1 Rows of small houses lined both sides of Trade Street. They were old houses with old trees and very little grass. Matt and Sarah lived in one of those houses. They lived with their mother and father and baby brother, Joel. A neighbor watched over them while their parents were at work. Every evening when their parents came home, they would all have supper together. Usually after supper, they would watch TV together for a while and then go to bed.
2 Every time there was a holiday, Sarah hoped that her family would do fun things. Matt told her that holidays were for babies. Sarah knew that he didn't really mean it.
3 "Mama," Sarah asked one night. "Can we get some sparklers and fireworks for the Fourth of July?"
4 "I have to work on the Fourth," her mother answered as she fed the baby. "Go ask your father."
5 "You know Dad will just say no," Matt said as he followed her to the living room.
6 "He might not," Sarah replied. Why couldn't Matt be quiet?
7 Their father was lying on the couch. The TV was tuned to a fishing program.
8 "Daddy, will you be home on the Fourth of July?" Sarah asked.
9 "Sure," he said, his gaze never leaving the TV screen.
Paragraphs 10 to 20:
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