Story 9
Two young girls move into their first apartment and can’t get the power turned on.
Right Light Plight
Tuesday, June 12th, was a rainy day. Hannah Bome and Nina Pye were moving into their first apartment. A little rain couldn’t spoil it for them! Hannah went into her new bedroom. She had a box marked H-BR. Nina walked into the room and said, “I feel so grown up!”
“Speaking of being grown up—it is 9:00. Zane Power Co-op is open and we need to call. We want the power put in our names and turned on.” Hannah took out her cell phone. “Have you seen a phone book?”
“Yes, I saw one on the hall shelf,” Nina said. Nina got the phone book and looked up Zane’s phone number. She said, “It’s 555-5390.”
Hannah dialed. A person said, “Zane Power Co-op. This is Judy.”
“My name is Hannah Bome. I would like to have the power turned on at 8632 Cole Street. My roommate, Nina Pye, and I filled out the papers last week.”
The person on the phone said, “Yes, I see your papers right here. I’ll take care of it. You should have power within the hour.”
Hannah said thanks and hung up. Then she said, “‘My roommate Nina Pye’ sounds so odd. Can you believe we are doing this? Well, let’s bring more stuff in, Roommate Nina Pye!”
Over an hour later, Nina turned a light switch on. No light. Then she tried four more switches. Nothing. Nina said, “What time did you call Zane’s? Hasn’t it been more than an hour?”
“I called right at 9:00. It is almost 10:30 now. Let’s wait a while. If we don’t have power by lunch time, I’ll call again.” At 12:15, Hannah tried a few light switches again. Still nothing. Then she said, “Maybe the light bulbs are out. She tried her blow dryer in three rooms. Nothing. She hit “redial” on her phone. Judy answered again. Hannah said, “This is Hannah Bome. I called at 9:00 for power at 8632 Cole Street. It still is not on. Can you check into it for me?”
Judy said, “Sure. Please hold.” She came back and said, “The power was turned on at 10:03.”
Hannah said, “But it isn’t working. The light switches are on in all the rooms.”
Judy said, “Hm. I don’t know. Please check again in an hour. Call back if it is not on then.” Hannah thanked Judy and hung up.
While they waited, Hannah and Nina looked through some papers. They made files for bills, work, and school. They filled out the change-of-address forms from the post office. Nina picked up their first rent bill. They had paid it that day. She marked it paid. She then filed it in the “Rent” file. She said, “There you go! We are now real adults. We have a file with a paid bill!”
Hannah smiled and said, “This is so fun, but a little scary. Or is it the other way around?” They laughed. “I have another bill to file. The down-payment slip is in my car. I’ll go out and get it.” Outside, Hannah met a girl moving in next door. Hannah said, “Hi. My name is Hannah. We live in 8632.
The girl said, “My name is Gina Fry. My roommate and I are going to Link Trade School in the fall.”
Hannah said, “Wow! My roommate and I are going there, too. I guess it isn’t so odd. This place is so close to the school. We were lucky to get in here. Now if our power would just work. We called at 9:00, and we still have no power.”
“We didn’t even have to call. We got here about 11:00 and our power was on,” Gina said. “I am going to call to make sure it is in our names.” Just then, a girl walked out of 8633. Gina said, “This is my roommate.”
The girl said, “Hi! I’m Lana Tome.”
Hannah smiled and said, “Hi Lana Tome. I’m Hannah Bome. Our roommates are Nina Pye and Gina Fry. We all rhyme. Isn’t that too funny!” Then Hannah said, “I wonder.…”
Gina said, “I bet you are right!”
“You wonder what? Right about what?” Lana asked.
Hannah said, “Lana Tome and Gina Fry, 8633 Cole Street. Hannah Bome and Nina Pye, 8632 Cole Street. I think we have a little mix up at Zane Power Co-op.”
Hannah hit redial on her phone again. Judy answered. Hannah said, “Hi. This is Hannah Bome again. I think I might have found the problem. Do you have papers for both 8632 and 8633 Cole Street?”
Judy said, “Yes, I do. Oh, no! What did you say your name was?”
Hannah laughed. “My name is Hannah Bome and my roommate is Nina Pye. I just found out that Lana Tome and Gina Fry are moving in next door. And, their power was on when they got here!”
Judy said, “I’m so sorry, Miss Bome. You said your names and address. But, I picked up Miss Tome’s and Miss Fry’s papers. I thought I had heard you wrong. I will turn your power on right now!” And just like that, 8632 Cole Street lit up. The four girls laughed at the “Zane-y” problem.
What do you think?
- Work with a partner to make a list of reasons why it would be good for Hannah and Nina to get to know Lana and Gina better.
- Do you think Judy apologized properly once she realized what she had done? Explain.
What would you do?
- Say your roommate uses your towels and leaves them in a wet heap on the floor. What would you say or do?<
