Cover of The Map That Got Wet

Eliza and Otis went hiking on a warm Saturday morning. Eliza carried a paper map of the trail in her pocket. Halfway up the mountain, dark clouds appeared overhead. A sudden rain shower caught them by surprise.

They found shelter under a large tree. But the rain came in sideways. When Eliza checked her pocket, the map was soaked. The ink spread across the paper. The lines were hard to read.

"Now what?" Eliza asked. "I'm not sure which way leads back to the car," Otis said.

"I remember a big rock near the parking lot," Eliza said. "We passed it on the left side of the trail."

"No, I think it was the right side," Otis said. "We turned right at the rock, not left."

They stood under the tree and tried to remember together. Then Otis pointed at a tall pine tree in the distance. "Wait," he said. "I remember that tree. It was on our right when we started."

"You're right," Eliza said. "That means the rock was on the left side." They walked toward the pine tree and found the trail again.

Soon, they saw the parking lot ahead. The rock stood exactly where Eliza remembered it. They reached the car just as the rain stopped.

🧠 Check your understanding

  1. What happens to Eliza's paper map?

    Show answer

    Answer: It gets soaked in the rain

    A sudden rain shower soaks the map, and the ink spreads across it.

  2. What do Eliza and Otis disagree about?

    Show answer

    Answer: Which side of the rock they passed

    Eliza remembers the left side, but Otis remembers the right side.

  3. What helps them remember the right way?

    Show answer

    Answer: A tall pine tree Otis remembers

    Otis remembers a tall pine tree that was on their right when they started.

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