A Big House and Small Animals
Animals are small, but they can give you big problems. This story is about two hamsters and a very panicked au pair—me.
When I was an au pair in an aristocratic family, I looked after the children. But when they went on a long, expensive holiday, they left me in the house to look after everything: the dogs, the horses, the garden, and the two hamsters. Easy, right? Just suddenly, I remembered the hamsters. I forgot to feed them.
“Not again,” I said.
Freddy and Mr Hamster
There were two hamsters: Freddy and Mr Hamster. Freddy was fast and greedy. Mr Hamster… well, he was dramatic. I ran through the long corridors of the big house to check them. The floors were shiny, the chandeliers were sparkling, and the echo made my panic louder.
Freddy was fine. He ran on his wheel and ate his food happily. But Mr Hamster did not move. He was lying in his cage. I stopped.
“Oh no… he is dead,” I whispered.
A Panicked Plan
I picked up Mr Hamster carefully. He felt very light. I ran to the kitchen, turned on the tap, and put a little water in his mouth. Nothing. Then I tried a grape. Still nothing. I was very worried.
I called my boyfriend, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book.
“Help! Mr Hamster… he is… he is…” I waved the hamster in the air like it was a tiny, fluffy sword.
“Slow down,” he said calmly. “What is happening?”
“Oh no… I killed him!” I cried.
He got up, yawning. “You cannot kill a hamster by forgetting one meal. Just put him down.”
“I tried that! He does not move!” I waved Mr Hamster again. “I need a plan!”
Remembering Yesterday
We looked around. The cages were on the table, next to the window. The sun was shining. I remembered: yesterday, I did not check Mr Hamster. Before feeding the dogs, I walked outside. After cleaning the stables, I rested in the living room.
“So… maybe he is just tired?” my boyfriend said.
“Tired? He is a hamster, not a cat! He needs water, food, attention…” I counted my worries on my fingers. “And cuddles. Maybe cuddles!”
A Crazy Solution
I thought of a solution. “First, I will go to the pet shop. I will buy another hamster. Then I will put it in the cage. No one will see.”
“Or,” my boyfriend said slowly, “you can just… wait.”
“Wait? While my hamster dies? Are you kidding me?”
We sat in silence. Then, I heard a small sound.
“Shhh,” I whispered. “Listen.”
It was a tiny squeak. Mr Hamster moved! Slowly, he lifted his legs, stretched, and sniffed the air.
“I think… he is alive!” I shouted.
“You think?” my boyfriend teased. “Maybe he is screaming at your panic.”
I laughed, even though I was still nervous. I put Mr Hamster back in his cage. Freddy ran to his food again, looking proud, like he knew everything.
Organising Everything
After the panic, I decided to organise everything carefully. The cages went into the sitting room, away from the sun. The food and water stayed in the kitchen, next to the fridge. The wheel was in the cage, under the window, so Freddy could run whenever he wanted.
I checked the schedule. Every day: feed the hamsters first, then the dogs, then the horses. Every evening: check water and food. I even wrote it on a sticky note and put it on the fridge.
“That is better,” my boyfriend said, drinking his coffee.
“Yes,” I said, feeling like a tiny hero. “The hamsters are safe… until I forget again.”
A Funny Lesson
Freddy ran on the wheel happily, Mr Hamster nibbled a tiny carrot, and I breathed.
“You know,” my boyfriend said, “you might be the only person in the world who panics more about hamsters than real humans.”
“I am a professional au pair,” I said proudly. “Humans are complicated. Hamsters are simple. Or at least they should be.”
He laughed. “Next time, maybe I hide the grapes. Just in case.”
“Or maybe,” I said, “you sit next to me while I feed them. That way, no hamster dies.”
“Deal,” he said, picking up his book again.
Life in the big aristocratic house can be scary. But with tiny animals and a panicked au pair, it is hilarious. I learned one lesson: animals are small, but their problems can be enormous. And sometimes, all you need is patience, a sarcastic boyfriend, and maybe, just maybe, a grape.
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What Did You Learn from the Story?
This story is a fun way for A2 English learners to practice important grammar and vocabulary. You learn how to use prepositions of place (like on, in, under, next to) to describe locations, and prepositions of time (like before, after, yesterday, every day, every evening) to talk about actions in the past. The story also helps you understand sequencing actions in the simple past tense, using words like then, next, after, before. In addition, you learn key vocabulary related to animals, the home, and everyday routines, which you can use in your own stories or conversations. Reading and practising with stories like this improves your English grammar, vocabulary, and confidence in a fun and engaging way.
