friends still didn’t seem to understand.
/But his friends still didn’t seem to understand.
A few days later, there was a school volunteer cleaning day.
/A few days later, there was a school volunteer cleaning day.
*George’s class was assigned to clean the schoolyard.
/*George’s class was assigned to clean the schoolyard.
*Lucas, one of his friends, didn’t seem very excited at first.
/*Lucas, one of his friends, didn’t seem very excited at first.
“Picking up trash is boring,” *Lucas muttered.
/“Picking up trash is boring,” *Lucas muttered.
But once they started working, he realized how hard it was to pick up trash.
/But once they started working, he realized how hard it was to pick up trash.
After the cleaning was done, *Lucas said to *George,
/After the cleaning was done, *Lucas said to *George,
“Picking up trash is really tough. I said something rude before.”
/“Picking up trash is really tough. I said something rude before.”
*Lucas apologized with a serious expression.
/*Lucas apologized with a serious expression.
*George felt warm inside hearing those words.
/*George felt warm inside hearing those words.
“Yeah. I’m glad you realized it. Actually, my dad is a garbage collector too.”
/“Yeah. I’m glad you realized it. Actually, my dad is a garbage collector too.”
“If he heard that, I think he’d be really happy.”
/“If he heard that, I think he’d be really happy.”
Hearing that, *Lucas realized he had hurt *George without knowing it and felt sorry.
/Hearing that, *Lucas realized he had hurt *George without knowing it and felt sorry.
Then he said,
/Then he said,
“I understand now that any job done for others is important. I’m sorry.”
/“I understand now that any job done for others is important. I’m sorry.”
That day, the two of them walked home together, smiling and getting along.
/That day, the two of them walked home together, smiling and getting along.
*George felt proud of his father’s job and saw his friend’s growth and understanding.
/*George felt proud of his father’s job and saw his friend’s growth and understanding.
Together, they learned that working supports people’s lives in important ways.
/Together, they learned that working supports people’s lives in important ways.
Review Questions
/Review Questions
Why does *George’s father work as a garbage collector?
/Why does *George’s father work as a garbage collector?
a. To keep the town clean so everyone can live safely
/a. To keep the town clean so everyone can live safely
b. Because driving the garbage truck is fun
/b. Because driving the garbage truck is fun
c. Because he only wants to keep his own house clean
/c. Because he only wants to keep his own house clean
Why did *Lucas apologize to *George?
/Why did *Lucas apologize to *George?
a. Because he realized how hard it is to pick up trash through the cleaning activity
/a. Because he realized how hard it is to pick up trash through the cleaning activity
b. Because he ate *George’s lunch
/b. Because he ate *George’s lunch
c. Because he forgot to play with *George
/c. Because he forgot to play with *George
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Lucas felt when he realized how hard it is to pick up trash? And how would you feel if you were in *Lucas’s position?
/How do you think *Lucas felt when he realized how hard it is to pick up trash? And how would you feel if you were in *Lucas’s position?
Think about the jobs of people working around you, and discuss how you can show your appreciation.
/Think about the jobs of people working around you, and discuss how you can show your appreciation.
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