READING TEXT
Adopting a child
Read first, then answer the questions. Select an underlined word to see its meaning and save it below.
Original fictional learning scenario. People, dialogue and personal experiences are created for language practice.
When my parents adopted my younger brother, neighbours often called him 'lucky'. They meant to be kind, but as we grew older, he told me the word made his story sound too simple. He loved our family and also had questions about his earlier life. Both feelings could exist together.
I learned to stop answering personal questions on his behalf. At school, we asked the teacher to check with him before using adoption as a class discussion about our family. He did not want it hidden; he wanted a choice about when to talk. Being a supportive sister meant listening to what he needed, rather than deciding which version of his story would make other people comfortable.
