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27 Jan 2023

6. At first, Annie is worried about her summer because she:

a. will miss all her friends from class

b. likes school and wants to keep going

c. doesn't think she will like her job

 

Pineapple Picking

School was out, and Annie had moed teelings. She knew her sumner would be hard. "You're 15 now, time for your first summer in the Maul pineapple fields!" Her father had told. her. Annie had protested. But her dad was firm.

 

" I don't want to hear any complaining!" he said sternly. "Everyone in this family spends a summer picking pineapples' It will build character' That was her dad's favorite phrase.

 

Reluctantly, Annie reported for her first day of work at $4: 00$ a m. Pineapple picking started early, so the fruit could be gathered before the heat of the Hawaiian aflemoon. Despite the heat, Annie wore a long-sleeve shirt and pants to protect her skin from the shaip, spiky leaves of the pineapples.

Whilo the boss took attendance, the other workers looked at Annie suspiciously. All the other workers were older men from native Hawaiian families. They already knew each other. Annie felt out of place.

 

The boss quickly put them to work. It was hard labor. Annie had to cut each pineapple off with a big knife while avoiding the spiky leaves. As the sun rose, the temperature increased and she began to sweat. When she finished work at noon, she went straight home and slept like a log. As the summer wore on, the work began to feel easier. Annie became stronger, and betler at harvesting the pineapples. She didn't make many friends though. The other workers called her "Haole" a name meant to insult people not native to Hawaii.

"Tm not Haole," she told them, defensively. "Ay family has lived in Hawaii for three generations' They inst laughed at her.

One day, the boss gathered all the pineapple pickers around for a talk. "I have some bad news," he said. "I just heard that a builder bought these fields to make a fancy hotel. Were all going to lose our jobs." Everyone was upset. "Tm sorry," the boss said. "But let's make the most of our last week."

 

Everyone sadly returned to work. It didn't seem fair that the fields would be destroyed. As Annie bent down to pick her next pineapple, she heard a faint peeping noise. She carefully lifted the leaves of the pineapple plant, and there, in the shade, was a small nest with three baby birds. Excitedly, Annie called her boss over to look.

Everyone was curious. No one had ever seen a nest like it before. We should alert the authorities " Her boss told her. They called a biology expert. Mr. Kowamura, to investigate.

"Anniel" Mr. Kowamura said after he'd seen the nest. This is a Branta sandwicensis, a Hawaiian Goose! They are almost extinct! What a find! We will make this a protected area to guard there nesting sitel"

Annie was very excited. She had made an important biological discovery, and saved the pineapple fields from the hotel, all at once!

 

"Three cheers for Annie! Aalona, one of her workmates said. Annie smiled Perhaps her summer job wasn't so bad after all.