Second Grade
Worksheets
Peppermint Pennies (part 2)
Lost Penny Day
Reading Comprehension for February 12
"Help!" shouted Arvel, as Morag and Anwen raced back up the road.
The two girls stopped across from where Arvel had been. That section of the tree had broken, dropping him into the stream. Now he was floundering in the cold water, unable to pull himself free of its icy embrace.
"Anwen, run up to the Arvel's house as fast as you can and get his mum and dad. I'll try to pull him out!"
Morag gave her sister a push. She waited only long enough to see that Anwen was going before picking her way down the snowy bank.
"Hold on, Arvel," she shouted. Morag glanced around, hoping to see a branch. She thought she could hold onto one end and pull the boy out, but nothing was close. The ice looked too thin to support her weight, but she had to try.
She got down on her knees and crawled out on the cold surface. Crawling would spread her body weight over a larger area, and it might prevent her from falling through the ice. So far, so good, she thought. Arvel's teeth were chattering violently. His mittened hands were not gripping the ice so strongly now, but the wet wool was slowly freezing in place.
Just as she was close enough to grab him, she heard the sickening sound of the ice cracking. Then she plunged into the water beside him.
Morag gasped at the shock of the cold water enveloping her body but struggled to keep her wits. Her skirts felt like a shroud around her legs as she tried to stand. The water was just chest deep in that place. She grabbed ahold of Arvel and tried to lift him out of the water. Already, her joints felt cold and stiff. Every movement was an effort. Slowly she worked, dimly aware that more help had arrived.
