The Best Night in Vermont

Michelle was looking out the window of her apartment block in Burlington, Vermont, watching the heavy rain.
Her husband, Sam, was searching everywhere downstairs for a working flashlight.
Their daughter, Samantha, was feeling a bit scared because the house was completely dark.
While Sam was trying to light a candle on the wooden table, they heard a loud noise at the front door.
Sam walked slowly to the door and opened it with caution.
To their surprise, their friendly neighbors were standing on the porch holding a guitar.
They were wearing raincoats and smiling brightly.
'We saw your dark windows!' said Tom, one of the neighbors.
'Can we come in and share some music?'
They didn't wait for an answer before stepping inside the warm kitchen.
For the next three hours, nobody was thinking about the vacation they cancelled or the work they missed.
They were singing old songs, telling funny stories, and drinking hot tea by candlelight.
When the electricity finally came back on at midnight, Samantha looked at her parents and smiled.
It was truly the best night of the year.

Read again and choose the right answer

Where does the story take place?

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Burlington, Vermont
• Seattle, Washington

What was Sam doing when they heard a noise?

• He was looking out the window
• He was trying to light a candle
• He was playing the guitar

Who was standing at the front door?

• The police officers
• Their neighbors with a guitar
• Sam's mother

What did they do during the blackout?

• They watched a film on TV
• They went outside in the rain
• They sang songs and told stories

Sources: photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels