Everything You Have

Everything You Have                 (little dragons home page)

Mike rode his bike down the street toward home. The afternoon would have been a lot more fun if he hadn't been constantly aware of his English homework. His mom had told him that he could ride his bike to the park, as long as his English paper was finished. Well, he had finished it. Okay, so it wasn't the best paper he'd ever written, it was done, and he wasn't going to worry about it. If he wasn't going to worry about it, why had he not been able to get it off his mind all afternoon?

He pulled into his driveway and parked the bike in the garage. As he went into the house, he could hear his mom in the kitchen. "Hey, Mike, is that you?" she called. Mike went in to the kitchen and sat at the table. "So, you got your English paper all done? Great, I'm proud of you! We'll have an early dinner and you'll have the rest of the evening of free time." Mike shrugged and didn't really answer his mom. He headed upstairs to change. What was his problem? He should feel glad to have a whole evening ahead of him.

During dinner, Mike didn't talk much. When his dad asked about the English paper, Mike told him it was done, then changed the subject. After dinner, his mom asked, "Well, Mike, are you going to watch some TV.?" "1 think I'll go to my room," Mike replied. He went upstairs and sat at his desk. He got his English paper out of his backpack and looked at it. He got out a pen and paper and slowly began to write. Before he knew it, his dad was knocking on his door to tell him it was time for bed. In front of him was a new composition; one he liked a lot better than the first. He reread it again. It was a paper he could be proud of.

Mike brushed his teeth and climbed into bed. His dad came in to say 'goodnight'. "Your mom said you finished your English paper," his dad said. "I bet you're glad it's done." "I really am glad, Dad," said Mike, "It feels good to do your best."

Questions for Students
l. Why was Mike feeling bad about the first paper?
2. If he had just left the first paper as it was, he would have had a free evening Why didn't he?
3. How do you feel when you give a job everything you've got?                        Pick another storie