Wait! Don't Go! (Suffix)
Practice Words
Two-syllable words with common suffixes such as -ness, -ment, -er, -ful, -less, and -ly.
Sen had lived under the ground his whole life. His mom said the world above was not ready for him. But today was Sen's birthday. 'I will find a friend,' he whispered. He climbed boldly into the sun. It was so bright! So green! So small!
Not far from the cave, three kids played near the woods. Kem spotted something moving closer. Something big. 'Look!' he whispered. They all hid behind a bush and looked out slowly. The thing got bigger and bigger.
Sen walked into the town, grinning widely. He spotted something lovely by a wooden house, with two shiny wheels and a yellow bell. Sen gave it a gentle pat, then waved boldly at the empty street. 'Hello? I am really friendly!'
Behind the bush, Kem was shaking. 'It is touching your bike!' Lan said. Sen only wanted to ring the bell. But his fingers were so big, and the wheel went flat. Crunch! 'It broke my bike!' Kem shouted. 'Run!'
Kem bolted with the bike, and the others ran after him. 'Wait! Don't go!' Sen called loudly. But a giant's shout shook the windows and sent birds flying from the trees. Sen stood alone and sadly closed his fist. Not one child turned around.
Sen looked at his big hands. The same hands that bent the bike like a twig. 'I just wanted to play,' he said softly. Then the tears came. Giant tears, the size of apples, splashing down like buckets of rain.
Inside the house, the kids sat close. Something fell hard on the roof. 'Is it raining?' asked Lan. Kem looked out. Big drops fell, but only over the homes. The rest of the sky was blue. 'That is not rain,' Kem said slowly.
Kem slipped outside and sat by the house. He turned the broken wheel in his hands. Past the last house, he saw a big shape in the grass. 'He is not a monster,' Kem said sadly. 'He is just a big, lonely boy who wanted to play. And we ran from him.'
Kem walked closer slowly. Sen sat with his big hands over his eyes. Every sob shook the trees. Leaves went flying in the air. Kem took a deep breath. 'I am going to talk to him.'
'Hey!' Kem called. 'I am Kem. What is your name?' Sen lifted his head. 'S-Sen,' he said sadly. 'I am sorry I broke your bike. My fingers are too big. I am too loud.' 'Yeah, you are pretty big,' Kem said, grinning up at him. 'But bikes can be fixed.'
'Want to play with me and my friends?' Kem asked. Sen opened his mouth. Then shut it. Then opened it again, like a giant goldfish. This was just what he had wished for! He wanted to jump and shout, but he did not want to flatten his new friend. 'I would love to,' Sen whispered gently.
They played gladly all day. When the sun got low, Sen took his friends to his cave for a feast. 'Wow!' Kem said from Sen's shoulder. 'So much food!' Sen grinned. 'Have as much as you like. But do not let me pour the drinks. Last time, I flooded the cave!' They all smiled. For the first time, Sen did not feel too big. He felt just right.